Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Weekly Quiz 6/25-7/2
A fresh quiz, hot-off-the-presses (or at least the keyboard), is available here!
Weekly Assignment 6/25-7/2
A fresh new assignment for this last week in June...
Read Ch. 4: "The Advent of the Inevitable", then thoughtfully answer the following questions:
1. Describe Lara's character throughout this chapter. Does she sometimes do things that are impulsive or is she more indecisive or both? Is she a likable character? Do you think we will be able to talk about Lara as the heroine of this novel?
2. Why do Pasha and Lara decide to get married? How does this marriage go?
3. Choose either A or B:
A. There are two rather philosophical discussions in this chapter. One is on the nature of war and modern warfare. What is Yury's opinion of war? How does his being a doctor affect this opinion?
B. As I said, there are two rather philosophical discussions in this chapter. The other is about religion. What is said about religion? Using your prior knowledge (or do some quick internet research) how did the Soviets (who will become, as we know, the leaders after the Revolution) feel about religion? What did they attempt to do about religion? How does this compare with what Yury and Misha say about religion?
4. Describe the events that take place both to the main characters (Lara and Yury at this point) and nationally at the end of this chapter. How are they significant? Were they inevitable as the title suggests?
5. What did you not understand about this chapter? Is the novel becoming less confusing for you or not yet?
Read Ch. 4: "The Advent of the Inevitable", then thoughtfully answer the following questions:
1. Describe Lara's character throughout this chapter. Does she sometimes do things that are impulsive or is she more indecisive or both? Is she a likable character? Do you think we will be able to talk about Lara as the heroine of this novel?
2. Why do Pasha and Lara decide to get married? How does this marriage go?
3. Choose either A or B:
A. There are two rather philosophical discussions in this chapter. One is on the nature of war and modern warfare. What is Yury's opinion of war? How does his being a doctor affect this opinion?
B. As I said, there are two rather philosophical discussions in this chapter. The other is about religion. What is said about religion? Using your prior knowledge (or do some quick internet research) how did the Soviets (who will become, as we know, the leaders after the Revolution) feel about religion? What did they attempt to do about religion? How does this compare with what Yury and Misha say about religion?
4. Describe the events that take place both to the main characters (Lara and Yury at this point) and nationally at the end of this chapter. How are they significant? Were they inevitable as the title suggests?
5. What did you not understand about this chapter? Is the novel becoming less confusing for you or not yet?
Monday, June 18, 2012
Weekly Quiz 6/18 - 6/25
This week's Weekly Quiz is really good, you guys.
Just kidding. It's totally just "normal" good.
Here it is. Right here.
Just kidding. It's totally just "normal" good.
Here it is. Right here.
Weekly Assignment 6/18 - 6/25
Yo yo yo. What is up?
Comin' at ya is Chapter Three: "The Sventitskys' Christmas Party" (which is pages 62-90 in my copy of Doctor Zhivago). Read this section, then come back here and answer the following questions as a comment to this post:
1. Briefly compare & contrast Lara and Yura. Think about their dispositions, backgrounds, motivations, etc. It becomes pretty clear the two of them will be intimately linked throughout the story; what do you make of this/them? What kind of people are they?
2. What about all this talk of marriage? Why do people get married in early 20th century Russia? Who is getting married or talking about getting married in this chapter, and why?
3. What is the significance of Anna Ivanova's illness & death? And what of Yura's response--first, his comforting words when she is at death's door, and second, how he responds when she has actually died?
4. What the heck is Lara's problem? Jeeze. (Oh. Right. It's all the stupid MEN in her life. THAT'S her problem.) Who does Lara love? Anyone? Who does Lara hate? Who does Lara shoot? Why?
5. What didn't you understand in this part? Or, maybe the better question is, what DID you understand?
(Don't forget to check back and respond to what other people have said!)
Comin' at ya is Chapter Three: "The Sventitskys' Christmas Party" (which is pages 62-90 in my copy of Doctor Zhivago). Read this section, then come back here and answer the following questions as a comment to this post:
1. Briefly compare & contrast Lara and Yura. Think about their dispositions, backgrounds, motivations, etc. It becomes pretty clear the two of them will be intimately linked throughout the story; what do you make of this/them? What kind of people are they?
2. What about all this talk of marriage? Why do people get married in early 20th century Russia? Who is getting married or talking about getting married in this chapter, and why?
3. What is the significance of Anna Ivanova's illness & death? And what of Yura's response--first, his comforting words when she is at death's door, and second, how he responds when she has actually died?
4. What the heck is Lara's problem? Jeeze. (Oh. Right. It's all the stupid MEN in her life. THAT'S her problem.) Who does Lara love? Anyone? Who does Lara hate? Who does Lara shoot? Why?
5. What didn't you understand in this part? Or, maybe the better question is, what DID you understand?
(Don't forget to check back and respond to what other people have said!)
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Confused?!?!
Ok, Casey is telling me that it's OK to use sparknotes and other sources of assistance to help with the comprehension of Dr. Zhivago. I am in a state of confusion that (almost) rivals that of when we read A Tale of Two Cities. I can't focus at all! Is her claim accurate? It would be of great help if it is, if not, is there any other strategy that anyone can recommend for understanding what the heck is going on? It seems like a bunch of disjointed events so far, and this is like and ADHD nightmare haha. Thank you (anyone) for any help. Elias.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Super Super Late Doctor Zhivago book picture!
Sorry, I know it's super, super late, I just managed to get a copy yesterday! -_- Man I look AWFUL in this photo! Note to self, aviod webcams, etc, lol! By the way, can't wait to start with you guys once the school year year starts!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Weekly Assignment Wk. 8 (6/11-6/18)
Hello, Decathletes, thanks for some great and thoughtful answers to last week's assignment. For this week, Read book two, "A Girl from a Different Circle". Then thoughtfully answer the following questions as a comment to this post. Please don't forget to respond to someone else's comment.
1. Why do you think Amalia and her family have moved to their new home?
2. There are many different threads to the plot in this chapter. Describe the changes to scene and character.
3. How do these changes come together at the end of this chapter?
4. How does Lara feel about Komarovsky?
5. Was there anything about this section that you did not understand?
1. Why do you think Amalia and her family have moved to their new home?
2. There are many different threads to the plot in this chapter. Describe the changes to scene and character.
3. How do these changes come together at the end of this chapter?
4. How does Lara feel about Komarovsky?
5. Was there anything about this section that you did not understand?
Monday, June 4, 2012
Weekly Assignment 6/4-6/11
Hello, Decathletes! I hope your summer is off to a good start! Remember, this week, we will be taking "attendance" based on who posts and completes the quizzes in a timely fashion. May I politely remind you that failure to post and/or take quizzes will result in eventually being cut from the team.
Assignment: Read Part One of Dr. Zhivago, "The Five O'Clock Express" (in my version of the book, this is about 23 pages in length). Then, post thoughtful responses to the following questions as a comment to this post:
1. How is the blizzard described in the beginning of the novel? What are the powerful words which create imagery in this scene? Does this imagery better help you understand/empathize with Yura and his feelings about his parents?
2. Nikolai Nikolaievich says, "Only the solitary seek the truth." What do you think he means by this statement? Do you agree or disagree?
3. What happened on the 5 o'clock Express? Why?
4. Describe Nika and Nadya's relationship.
5. Was there anything you did not understand about this section? (I will comment back to help you understand, unless it is one of those plot points that might just be foreshadowing something else in the novel, in which case, I'll leave you curious).
Don't forget to respond meaningfully to at least one teammate and to take the weekly quiz, which will also be about the reading assignment! Happy reading!
Assignment: Read Part One of Dr. Zhivago, "The Five O'Clock Express" (in my version of the book, this is about 23 pages in length). Then, post thoughtful responses to the following questions as a comment to this post:
1. How is the blizzard described in the beginning of the novel? What are the powerful words which create imagery in this scene? Does this imagery better help you understand/empathize with Yura and his feelings about his parents?
2. Nikolai Nikolaievich says, "Only the solitary seek the truth." What do you think he means by this statement? Do you agree or disagree?
3. What happened on the 5 o'clock Express? Why?
4. Describe Nika and Nadya's relationship.
5. Was there anything you did not understand about this section? (I will comment back to help you understand, unless it is one of those plot points that might just be foreshadowing something else in the novel, in which case, I'll leave you curious).
Don't forget to respond meaningfully to at least one teammate and to take the weekly quiz, which will also be about the reading assignment! Happy reading!
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