Literature "The Leopard" & "Notable American Women"

What is Literature?

Literature is a highly developed use of language in that is the stylized manipulation of language for larger effect (purpose) and/or affect (emotional response)" (L&L Course Companion p.9)

The Leopard Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1958)

"Is there any possibility that its a translation that affects the comprehension?"

"Why is there so much difference between the year it was written and the year its based?"

"How is it related to the mythological reference?"

Notable American Women Ben Marcus (2002)

"If Ben Marcus is the author why does he talk about himself like if it was someone else?"

"Related to the first question, if the character has the name of the author, is it a novel or a fiction book?"

"What happens with the father of Ben Marcus, is he in jail?"

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 12, 13, 14 Analysis Questions

Ch. 15 
1. What is the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus' comment about it? 
Ku Klux Klan is an extremely racist group of people, "The Ku Klux's gone, It'll never come back" I think that Atticus is right because Maycomb is a town and Ku Klux Klan is just a group of racist people and if they come there is nothing to do but hide.
2. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why?
He refuses to go home, and stands by his side. He know he is in some sort of danger because of defending Tom Robinson, and the white people just wont stop until Tom Robinson is dead.
3. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life? 
Scout starts talking to Mr Cunningham, Walter Cunningham's father, she tells him to say hi to Walter for her, he then tells the rest to leave.
 Ch. 16 
4. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond and what is your opinion of him? 
He is a white man that lives with black people and enjoys more time with black people than white, he has to drink so that people believe he is like that because of the alcohol, but he really believes most of white people are just trash.
5. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he correct in doing so?
As Atticus was helping a black man, all the other black man admired him, they were in favor of Atticus and saw him as a "hero", Reverend Sykes takes the children to the black peoples seat, so that they would hear bad things of his father, and only the truth.
Ch. 17 
6. Choose three quotes from chapter. Explain the context of each, the characters involved, and their relevance for the story, themes and overall message of the novel.

1.- "Did you call a doctor, Sheriff? Did anybody call a doctor? asked Atticus" I think this quote is very important, Atticus asks this several times to both Heck Tate and to Mr Ewell, and both say it was not necessary to call a doctor because she was already beat up, I really don't understand this because if the was really beaten up, they would have more intentions to call a doctor.

2.-"The right side, Mr. Finch, but she had more bruises" This quote said by Heck Tate is referring to the side where the girl was beaten up, this is very important for Atticus in order to defend Tom Robinson, this quote has a relation to my third quote.

3.- "You’re left-handed, Mr. Ewell,” said Judge Taylor." This quote said by Judge Taylor, he is saying what Atticus is trying to say, Mr Ewell is left handed, and it should take a left handed man to beat up Mayella in the right side of the face, so in this way Atticus proves that Tom Robinson cant be the one who beat up Mayella.

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 12, 13, 14 Analysis Questions

Ch. 12 
1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase Church. What does Scout learn about how black people live? 
Calpurnia is the one that takes them to First Purchase, Scout is impressed of how poor they are and didn't have money for hymnal. She realizes that she can already at her age read and there are adult "Negroes" that don't know how to read.
2. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbors at church. Ch.13 
She somehow talks with her people, she may think that speaking other ways in the house in front of the children may upset Atticus. The First Purchase Church must be one of the places in Maycomb were Afro American people had their privacy and time away from white, and maybe that is why Lula got angry at Calpurnia because of breaking that "tradition", so it may not be appropriate to talk like a white person in there.
3. Aunt Alexandra thinks Scout is "dull" (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right?
She believes that Scout is not acting like a real lady and this is why she decides to stay with them.
4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Macomb's social life? 
She meets new people in the town and has good relations with them, making herself very proud of the Finch Family.
5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family, in contrast to Atticus' visions. Who's right, do you think? Why? 
Aunt Alexandra believes that every member of the Finch family must act as she would say, a Finch, and this is why she tries so hard on making Scout look like a lady. While Atticus, believes that Scout is a girl who can take care of herself and as she is a girl she must act like so, and not be under so much pressure.
 Ch. 14. 
 6. Comment on Atticus' definition of rape. How suitable is this definition as an answer to Scout?
"He sighed, and said rape was carnal knowledge of a female by force and without consent." Scout believes Atticus but still doubts of what it is, because Calpurnia tried to hide it from her. I think Calpurnias decision of not telling Scout and telling her to ask her father is really good, she is not the one to decide if it is appropriate to answer it to Scout. 

Essay To Kill a Mockingbird

We were given 4 Samples. I chose sample 2, that said, "What impact does setting have on your understanding of the central ideas or themes presented in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?" I began with a short introduction about the novel and its main idea, the essay had to be based on information and knowledge of the Part 1 of the novel. I choose to use as a Thesis "The issues that occurred on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird setting affect the way we understand or comprehend this novel." I continued by explaining 3 of the main issues of 1930s. The first one was the Great Depression, I mentioned how this affected the country and its people. As a second issue I mentioned the Dust Bowl, who it affected and why did this happen. As a last issue i mentioned the black community and racism issue during this time, and how it affected both white and black people. I developed each argument with one of the issues, making a relation to the book and quoting important parts were we could see the issues. I finally concluded that the issues that were presented in Maycomb during the 1930s change the way we understand the novel. If we would not have knowledge of the crisis or the dust bowl, or even having no knowledge of how racism was during these times, we would find the book written with a very weird ideas.

The Help

1. In your own words, write what was meant by "separate but equal." How did people in Jackson, Mississippi - including the ladies of the Junior League in "The Help" - try to apply this principle? 
I believe it tries to cover up the truth. If it would be equal it wouldn't have to be separate. People in Jackson Mississippi were told that they had to have a bathroom that would be equal in the meaning of how it is, the bathroom would be the same "construction" but it had to be separate because white people should not use the same bathroom as the "Negroes" because they would catch infections.

 2. Do a simple online research about Jim Crow Laws. Identify what outcomes - forced upon domestic workers - were present in "The Help". 
They are in the movie because of the years that this movie represents. Examples of the Jim Crow Laws on the movie could be the transportation. If we see closely when the maids went home to work, they all came in a same bus that was only being used by black people. And when they use a normal bus they make them leave because a "Negro" just got shot.
 3. Explore the themes in "The Help" and develop your ideas by continuing the following sentence: 
 "The maids in The Help took a risk by telling their stories. Even though they knew they could be shot to death in their front yards, they went ahead with the project. If people are not willing to take risks, no one will understand them and support their cause to solve their problem.

Boo Radley's Secret Diary October 31st

Today I went into the forest because I could hear Scout screaming, it was nearly 11 o clock. Once I got there I could see one of the Ewell’s trying to kill both of Finch’s kids. I had with me a kitchen knife and I was hoping I didn’t have to use it, but Ewell’s only intention was to hurt the boys, so I had to stop him. I just reacted and stuck a knife on his chest, and took the kid who was hurt back home. Once I left the kid on the bed I had to hide. The girl saw me and told Heck Tate that I saved both kids. Heck insisted to let me free, and say that Ewell killed himself.

Boo Radley's Secret Diary August 23rd

Today it was snowing the whole day, I could see that Jem and Scout were taking Miss Maudie´s snow and they built a Snowman. I haven't seen a Snowman in years.
Something interrupted my joy of the day, I could hear firemen coming to town and I could see Miss Maudie´s house on fire. Everyone stand there watching how the house burned to the ground, but thanks to God nobody got hurt.
I could see that Scout was freezing watching the house burn to the ground so I went there and put a coat on her back, she could not notice it was me, if she knew, she could freak out. And after being a ghost on the town I cant just appear out of nowhere.

Boo Radley's Secret Diary July 17th

July 17th
Today three shouting kids woke me up while they were playing. I could recognize two of them from the Finch's home, they are both Atticus kids, Jem and Scout. But there was a third one, its the first time I've seen him, and I believe he has some family relation with Miss Maudie, because the kid is staying at her house. I could hear Miss Maudie telling the kids that old story about me as a child. I think the boys are scared, one came to the house and touched it, but within seconds he was already back at his house without breath. It seems that it was a challenge to touch the house, but the kid ran like if someone was chasing him. I think they dont know I can hear what they are doing.

To Kill A Mockingbird Part 1 Analysis

1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator? 
He uses a young narrator, Scout, to give a innocent point of view.

2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during part 1 of the book? 

At first, Jem and Scout believe that Boo Radley is a malevolent phantom who peeped in windows while you were sleeping. But during the first part the way that both kids view Boo Radley changes, because of what he does, for example the gifts on the tree or the time that Scout is very cold watching the house of Miss Maudie burn, Boo comes from behind and puts a coat on her back. They realize that if he really exists, he is not a bad person.

3. Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion? 
When Jem invited Walter Cunningham for lunch, Scout yelled at him because of drowning the food in syrup, Scout was called into the kitchen by Calpurnia and she punished her, not in a bad way, but she told Scout that Walter was a guest, and she must not treat different people in that way. Here is were Scout "walks" in Walter's shoes, and the realizes the tough life of a poor boy.

 4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 
Atticus had to work almost all day, but he still mad time to spend time with both of his kids and even teach Scout how to read before she went to school. During the day while he is at work he has the help of Calpurnia, their cook.

 5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book. 
The race issues come when Atticus has to defend Tom Robinson, a "negro" who is being accused of raping a  white girl. When Atticus accepts to defend Tom, a lot of people in Maycomb start bothering or seeing the Finch family as inferior because of defending the Afro American people.

6. From your reading of part 1, What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks?" Do you see those sort of distinctions today? 
People were very worried about what others talked about them, but a clear example of fighting against this is Atticus, who, being criticized by the town still defended Tom Robinson and did not cared that he was a negro, he had to have the same rights. At one moment we all classify people, even if we mean no intention at all, there are the stereotypes.

 7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why?
My favorite character from part 1 would be Atticus, he is shown responsible of his kids and the whole town. He accepts that poor family's like the Cunningham's pay him with other things than money, and he is the only white man to defend the innocence of a black man trapped in a white society.

Gender Ads Activity

Advertising is a form of communication that is used to persuade people to take some new action. The idea behind the advertising is to persuade a costumer to buy the product. It mostly used images with a few words to persuade.








We had to get in pairs and create two ads, these ads had to be Gender Ads, so one had to be directed to women and the other one to men. My partner was Nicolás Gastó, at first we didn't know what product we could use for each gender, but we finally agreed to use a Beer Advertising directed for men and a special Shampoo that would make your look better for women.

Voice Thread Activity