Write: Where is Salinger headed? What's beyond the gate?
1. Page 251: Salinger's baseball sermon. What's the intention behind his? How does it compare/contrast to Eddie's?
2. What changes Richard in that moment with his father?
3. Looking back throughout the novel, what's the significance of Karin or Annie always seeing the players first?
Here are the essay topics!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Shoeless Joe: Day 8
Free write: “I know that some of us, and for some reason I am one of them, get to reach out and touch our heart’s desire, like a child who gets to pet the nose of an old horse, soft as satin, safe as a grandfather’s lap. And I know, too, that when most people reach out for that heart’s desire, it appears not as a horse but as a tiger, and they are rewarded with snarls, frustration, and disillusionment” (218).
Personally: What does this passage make you think of? Textually: How does this relate to the major action of the novel?
Other Questions
1. “A collector’s dream” (217). In what way is Ray a collector? What does he collect?
2. “Fact and fantasy swirl together” (218). What role does self-delusion have in dream fulfillment? Is Ray delusional? Salinger? Are we all, just a little? How does delusion relate to our ability to believe and have faith?
3. “We sleep.” …“And wait.” … “And dream … Oh, how we dream” (221). Dream of what?
4. Look at Eddie’s baseball sermon on p. 227 and beyond:
What’s a sermon?
What are the gospels?
What did baseball offer Eddie?
What does the Field offer Eddie?
What’s the significance of using “the word” in his speech? What effect does the repetition have? What does the repetition allude to?
What does Eddie offer Ray?
Besides the love of the game, what’s the connection between the two men?
Personally: What does this passage make you think of? Textually: How does this relate to the major action of the novel?
Other Questions
1. “A collector’s dream” (217). In what way is Ray a collector? What does he collect?
2. “Fact and fantasy swirl together” (218). What role does self-delusion have in dream fulfillment? Is Ray delusional? Salinger? Are we all, just a little? How does delusion relate to our ability to believe and have faith?
3. “We sleep.” …“And wait.” … “And dream … Oh, how we dream” (221). Dream of what?
4. Look at Eddie’s baseball sermon on p. 227 and beyond:
What’s a sermon?
What are the gospels?
What did baseball offer Eddie?
What does the Field offer Eddie?
What’s the significance of using “the word” in his speech? What effect does the repetition have? What does the repetition allude to?
What does Eddie offer Ray?
Besides the love of the game, what’s the connection between the two men?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Shoeless Joe: Day 6
Work on your scene. Remember magical REALism is not magical crazy-ism (Trevor!). Keep in mind where your characters are headed and what the idol can offer the commoner.
Discussion Question
Discussion Question
1. "Writing is different," Salinger insists. "Other people get into occupations by accident or deign; but writers are born. We have to write. I have to write. I could work at selling motels, or slopping hogs, for fifty years, but if someone asked my occupation, I'd say writer, even if I'd never sold a word. Writers write. Other people talk." (109)
How does Salinger's idea relate to Ray? How does it relate to the idea of faith?
2. Why does Ray constantly press Salinger about writing?
3. Ray pulls out a fan letter to Salinger (p. 134), but Salinger is unmoved by the note. Why do you think Salinger is so reluctant to be loved and adored? Why include this type of character in the novel? What purpose of Salinger's reluctance serve in Ray's journey?
2. Why does Ray constantly press Salinger about writing?
3. Ray pulls out a fan letter to Salinger (p. 134), but Salinger is unmoved by the note. Why do you think Salinger is so reluctant to be loved and adored? Why include this type of character in the novel? What purpose of Salinger's reluctance serve in Ray's journey?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Shoeless Joe: Day 5
A great piece supplied by Megan!
Who is this Moonlight Graham?
And what about Veda Ponikvar?
Free write: Salinger is Ray Kinsella's life-long heroic author who offers Ray not only a chance to meet his hero but also something to make his dreams come true. Think about a hero in your life -- a sports star, an author, an actor, but someone not related to you. Think about someone who can offer you a piece of your dream or some wish you have. Now, tell me who you're going to pick up, why you're picking up this person and where you're going.
Each student is assigned another student's pairing. You then must write a scene between the two characters.
Who is this Moonlight Graham?
And what about Veda Ponikvar?
Free write: Salinger is Ray Kinsella's life-long heroic author who offers Ray not only a chance to meet his hero but also something to make his dreams come true. Think about a hero in your life -- a sports star, an author, an actor, but someone not related to you. Think about someone who can offer you a piece of your dream or some wish you have. Now, tell me who you're going to pick up, why you're picking up this person and where you're going.
Each student is assigned another student's pairing. You then must write a scene between the two characters.
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