Ernaux's "Simple Passion / Passion simple"

Please answer at least two questions or bring up your own topics for discussion:

1. The beginning of the novel is very important (the X-rated movie). What is so shocking here? The graphic description of sex? Something else? Why does Ernaux say at the end of this: "It occurred to me that writing should also aim for that - the impression conveyed by sexual intercourse, a feeling of anxiety and stupefaction, a suspension of moral judgement"? How does this statement relate to what you think Ernaux attempts to do in the novel?

2. Describe the narrator's association with temporality. What does time signify for her? Does she live "in the present"? How does she treat the present, past and future? Why is this significant? How does this relate to her relationship with A? (Or, how does her relationship with time relate to the theme of presence / absence found within the novel?)

3. This is in large part a novel about writing. Notice the times in the novel where the narrator mentions the act of writing. Why write this novel? What does the narrator hope to accomplish? How might this relate to the notion of autobiography (we can assume that the narrator is Ernaux herself)?

4. Discuss the notion of gender in the novel. What images of the main characters (the narrator and A) do we have here? Do you see this as problematic? Is this a realistic portrayal of relationships? Is it too over the top, frustrating? Why? (Or, why would a supposedly "modern, enlightened and forward-thinking female writer" write such a novel that seems to portray women in a seemingly negative light?)

5. What does the title "Simple Passion" imply? What about "simple" and "passion" separately? How might these meanings relate to the text?

Link's "Beyond Silence / Jenseits der Stille"

Topics of discussion:

Please address some of the topics below (or other topics) in a short essay concerning the film.

The different ‘worlds’ in which Lara lives – the hearing / deaf worlds, the child / adult worlds, the musical / non-musical worlds, etc.

The parents together – what do they represent? And the father and mother separately?

The parents’ relationship to the hearing world.

The parents’ relationship to music.

The father’s relationship with his family (both immediate and extended).

The father’s relationship with Lara.

The mother’s relationship with Lara.

The relationship between Lara and her aunt.

The relationship between Lara and her sister.

In what ways is this a “coming of age” story? What is it Lara “learns” throughout the film?

The dichotomy between home / Berlin.

Would the film have been different if Lara were a boy? In what ways?

The notion of an “internal music” we all possess – how does this manifest itself in the film?

"Like Water for Chocolate / Como agua para chocolate" - Day Three

As for Tuesday, pick three quotes from the remaining four chapters for comment. Try to have one of the quotes come from the final culminating scene of the novel.

Presentations Left

THURSDAY, APRIL 14:

Gabriela (Like Water for Chocolate)

THURSDAY, APRIL 21:

Mitch (Beyond Silence)

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Roxana (Beyond Silence)

Mitchell (Under the Sand)

Samantha (Like Water for Chocolate)

Jordan (Annie Ernaux)

Gabriela (final paper?)

Felicia (final paper?)

Maral (Annie Ernaux)

TUESDAY, MAY 2

Jessica (I Am Love)

Kaytlinne (I Am Love)

"Like Water for Chocolate / Como agua para chocolate" - Day Two

Please choose three quotes that interest you from the chapters for today and do a "close reading" of them.

Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate" / "Como agua para chocolate" - DAY ONE

Please answer at least three questions:

JANUARY - APRIL

1. Esquivel presents the text both as a novel and a cook book. Why do you think this is the case? How do the recipes add to the novel? How does the novel add to the recipes? (Or, some related questions – how do food and the story intertwine? Why and how is food so important here?)

2. Do an analysis of Tita (the main character of the novel) – what does she represent within the framework of the novel?

3. Do an analysis of one (or more) of the other characters in the novel: Mama Elena, Rosaura, Gertrudis, Pedro. What do these characters represent? What “archetypes” do you think they fulfill?

4. There is a healthy amount of “magic realism” in this novel. How do these fantastical elements add to some of the main themes, plot points, etc. of the narrative? Why do you think Esquivel adds these elements to the novel?

5. Write about a specific scene in the novel that struck you – analyze this scene (do a “close reading” of it). How do you read this scene? Why do you feel it to be important? What issues / conflicts / themes / etc. does it raise that can help to an overall understanding of the novel?

Almodóvar’s “Volver”

Main Characters:

Raimunda (central character)

Soledad (Raimunda’s sister)

Irene (mother of Raimunda and Soledad)

Agustina (the friend with cancer)

Paula (Raimunda’s daughter)

Please discuss some of these topics (or bring up your own) in a coherent short response about the film:

The role of women in the film (a specific female character or the notion of women united / divided).

The place of men in the film (if there is one?).

The theme of the “return” (hence the title of the film “Volver” = “to return”).

The dichotomy between the city (Madrid) and the country (the small town)

A scene in the film that struck you and why….