Women's Literature
ML 471 / GS 490 - University of Hartford - Spring 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Guadagnino's "I Am Love"
Monday, April 25, 2011
Ernaux's "Simple Passion / Passion simple"
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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 /
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?
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"Like Water for Chocolate / Como agua para chocolate" - Day Three
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
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)
Monday, April 11, 2011
"Like Water for Chocolate / Como agua para chocolate" - Day Two
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
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?