Course: AP English Literature

Topic outline

AP English Literature - Mr. Robel
Open Question
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Charles Dickens was a tremendously successful novelist during England's Victorian period (Queen Victoria ruled England from 1837-1901). Dickens originally published Great Expectations in serial form in his magazine, All the Year Round, from December 1860 to August 1861. Then in October 1861, the full novel was published in three volumes.

Great Expectations can be considered a Bildungsroman--a novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character. It begins with Pip's "first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things," and in many ways it tells the story of how Pip's "impression of the identity of things" evolves as he grows up from an uneducated orphan living in the countryside into an educated man living in the city.

Pip's perceptions of himself, other people, and his place in the world are central to this novel. Consider not only how Pip perceives himself in relation to others, but also how Pip's perceptions are influenced by other people. Why is Pip's relationship with Joe so important, and how do Pip's experiences with other people begin to alter Pip's relationship with Joe? Moreover, what becomes most important to Pip, and why?
Journals
General journal instructions:
- For each journal entry, begin by copying the number and title of the prompt. Each journal entry must be clearly labeled.
- Respond to each prompt in at least a thorough paragraph (approx. 150-250 words), and be sure to address all parts of the prompt.
- These prompts arise from the themes and issues presented in the texts that we read, and the purpose of this writing is to reflect on how these themes are relevant to you and your own personal development. At times, these questions will be the basis for class discussions and “check ins,” so please write only that which you would be comfortable sharing with your teacher and classmates.
- Eventually, your completed Journals will be submitted to turnitin.com. as a Google Doc.
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Journal 26: Part 1 of Siddhartha

Please answer each topic below, and incorporate one significant quotation from the novel to support each answer.(Use three quotations total, one for each topic.)

1. Conflict

How would you define Siddhartha’s central conflict? Is his conflict internal, external, or both? Who or what is his antagonist, and how can we tell?

2. A Motif

One pattern or motif that appears in Part 1 of the story is Siddhartha’s separating from others, breaking-off from others, or leaving others behind: (1) he leaves his father; (2) he breaks from the leader of the Samanas; and (3) he leaves Govinda, his best friend, after Govinda chooses to follow Gotama, the Buddha.

How is your attitude toward Siddhartha (or your impression of his character) influenced by his decisions to leave each of these people, and to abandon
1. the Brahmin life that his father had planned for him,
  
  the ascetic life of the Samanas, and
  
  the companionship that he shared with Govinda?
Do these choices make you view Siddhartha in a positive light, in a negative light, or in a morally-ambiguous light? Why?

3. Awakening

Reread the “awakening” that occurs on pg.38-42.

What are the most important details of the "awakening" that Siddhartha experiences in this scene? Moreover, what seems to cause this awakening or make this transformation of consciousness possible in Siddhartha?

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Multiple Choice Materials
- Multiple Choice Practice #1 - ANSWER KEY File
- Multiple Choice Practice #1 - Prose Analysis File
Films

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No events, Sunday, June 25	No events, Monday, June 26	No events, Tuesday, June 27	No events, Wednesday, June 28	No events, Thursday, June 29	No events, Friday, June 30

Topic outline

AP English Literature - Mr. Robel

Open Question

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Journals

Multiple Choice Materials

Films