April 3 Homework: Plath and Sexton

For Plath, read "Daddy," "Tulips" and "The Shrike." For Sexton, read "The Truth The Dead Know," "The Fury of Sunrises," and (just to cheer you up) "Waiting to Die."
For each poem:
1. Look for and "decode" what you think are autobiograpical references
2. Identify imagery and what it represents
3. Go online and find one critic's comment for each poem. Summarize or briefly quote these on a separate page, and for each indicate whether you agree or disagree and why. Be sure to cite your sources.
We will discuss Plath on Tuesday and Sexton on Wednesday. You will have additional homework Tuesday night.

John Proctor's "Goodness"

After tearing up his confession, Proctor tells those assembled, "You have made your magic now, for now I think I do see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs." What does he mean by this? Why is is "magic"? How does this relate to Danforth's "shining sun is up" comment you discussed last night?

Defining Morality

Continuing our discussion in class today, is there an absolute morality? Or does the definition of "good" change depending on the person, the culture, the time period, or other factors?
After explaining your personal view, discuss which view the play communicates. Is right and wrong absolute or relative in this play (not in the characters' view, but in the overall philosophy Miller puts forth)?

Manicheanism At Work

Danforth tells Francis Nurse, "[Y]ou must understand, sir, that a person is
either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road
between. This is a sharp time, now, a precise time--we live no longer in
the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the
world. Now, by God's grace, the shining sun is up, and them that fear not
light will surely praise it" (94).

Please respond to this statement. Some things to consider:

• What is ironic about these words?
• Is there any character for whom these words are true? If so, which one?
• How might this statement relate to McCarthy's "witch hunt"? How might it relate to present-day society?
• What is the connection between this statement and the title of the play?

Remember to respond to what others have said in addition to contributing your original thoughts.

Fear as a Motivator

Are people more easily frightened than inspired? Do we do what we do because we are intrinsically motivated (meaning we have an internal desire to persue goals we perceive as worthy in and of themselves) or because we fear the consequences of not doing it? Why do you think this is?

"Bartleby"

Do you believe that in order to survive in society, one must perform a meaningless task for their entire life?

"Young Goodman Brown"

Is it possible to witness evil but remain good?

"Rip Van Winkle"

Imagine that you are now thirty years old. You have spent the last 15 years, beginning from this day, asleep, thus you have "fast forwarded" to the year 2024. How would this time change affect you? Would you be happy to skip those years? Why?