The Natural: Day 4

1. Fair Memo: looking specifically at the first two paragraphs of last night's reading, how does Malamud characterize Memo?

2. How do Memo, Gus, and Max help develop the character of Roy? In other words, if context helps shape our identity, what do these three characters bring out in Roy?

The Natural: Post #4

In what ways are the "villains" unable to see Roy clearly? And what might Malamud be suggesting in the blindness of the villains? Be specific and reference the text.

OR

What outside forces distract Roy's talent?

Look at these happy people:

The Natural: Day 2&3

Free write: The rookie season, what fun. Roy arrives for his first full day and his uniform has been knotted and soaked, his stockings are shredded, and much, much more. Back in 1952 when The Natural was published, hazing was a fairly common practice. Now, its illegal and quite controversial when it does happen.

Reflect on and write about a time when you were a newcomer, a rookie. Maybe it's when you joined a new team, when you arrived at a new school, or when you moved to a new neighborhood. What was it like for you as a newcomer and was there hazing involved?

Discussion
1. In what ways is Bump a failed hero?
2. What kind of person is Roy? How has he changed in 15 years and how has he stayed the same?
3. In what ways are Bump, the Whammer and Roy all variations of the same hero mold? What is Malamud telling us about heroes in society?
4. What's the significance of the train?
5. Roy waits for Memo & the chance to play. What do these to things have in common? What is Roy seeking from both?

The Natural: Post #2

Lots of connections to the Parcival myth in last night's reading. Some literary critics have said that Malamud put a realistic man in a mythological setting. Is that fair? Has Malamud set Roy up for failure? So far, has Roy changed in the 15 years since the shooting? Be specific in your responses, please.

The Natural: Day 1

Free write: Most titles give us an idea what the story is about, and what we will experience if we read. But some authors use titles to do more than that; some use metaphors so their titles create additional meanings.

In the world of sports, talent scouts, managers, coaches, writers and fans examine the talent of newcomers and wonder whether they will be successful. A player whose skills seem to need no training, or whose skills seem God-given, is called a natural.

In the Middle Ages (approx. 500A.D. to 1350 A.D.), the term natural referred to an idiot, a kind of foolish innocent person whom it was thought God protected.

How does Bernard Malamud use the title of the book to allude to Roy as a natural in both senses?

Discussion
1. NYTimes Book Review
2. Allegory
3. Parzival/Percival: What parallels are present?
4. p. 26: What are we to make of Harriet's questioning of Ray: "Isn't there something over and above earthly things—some more glorious meaning to one's life and activities?"
5. Where can we see myth-making in the first section?
6. Symbols present and what might they signify?

The Natural: Post #1

One of the major themes of this novel is the conflict between myth and reality. How is this conflict present in modern day baseball? Be sure to identify specific attributes of both the myth and reality of baseball.