Finish reading the play.
Journal 5: Who is to blame? Consider who is to blame and who takes responsibility. Also discuss how Ibsen creates a social commentary - consider at least two of the following topics: decorum, the past, gender roles, the family, idealism, pragmatism, etc.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Ibsen Journal 5
No reading tonight, but we'll be reading Act 5 tomorrow night if you want to get ahead.
Tomorrow we'll finish the presentations and discuss the text. I would like you to consider the following quotations for tomorrow as a starting place for our discussion, but we will probably branch off into some of the other topics as well.
Quotations:
Gina: Oh, well, he has plenty and to spare, he has.
Hjalmar: Light the lamp for me, please!
Gina [ (lighting the lamp).]: And, of course, we don't know as it's Mr. Werle himself; it may be Graberg --
Hjalmar: Why attempt such an evasion?
Gina: I don't know; I only thought -
Hjalmar: H'm!
Gina: It wasn't me that got grandfather that copying. It was Bertha, when she used to come about us.
Hjalmar: It seems to me your voice is trembling.
Gina [ (putting the lamp-shade on).] Is it?
Hjalmar: And your hands are shaking, are they not?
Gina[ (firmly).]: Come right out with it, Ekdal. What has he been saying about me?
Hjalmar: Is it true - can it be true that - that there was an - an understanding between you and Mr. Werle, while you were in service there?
Gina: That's not true. Not at that time. Mr. Werle did come after me, that's a fact. And his wife thought there was something in it, and then she made such a hocus-pocus and hurly-burly, and she hustled me and bustled me about so that I left her service.
Hjalmar: But afterwards, then?
Gina: Well, then I went home. And mother - well, she wasn't the woman you took her for, Ekdal; she kept on worrying and worrying at me about one thing and another - for Mr. Werle was a widower by that time.
Hjalmar: Well, and then?
Gina: I suppose you've got to know it. He gave me no peace until he'd had his way.
Hjalmar:[ (striking his hands together): And this is the mother of my child! How could you hide this from me?
2.
Gina: Do you repent of the fourteen -- the fifteen years we've lived together? Hjalmar [ (placing himself in front of her).]: Have you not every day, every hour, repented of the spider's-web of deceit you have spun around me? Answer me that! How could you help writhing with penitence and remorse? Gina Oh, my dear Ekdal, I've had all I could do to look after the house and get through the day's work --
Hjalmar: Then you never think of reviewing your past?
Gina: No; Heaven knows I'd almost forgotten those old stories.
Hjalmar: Oh, this dull, callous contentment! To me there is something revolting about it. Think of it -- never so much as a twinge of remorse!
3.
Hjalmar: I want to know whether -- your child has the right to live under my roof.
Gina[ (draws herself up; her eyes flash).]:You ask that!
Hjalmar: You shall answer me this one question: Does Hedvig belong to me -- or -- ? Well!
Gina:[ (looking at him with cold defiance).] I don't know.
Hjalmar:[ (quivering a little).] You don't know!
Gina: How should I know. A creature like me --
Hjalmar:[ (quietly turning away from her).] Then I have nothing more to do in this house.
Gregers: Take care, Hialmar! Think what you are doing!
Hjalmar[ (puts on his overcoat).]: In this case, there is nothing for a man like me to think twice about.
4. (ACT 3)
Werle: Is it I, then, that have crippled your mind, Gregers?
Gregers: You have crippled my whole life. I am not thinking of all that about mother -- But it's thanks to you that I am continually haunted and harassed by a guilty conscience.
Werle: Indeed! It is your conscience that troubles you, is it?
Gregers: I ought to have taken a stand against you when the trap was set for Lieutenant Ekdal. I ought to have cautioned him; for I had a misgiving as to what was in the wind.
Werle:Yes, that was the time to have spoken.
Gregers: I did not dare to, I was so cowed and spiritless. I was mortally afraid of you -- not only then, but long afterwards.
Werle: You have got over that fear now, it appears.
Gregers: Yes, fortunately. The wrong done to old Ekdal, both by me and by -- others, can never be undone; but Hialmar I can rescue from all the falsehood and deception that are bringing him to ruin.
Werle: Do you think that will be doing him a kindness?
Gregers: I have not the least doubt of it. Werle: You think our worthy photographer is the sort of man to appreciate such friendly offices?
Gregers: Yes, I do.
Werle: H'm -- we shall see.
Gregers: Besides, if I am to go on living, I must try to find some cure for my sick conscience.
Werle: It will never be sound. Your conscience has been sickly from childhood. That is a legacy from your mother, Gregers -- the only one she left you.
Tomorrow we'll finish the presentations and discuss the text. I would like you to consider the following quotations for tomorrow as a starting place for our discussion, but we will probably branch off into some of the other topics as well.
Quotations:
Gina: Oh, well, he has plenty and to spare, he has.
Hjalmar: Light the lamp for me, please!
Gina [ (lighting the lamp).]: And, of course, we don't know as it's Mr. Werle himself; it may be Graberg --
Hjalmar: Why attempt such an evasion?
Gina: I don't know; I only thought -
Hjalmar: H'm!
Gina: It wasn't me that got grandfather that copying. It was Bertha, when she used to come about us.
Hjalmar: It seems to me your voice is trembling.
Gina [ (putting the lamp-shade on).] Is it?
Hjalmar: And your hands are shaking, are they not?
Gina[ (firmly).]: Come right out with it, Ekdal. What has he been saying about me?
Hjalmar: Is it true - can it be true that - that there was an - an understanding between you and Mr. Werle, while you were in service there?
Gina: That's not true. Not at that time. Mr. Werle did come after me, that's a fact. And his wife thought there was something in it, and then she made such a hocus-pocus and hurly-burly, and she hustled me and bustled me about so that I left her service.
Hjalmar: But afterwards, then?
Gina: Well, then I went home. And mother - well, she wasn't the woman you took her for, Ekdal; she kept on worrying and worrying at me about one thing and another - for Mr. Werle was a widower by that time.
Hjalmar: Well, and then?
Gina: I suppose you've got to know it. He gave me no peace until he'd had his way.
Hjalmar:[ (striking his hands together): And this is the mother of my child! How could you hide this from me?
2.
Gina: Do you repent of the fourteen -- the fifteen years we've lived together? Hjalmar [ (placing himself in front of her).]: Have you not every day, every hour, repented of the spider's-web of deceit you have spun around me? Answer me that! How could you help writhing with penitence and remorse? Gina Oh, my dear Ekdal, I've had all I could do to look after the house and get through the day's work --
Hjalmar: Then you never think of reviewing your past?
Gina: No; Heaven knows I'd almost forgotten those old stories.
Hjalmar: Oh, this dull, callous contentment! To me there is something revolting about it. Think of it -- never so much as a twinge of remorse!
3.
Hjalmar: I want to know whether -- your child has the right to live under my roof.
Gina[ (draws herself up; her eyes flash).]:You ask that!
Hjalmar: You shall answer me this one question: Does Hedvig belong to me -- or -- ? Well!
Gina:[ (looking at him with cold defiance).] I don't know.
Hjalmar:[ (quivering a little).] You don't know!
Gina: How should I know. A creature like me --
Hjalmar:[ (quietly turning away from her).] Then I have nothing more to do in this house.
Gregers: Take care, Hialmar! Think what you are doing!
Hjalmar[ (puts on his overcoat).]: In this case, there is nothing for a man like me to think twice about.
4. (ACT 3)
Werle: Is it I, then, that have crippled your mind, Gregers?
Gregers: You have crippled my whole life. I am not thinking of all that about mother -- But it's thanks to you that I am continually haunted and harassed by a guilty conscience.
Werle: Indeed! It is your conscience that troubles you, is it?
Gregers: I ought to have taken a stand against you when the trap was set for Lieutenant Ekdal. I ought to have cautioned him; for I had a misgiving as to what was in the wind.
Werle:Yes, that was the time to have spoken.
Gregers: I did not dare to, I was so cowed and spiritless. I was mortally afraid of you -- not only then, but long afterwards.
Werle: You have got over that fear now, it appears.
Gregers: Yes, fortunately. The wrong done to old Ekdal, both by me and by -- others, can never be undone; but Hialmar I can rescue from all the falsehood and deception that are bringing him to ruin.
Werle: Do you think that will be doing him a kindness?
Gregers: I have not the least doubt of it. Werle: You think our worthy photographer is the sort of man to appreciate such friendly offices?
Gregers: Yes, I do.
Werle: H'm -- we shall see.
Gregers: Besides, if I am to go on living, I must try to find some cure for my sick conscience.
Werle: It will never be sound. Your conscience has been sickly from childhood. That is a legacy from your mother, Gregers -- the only one she left you.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Ibsen Journal 4
Read Act 4 tonight.
Journal 1: Consider how Ibsen discusses language by addressing how and when characters provide or leave out information. Try to connect the language to a character's actions.
2) Consider which characters are at fault for the events that are unfolding and why? Is there a character without blame? Why or why not? Is there a character who should carry more of the blame? Do any of the characters take responsibility?
Also, I'll be out of the building tomorrow to prepare for my mother-in-law's memorial. In class tomorrow you'll be given a passage to examine. You need to examine the language closely to develop a performance for the class. Pay attention to Ibsen's style and the mise-en-scene to inform your decisions about how to read the lines, positioning and staging. Consider the mood of the scene and the tone of the characters. What should you emphasize, how and why?
Journal 1: Consider how Ibsen discusses language by addressing how and when characters provide or leave out information. Try to connect the language to a character's actions.
2) Consider which characters are at fault for the events that are unfolding and why? Is there a character without blame? Why or why not? Is there a character who should carry more of the blame? Do any of the characters take responsibility?
Also, I'll be out of the building tomorrow to prepare for my mother-in-law's memorial. In class tomorrow you'll be given a passage to examine. You need to examine the language closely to develop a performance for the class. Pay attention to Ibsen's style and the mise-en-scene to inform your decisions about how to read the lines, positioning and staging. Consider the mood of the scene and the tone of the characters. What should you emphasize, how and why?
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Ibsen Act 3 journal 3
Reading: Act 3
Journal: 1) Brainstorm 5 cultural or contextual aspects you would like more information on to help you understand the text.
2) Keep exploring the characterization: honesty, dishonesty, romantic notions, realistic concerns... Also, during our discussion today, a couple of you mentioned that characters were uncomfortable. Consider how Ibsen portrays when a character is uncomfortable -what does the character do? How does the other character respond?
3) Consider how do the themes we discussed today develop in scene three? Do any new themes emerge? (themes discussed: honesty, family, shame, guilt...)
Journal: 1) Brainstorm 5 cultural or contextual aspects you would like more information on to help you understand the text.
2) Keep exploring the characterization: honesty, dishonesty, romantic notions, realistic concerns... Also, during our discussion today, a couple of you mentioned that characters were uncomfortable. Consider how Ibsen portrays when a character is uncomfortable -what does the character do? How does the other character respond?
3) Consider how do the themes we discussed today develop in scene three? Do any new themes emerge? (themes discussed: honesty, family, shame, guilt...)
Monday, December 9, 2013
The Wild Duck Journal 2
Antigone journals are due tomorrow.
HW: for Wednesday Read Act II
Journal 2
1. Examine how Act I ends and how Act II begins. To help examine the changes between the acts, consider the elements of the mise-en-scene: setting, characters and lighting.
2. Consider how Ibsen discusses honesty? What aspects of plot, characterization, motifs help develop the discussion?
3. Consider how Ibsen portrays the family and home? How does the environment influence and motivate the characters?
4. "Realism and Naturalism are terms used to describe fiction that aims at minute fidelity to actual existence. Realism connotes an attempt to give the illusion of the ordinary life, in which unexceptional people undergo everyday experiences"(Norton Anthology of English Literature Volume 2) Examine how Ibsen portrays the common man and the common experience.
5. Choose one motif we've discussed in class and acknowledge one additional motif to discuss.
HW: for Wednesday Read Act II
Journal 2
1. Examine how Act I ends and how Act II begins. To help examine the changes between the acts, consider the elements of the mise-en-scene: setting, characters and lighting.
2. Consider how Ibsen discusses honesty? What aspects of plot, characterization, motifs help develop the discussion?
3. Consider how Ibsen portrays the family and home? How does the environment influence and motivate the characters?
4. "Realism and Naturalism are terms used to describe fiction that aims at minute fidelity to actual existence. Realism connotes an attempt to give the illusion of the ordinary life, in which unexceptional people undergo everyday experiences"(Norton Anthology of English Literature Volume 2) Examine how Ibsen portrays the common man and the common experience.
5. Choose one motif we've discussed in class and acknowledge one additional motif to discuss.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Antigone Research and Ibsen
Due dates:
Tues: Research on your own, write up a RD for the one or both annotated bibliographies
Wed: Computer lab during class: Finish research, annotated bibliography, create handout and 3-5 minute presentation
Thurs: In class writing for Antigone topics, Bring Ibsen to start reading/discussing
Friday: Interactive oral presentations: Discuss Act 1
Helpful sites for research:
BBC history pages
http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/ww2
For literary journals, use JSTOR or EBSCO via MC Library or PCC
Ibsen Homework:
Read Act I of The Wild Duck - We'll start this in class and finish for homework: take notes and tab all of the following questions:
Prepare for small group discussions by journaling about the following topics.
1. The staging of the play. What did you notice about how Ibsen stages the play - consider the set, costumes, props, and characters movements. Who is on stage with whom? Who avoids whom?
2. Examine the motif of illness or disease and silence
3. How does Ibsen create levels of formality, social class or gender roles? What types of consequences do rules of decorum create?
4. Consider how and why characters create illusion and put on appearances.
5. Examine the relationship between fathers and sons. What themes develop because of them?
6. In what ways does Ibsen's style and purpose differ from Anouilh? How are they similar?
Tues: Research on your own, write up a RD for the one or both annotated bibliographies
Wed: Computer lab during class: Finish research, annotated bibliography, create handout and 3-5 minute presentation
Thurs: In class writing for Antigone topics, Bring Ibsen to start reading/discussing
Friday: Interactive oral presentations: Discuss Act 1
Helpful sites for research:
BBC history pages
http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/ww2
For literary journals, use JSTOR or EBSCO via MC Library or PCC
Ibsen Homework:
Read Act I of The Wild Duck - We'll start this in class and finish for homework: take notes and tab all of the following questions:
Prepare for small group discussions by journaling about the following topics.
1. The staging of the play. What did you notice about how Ibsen stages the play - consider the set, costumes, props, and characters movements. Who is on stage with whom? Who avoids whom?
2. Examine the motif of illness or disease and silence
3. How does Ibsen create levels of formality, social class or gender roles? What types of consequences do rules of decorum create?
4. Consider how and why characters create illusion and put on appearances.
5. Examine the relationship between fathers and sons. What themes develop because of them?
6. In what ways does Ibsen's style and purpose differ from Anouilh? How are they similar?
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