Misleading Charades ~Blog post #3~ Topic G April 30, 2015 By: Natalie Lindquist

            A symbol that comes up throughout chapter 9 is the riddles given to Emma and Harriet by Mr. Elton. Emma quickly decodes the riddle because Harriet cannot solve it and Emma convinces her that the riddle foretells a proposal. This is a symbol that exists both literally and figuratively because the riddles actually exist and they symbolize a charade being played of Emma trying to get Mr. Elton and Harriet together. Emma did not approve of Mr. Martin so she’s attempting to get Harriet to like Mr. Elton and vice versa by using this riddle. “Harriet’s feelings, they were visibly forming themselves into as strong an attachment as her youth and sort of mind admitted” which shows her growing infatuation with Mr. Elton, the only issue is that he doesn’t feel the same way (64). So, riddles are playful and tricky which is similar to the situation between Harriet and Mr. Elton because they are on different pages with their feelings. This is making it seem like a riddle because they’re trying to figure each other out and they can’t seem to solve it or make a relationship work between them. The riddles don’t only represent a charade being played between Harriet and Mr. Elton but also with Emma. I think that because Emma is continually trying to make decisions for Harriet and show that she has her best interest in mind will cause Harriet to break away and end up marrying Mr. Martin. This symbolizes another charade because Emma cannot figure out anyone else’s life but her own so the only “riddle” she can truly solve is the one that involves her, not Harriet.  

Everything Revolves Around Reputation (Topic D, 4/30/15)

I noticed that the theme/motif of social status and education is developing, as everything seems to revolve around where you fall on the pyramid of social placement. One example of this where I’m seeing a lot of is the Mr. Martin situation. Emma is against him and it seems as though she doesn’t really see him as a good match for Harriet because she is always pointing out his uneducated writing technique and where he lives. She always makes comments like “he is very plain” and compares him to the men she knows when she says “At Hartfield, you have had very good specimens of well educated, well bred men. I should be surprised if, after seeing them, you could be in company with Mr. Martin” (Austen, 29). This shows just how important social class was back then. Emma is so biased to what she is accustomed to, and won’t open her mind to see passed where Mr. Martin grew up. It reveals that people of Emma’s upbringing care very much about the opinion of others, and it makes them come off as conceited and snobby toward anyone they see as being below them.

Discussion #3 Notes

Emily Observation: thought it was interesting how Emma said she would sort of back off of Harriet and somewhat allow her to make decisions more for herself, yet she still weaved her opinion into Harriet's head in a more subtle way. Emma even said "I shall not give you any advice, I shall have nothing to do with it," but then persisted on in gently nudging her opinion onto Harriet (Austen, 48). Why can't she back off?

Alex reply (to Emily): I think her pushiness is her way of becoming close with people, honestly.

Natalie question: What do you think of the riddles Emma and Harriet have been collecting?

Emily: thinks it is almost like false hope, and by finding these riddles Emma is leading Harriet on in a way.

Natalie: thinks Harriet is falling for Mr. Elton but he is not falling for her. Emma is using these and twisting the words of them to basically lead Harriet to believe they mean something else.

Natalie question: Do you think Mr. Elton has feelings at all for Harriet? Do you think the riddles are personal?

Mary Kate: yes, thinks they foreshadow something that will happen between them.

Emily: no, Emma is being ignorant and planning what she wants to happen. Like natalie said earlier she is basically twisting the words to make Harriet and even herself believe Mr. Elton has feelings.

Natalie question: Why could Emma decode the riddle but Harriet couldn't?

Alex: I think it has to do with their social classes and education, the riddles are written in a way that's formal and educated and since we know Harriet comes from a lower social class than Emma maybe that's why.

Emily:  Maybe because the riddles are actually written for Emma in way she would get, but Emma is just telling different things to Harriet.

Natalie question: Do you think Harriet will marry Mr. Martin despite how Emma feels?

Emily: thinks Harriet will considering how we know Harriet was fond of him after we learned in the first few chapters. She sees the good in him that Emma can't.

Mary Kate: I feel like she will just because she'll get sick of Emma.

We all agree with Mary Kate.

Natalie question: Do you think Jane is a good new companion for Emma?

Natalie: thinks not, because Emma says "I wish Jane fairfax very well, but she tires me to death" (Austen, 82).

Emily: doesn't think so, if they were to be good friends Emma would probably be more infatuated with her at this point.

Alex agrees.

Mary Kate: also agrees with Emily, Emma is the type that needs to immediately connect with someone like Harriet or Miss Taylor, and she hasn't done that with Jane.

Suppressed Feelings

Suppressed Feelings

~Blog post #2~

Topic C

April 24, 2015

by Emily Edicola

As the story has developed, the character's feelings and true emotions for each other have become more prevalent. This is exactly the case for Emma and Mr. Knightley. Though he has not outwardly said he has feelings for Emma, I predict that the reason he speaks so negatively about her is because he is trying to hide his true feelings for her. During a conversation about Emma and Harriet's friendship between Mr. Knightley and Mrs. Weston, Mr. Knightley hints many times at his possible feelings for Emma. Though he believes that "Emma is spoiled",  he also thinks that she is good looking (34). He exclaims that he cannot "deny Emma's being pretty" and admits he loves "to look at her" (35-36). Even though he has his issues with her, he is able to confess that she has her good qualities. Clearly he has not made his feelings towards her open to the world because he is unable to admit his true feelings to even himself. He uses being mean and talking about her unflatteringly to not only hide his feelings but also try to convince himself of them so that he will lose feelings for Emma. He even goes on to declare that he "should like to see Emma in love" (37). He wants the best for her and deep down cares about her even if in the moment he can't admit it.

Growing Friendship

Growing Friendship
~Blog Post #2 ~
Topic C
April 24, 2015
Mary Kate Mooney

        In the next few chapters of Emma, there is a focus on the relationship between Emma and Harriet. After Miss Taylor left, Emma was desperate for a new friend, and became attached to Harriet. The two of them spend lots of time talking and getting to know each other. The two of them develop a very unique friendship that has only begun a few days prior. Harriet explains to Emma about Mr. Martin, and that he and her were good friends. However, Emma is not particularly fond of Mr. Martin. She knows that he is a farmer, and believes that he is not worthy of someone like Harriet. So, when Mr. Martin proposes to Harriet, she indirectly tells Harriet to reject the proposal. Because their friendship has grown so much, and the two of them are so close, Harriet does as she believes Emma wishes, and declines Mr. Martin's proposal. Emma immediately congratulates Harriet on making the right decision saying, "'Perfectly, perfectly right, my dearest Harriet; you are doing just what you ought,'" (Austen 49). This shocked me because of how highly Harriet had previously spoken of Mr. Martin. The two of them were friends, and in my opinion, would have been happy together. I was very surprised to see Emma do as her new friend wishes, mainly because they haven't known each other for that long. They are new friends, but this event shows how significantly their relationship has grown in such a short period of time.

Developing Love ~Blog post #2~ Topic A April 23, 2015 By Natalie Lindquist

            One quotation from my reading that stuck out to me was, “I do not know what I could imagine, but I confess that I have seldom seen a face or figure more pleasing to me than hers. But I am a partial old friend” (35). This was said by Mr. Knightly to Miss Taylor in their discussion about the relationship between Emma and Harriet and whether it seemed to be healthy. Mr. Knightly brings up how Harriet is “the very worst sort of companion that Emma could possibly have” because he believes that Harriet “looks upon Emma as knowing everything” but to him she doesn't know much of anything (35). Miss Taylor defends Emma by bringing up “how well she looked last night” and Mr. Knightly even claims that he can’t’ deny “Emma’s being pretty” but he stills is negative and tries to degrade her (35).  I think that Mr. Knightly has feelings for Emma but is struggling to cope with them and doesn't know how to act when she is brought up in conversation. He immediately goes to the childish way of talking poorly about Emma and acting as if he hates her. The way he talks of her may seem very negative and degrading but the deeper meaning behind it is that he’s masking his true feelings for Emma. This is similar to the movie Clueless because the main character and her step brother don’t get along but in the end they realize that they both like each other and end up dating. I feel that the same will happen with Emma and Mr. Knightly and it shows an underlying development in a relationship between them. 

For Better or Worse? (Topic C, 4/23/15)

A relationship that has blossomed throughout the story is that of Emma’s and Harriet’s, for they have become very close. What first started as just a fascination that Emma had, is now a reality. They have spent a lot of time together, and now even feel comfortable enough with each other to ask one another for help with personal decisions, which is a long way from where they started just a few chapters ago. I found it quite odd that Harriet actually  cared about Emma’s opinion on whether or not she should marry Mr. Martin, but I guess that just shows how close they have really gotten. I feel like this friendship is good for them because it gives them both a new aspect to their routine lives, but at the same time I feel like it’s doomed as well. I say this because, like Mr. Knightley, I think Emma should have no place in making such important decisions for Harriet already, and if Emma takes it upon herself to butt in and control everything Harriet does, Harriet will lose her sense of what she wants and her ability to be happy with the simple things she had before. Mr. Knightley even says that before Emma “chose to turn her into a friend,” Harriet was “as happy as possible” with what she had and would take all she could get with no questions asked (Austen, 58). I think Emma will slowly take that part of Harriet away, but I guess if Harriet doesn’t mind then it should be no problem for the two of them.

Discussion 2 Notes

Leader: Alex Pann

At the beginning of our discussion Emily asked a few questions regarding the characters.

Emily: Who is Mrs. Weston?

Mary Kate: Miss Taylor married name.

Emily: What is Harriet’s relationship/connection with the Martin Family?

Alex: They are friends and she does to see them on their farm in the countryside. Harriet has feelings for Mr. Martin.

Alex Question: Why do you suppose Emma wasn't fond of Mr. Martin? What does this say about the importance of social classes back then?

Natalie: Emma felt that Mr. Martin’s social status was below Harriet and that Mr. Elton was a better fit for her.

Emily: “A young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, is the very last sort of person to raise my curiosity” (26).

Alex Question: Do you think Mr. Knightly is negative towards Emma because he has feelings for her?

Mary Kate: Yes because he doesn't know how to cope with his feelings.

Emily: Yes but he’s trying to hid them because he’s trying to convince himself of the negative things he’s saying about Emma are true even though he knows deep down that he likes her.

Alex Question: How does Miss Taylor feel about the situation? Do you agree?

Emily: Miss Taylor feels guilty for leaving Emma.

Alex: Miss Taylor uses the friendship to justify her abandoning Emma.

Natalie: Miss Taylor feels that relationship between Harriet and Emma is healthy so she agrees with it.

Mary Kate: Emma is almost obsessed with Harriet making their relationship strange.

Alex Question: Who’s side are you on, Mr. Knightly or Emma?

Emily: I understand why she would go along with Emma, it was a different time period

Mary Kate: I think she should have accepted the proposal and married Mr. Martin.

Natalie: I think she should have married Mr. Martin because Emma doesn't know how she feels or what Harriet wants. Emma doesn't know what’s right for everyone.

Alex: She should have married Mr. Martin and not listened to Emma.

Discussion Notes

Leader: Mary Kate Mooney

MK: discussed thoughts on Emma and Miss Taylor's relationship and how it was creepily worded 

 "The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day" (4).

Emily: Does she have friends or just Miss Taylor? She seems to have odd feelings for people like when she describes how she  has "long felt an interest" in Harriet (20).

MK Question: Why does Mr. Woodhouse have such a hard time with Miss Taylor's wedding?

Natalie: It talks about how he's not good with change and it's difficult for him to accept change. Probably caused by the death of his wife.

Emily: She's been the only woman who's been in his life besides Harriet for a long time and it's difficult to let go. On page 5 it even explains that Miss Taylor "dearly loved her father but it was clear he was no companion for her." This quote shows how they have a very close relationship and how much she cares for him just as he cares for her.

MK Q: What do you think the significance of change is in the novel?

Alex: Emma's used to childhood and routine and that now that things are changing something big is going to happen.

Emily: The changes are emphasized in these chapters to foreshadow the changes that will happen later on

MK Q: What does the conversation with Emma and Mr. Knightley show about their characters?

Alex: This convo shows how he feels about Emma and foreshadows a part of the novel that comes later on when her deteriorates her image.

Natalie: "Mr. Knightley, in fact, was one of the few people who could see faults in Emma Woodhouse" (8). He sees through Emma and doesn't think she's as perfect as everyone thinks she is.

MK:  He says "you made a lucky guess" when Emma successfully match makes instead of congratulating her

Emily: Observation that Emma hides her feelings and isn't open when dealing with things. Take for instance on page 9 when Mr. Knightley and her are talking and her dad jumps in about Miss Taylor's wedding. She turns away "divided between tears and smiles" (9).

MK Q: Why does Emma want to find a match for Mr. Elton?

Emily: (Making character connections to the movie) Mr. Elton is like the teacher in the movie and eventually gets match made with the librarian I believe. I think that Mr. Knightley is like her step brother in the movie and that they will eventually fall in love.

Alex: The new girl from the movie is similar to Harriet

Emily: On page 21 when she talks about improving her that's just like the movie when Emma and her other friend decide to make the new girl their friend and make her over.

Alex: I think Miss Goddard and Mr. Elton will get married

Dealing with Change

Dealing with Change
~Blog post #1 ~
Topic D
April 17, 2015
Mary Kate Mooney

          In the novel Emma, by Jane Austen, the idea of change seems to be a motif in the first few chapters. Austen does not give great detail about the plot line or the characters right away. However, we do learn that some changes are taking place in the life of Emma and Mr. Woodhouse, and change is not handled well with the two of them. Mr. Woodhouse especially "hates change of every kind," (Austen 5). They both are struggling with saying goodbye to Miss Taylor, even though she will only be a few miles away from them. They are used to having her around all time, so this change leaves them sad and distressed. Mr. Woodhouse and Emma have trouble feeling happy for Miss Taylor, because the change for them is so great. It leaves them unsure what to do. Emma seems to eventually start to feel happy for her, and recognizes that this change is a good thing for her best friend. Mr. Woodhouse, on the other hand, is feeling some resentment towards her for bringing about this change in his life. This change affected the Woodhouses and Miss Taylor very differently. We also learn from the introduction that the characters' perspectives will evolve and shift throughout the course of the novel. With this recurring idea and motif, we know some changes are going to take place for Emma in good ways and bad.

Reading Article Reflection

Most of the time when I read, I have trouble getting focused. I am distracted by my phone, or I begin day dreaming about other things. I try to find everything possible to get out of reading a book majority of the time. The reason for this, like the article said, is simply "lack of effort" on my part. (Blau 19). In order to get focused, I have to use the strategy of finding a quiet place with no distractions, and put the effort into reading my book. If I try and stay focused for a period of time, I can get a lot more done.

I read very differently when it comes to reading for school and reading for fun. I am a very weak reader when it comes to history, because I dread the subject and find it to be very boring. When I am reading my textbook, I can never stay focused and end up getting little out of it. Part of the reason for this is because history is not one of my stronger subjects. I have always struggled in history and have trouble comprehending and remembering what I read. On the other hand, if it is a book I am interested in, my focus and will to read is completely different. When I get a book I really enjoy, one that really intrigues me, I can stay focused and actually understand the book. I will finish a good book in a couple days, and I feel like a strong reader.

This document was very helpful, and definitely can apply to me, because I am not a very strong reader. The most important strategy and tip I took away is re-reading the information. When I zone out or don't understand something, instead of moving on and giving up, I have to re-read and re-read. Like the article said, every time I re-read the text, I will find new information, and it will eventually make some sense to me. I also have to develop the skill of intertextual literacy. By finding the background information of the text and relating it to things I am familiar with, whatever I am reading will start to come clearer.

Annotating and note taking on the novels I read this year helped me greatly. Though I was familiar with taking good notes, I was not used to annotating as much as I did. Annotating kept me focused, because I was forced to make connections and write my thoughts. By doing this, the text became clear and made it more interesting. It also helped when it came time for the quizzes. My detailed annotations were a great help and made it so much easier to understand everything that went on. I will definitely annotate like I did for the books I read this year in the future. My biggest problem coming into English sophomore year was staying focused on books that weren't necessarily what I was interested in. Annotating was a way to keep me focused and forced me to understand what I was reading.

Revamping Relationships

Revamping Relationships

-Blog Post #1-

Topic D

April 17, 2015

By Emily Edicola

          An important motif I have seen developing during the beginning of the book is that the author has really emphasized the changes that are taking place- foreshadowing events that are soon to happen. An example of this is the change in the relationship between Miss Taylor and Emma. Their relationship is important because she serves as a mother figure to Emma. Even though she is her governess, they are so close that Emma refers to her as a sister-like figure. Conflicts arise when Miss Taylor marries Mr. Weston because "sorrow came" for Emma who does not want to see the most important woman in her life leave her (3). She does not know how she will "bear the change" because even though Miss Taylor is not going far, it will not be the same as it was before (4). She is so used to having Miss Taylor there to lean on that this change is a hard transition for her. When talking about the wedding with Mr. Knightley, Emma is "divided between tears and smiles" (9). She wants to be happy for Miss Taylor's marriage and newfound happiness, but she also feels the overwhelming sadness that comes with the change that will happen regardless of her feelings. This change ends up working out for the best because Emma is able to meet Harriet Smith, whom she "had long felt an interest in" (20). She finds Harriet intriguing and decides that she will "improve her" by becoming her friend and in essence making her popular (21). Her growing distance with Miss Taylor allows her to open up to the outside world more and she decides to befriend Harriet as a result. This motif of change, in Emma's case, shows her desire for attention in her life. The changes that occur in the beginning of are extremely highlighted to foreshadow what is going to happen later on in the novel as well as provide a bit of background knowledge.

Start and Ends of Relationships ~Blog post #1~ Topic C April 17, 2015 by Natalie Lindquist

            The first three chapters of Emma seem to describe many different relationships by how they are growing and ending. It first starts by describing Emma and her family by saying that “she was the youngest of two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister’s marriage, been mistress of his house from a very yearly period” (3). It also discusses that “her mother had died” and Emma didn't really have a mother’s affection growing up (3). This brought Emma’s governess, Miss Taylor, into her life. Miss Taylor became like a mother figure to Emma and when she left to marry Mr. Weston, Emma was left with no one but her father since her sister had gone away to London after she got married. This is an example of how a relationship in Emma’s life is beginning to change because Miss Taylor will not be around as much and they are losing touch. In contrast, a relationship is starting to grow because Miss Taylor has just gotten married to Mr. Weston and their relationship is constantly growing while her relationship with Emma is becoming more distant. We also learn of Mr. Weston’s prior life in that he was married before and had a son named Frank. But when the first Mrs. Weston passed on, Frank was basically adopted by the Churchill’s who did not have any children. This is an example of another relationship that ended due to death but resulted in Mr. Weston making “his fortune” so now he could live prosperously with the second Mrs. Weston (14). Overall, the beginning chapters of Emma are mainly set around informing the reader of significant relationships that have ended and some that are just beginning.

Reading Article Reflection

I think it that my reading style definitely varies depending on the genre I'm reading. If it is something I'm reading for fun it doesn't take too long for me to be able to focus; However, if it is school related/factual I find I have a hard time focusing my attention on the assigned reading. I do use prior knowledge as I'm reading to make connections to what is being talked about and most of the time I will look up something I don't understand if I can't figure it out through context clues. I think I'm a good reader because I'm able to read fast, and most of the time it's easy for me to figure out what the main idea of the reading is. I can take away many great ideas from this article that will help me with my reading in the future such as trying to make more predictions as I read. This will be one of the hardest strategies that will be the most difficult for myself to change because I think that deep down I'm slightly afraid to be wrong and have proof of it, because I do make the predictions in my head, just not actually written. This goes along with Number 4, the tolerance for failure and being able to re read the text. I don't think anyone enjoys being wrong, but I hate when I strongly feel something is going to happen in a book and the opposite comes out of nowhere. I get kind of disappointed in myself and wonder why I did not think of that before it happened. Personally, I do not enjoy annotating. I'm very good at finding the important parts and separating them with a highlight and even taking notes in the margin, but I just feel like it distracts me from the story and as I stated before it is often hard for me to find my focus when reading for school. Though annotating is not my favorite thing, it definitely comes in handy and is important when chapter quizzes or essays come around. I definitely would not annotate anything I read for fun, but I like that it so easy to locate different areas in the book faster when it comes to books that are required readings for school.

Topic J, 4/16/15

Although I have read only three chapters, and the title is simply Emma, the name of the main character, it gives me a strange feeling that something big is going to happen to her, and it’s a feeling I’ve had ever since I picked the book up. I don’t know why, but between this title and the way the text is written it gives me an eerie vibe, as if something bad is going to happen to this seemingly sweet young girl. Right away the plot starts with her losing Miss Taylor, who is “less a governess than a friend” to Emma and her sister, when Miss Taylor leaves the home and gets married (Austen, 3). The way Emma is described as being so clingy to her and the way her father is perceived as almost anti-social to me, I can’t tell what is quite going on.

I feel like there is foreshadowing going on within these first couple of chapters because it describes how Emma thinks of herself as a match maker, yet she ironically cannot find a match for herself because unlike her sister and Miss Taylor, she is not married. So at first I was thinking possibly the change Emma undergoes is one of her romanitc status, but then again that wouldn’t be much of a plot. I can’t help but feel like this story is going to end in a death or something tragic, all because the title is solely her name. I’m assuming that because of this significance of naming the book after her, it’s obviously based around her, and because of this some large change is going to happen. But, I cant’ quite figure out what and I can’t shake the strange feeling that this simple title is giving me. For a character with such a meek, timid personality it’s odd the story will somehow revolve around her, because after all something must happen or it woulnd’t be critical to name the it after her.

reading article reflection

Alex Pann

Reading Article Reflection

As a reader, I have found through out the years that it takes me a while to fully focus in on what I am reading, and once I am fully focused, it’s almost like I’m in a trance that’s impossible to break. If I’m reading something that I’m forced to, or something I have zero interest in like a textbook for example, I often find that my mind wanders and although I am reading the words I am in no way comprehending or paying any attention to them. If it is something I chose for myself or a subject I find interest in then I become devoted to the book never wanting to put it down, which I think this love I have for words is a strength of mine.

As far as some of the skills and labels this article mentioned I’d say my strongest is my ability to monitor my reading process (number 7.) I say this because whenever I’m not focused on what I’m reading or if I didn’t understand something, I recognize when I completely missed something and have to go back to reread it. As far as a weakness, mine is like number 6- the willingness to change my opinions and see alternate views. Whenever I gain an opinion or image  of how something should be or how something should turn out, I become so emotionally and deeply attached to it that I don’t accept any change or alteration. I cling to my ideas and when something is off it’s very hard for me to comprehend it. 

The strategies I can take away, however, after reading this document is the ability to indeed accept a change in thought and not be so biased towards what I wish for the plot. And, after filling out the survey I realized that I’m quite the scatterbrained reader and have no form of organization for my thoughts and questions so if I really want to improve my skill I’ll have to be cautious of that.

This might be a struggle though because personally, I hate annotating and note taking. Like I said, once I am focused on a story, I am deep into it and having to pull away from my trance every 5 seconds to write a note down or underline something, my fragile focus is thrown off balance and takes forever to find again. To be honest, I never really annotate because it’s just such a bother to me and I really don’t enjoy being interrupted by the burden of analyzing work when I can just be fully and completely dedicated into being in the story. I take what I read as an escape to another life, and when I have to come back into this one constantly it ruins the experience for me and tarnishes the fictional worlds I like to explore as I read on. I live in what I read, and annotating is just an obstacle that always gets in the way.

Reading Article Reflection

From this article I have learned that although I use some of these strategies, there are many more I could use to make myself a better, stronger reader. The strategies that I use when I read are that I find the main idea of the novel or literature I am reading, I compare the piece of literature to prior knowledge and connect them to real life experiences, I ask questions and annotate the book as I read, and I re read parts of the reading that I did not understand the first time. Depending on the task or subject I feel that I do read differently because for me to understand a piece of literature I have to adapt and use different skills to comprehend it. I feel that I am a good reader because I read slow enough for me to understand what I'm reading but I feel that I am weak in being able to analyze what I am reading. From this document I will take away the strategies of looking up words that I am not familiar with and keeping a list of questions I have so I can go back and re read to answer them. Annotating was not a new experience for me because I annotated last year in English but I have a hard time distinguishing between important and minor details. I like annotating because it makes it easier to look back in the book and be able to remember and understand what I read and I feel that it helps my reading experience by making me aware of all the details that occurred. Lastly, this experience will affect my future reading strategies because I will grow from each experience and learn to adapt to new and better strategies to ultimately make me a better reader. 

Blog Prompts

Blog Post Topics (Respond to 1 of the prompts below each week):

A.            Select a significant quotation from your reading; explore the significance of that quotation to the development of characters, conflict, theme, etc.

B.            Explore a significant change in an important character.

C.           Explore a significant relationship’s conflicts or growth.

D.           Write about a motif you see developing--where have you noticed it? What does it seem to be revealing about characters or themes?

E.            Explore the significance of a particular setting (not of the whole novel--pick a specific scene).

F.            Explore the significance of a passage with a lot of imagery or description.

G.           Write about a symbol--how does it exist both literally and figuratively? What does it represent?

H.           Explore connections between your book and something you’ve read previously in English class.

I.              Explore connections between the text and your own life.

J.            What is the significance of the book’s title? What does it reveal about the main characters, conflicts, or themes?