Literature Circle 1, Setting Assignment
  • 1. Locate two quotations that reveal the setting in your novel.  Explain what the quotation suggests about the setting and its impact on the protagonist and the meaning of the work.   Remember that setting is much more than location and may include social environment, occupations, culture, and moral attitudes.

“We sat against the low cemetary wall under the shade thrown by the pomegranate tree. In another month or two, crops of scorched yellow weeds would blanket the hillside, but that year the spring showers had lasted longer than usual, nudging their way into early summer, and the grass was still green, peppered with tangles of wildflowers.”
This quote accurately represents the setting because it illustrates the constant changes in the environment as well as the characters. This quote alludes to the changing relationship of Hassan and Amir. There moral attitudes and beliefs are so different it has pushed them apart. There cultural ranks are so different perhaps this time there relationship is stretched beyond repair.

“The streets glistened with fresh snow and the sky was a blameless blue. snow blanketed every rooftop and weighed on the branches of the stunted mulberry trees that lined our street.”
This quote is a metaphor for Hassan’s loyalty as a servant to Amir’s family. It brings out the subtle beauty in the scene amongst the chaos that comes with the annual kite fighting tournament.           

 2.Identify four physical objects that are essential to the setting of the work and which represent one of the elements of setting listed below.  For each, explain what the object reveals about the specific element of setting and how the object helps to evoke a mood or atmosphere in the work.  Specific elements of the setting include:

A) the geographical location (its topography, scenery, and physical arrangements:
The novel is set in Kabul, the capital and largest city in Afghanistan. It is a hilly region with a large amount of infrastructure   


b) the occupations and daily manner of living of the characters
The main characters before the political uprising in Afghanistan spent their days reading on one of the many hillsides and galavanting throughout the many alleyways as well as spending time in their house and the local market. 


C)the time period in which the action takes place (epoch in history or season of the year) 
The novel takes place in 1973 onwards 


D)the general environment of the characters (social, religious, cultural, moral, and emotional conditions and attitudes).
There are moral and religious attitudes included in the setting. This included the churches and religious areas. The culture however is mixed. Due to the social separation between Hassan and Amir they have different education levels and emotional attitudes and values.
 
Literature Circle 2, Characterization Assignment  

1. Find two quotations that portray the character of the protagonist.  Explain what the quotation reveals about the main character and the meaning of the work.

“That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.”

This quote occurred in the first chapter of the novel and basically sets the stage for the rest of the plot to unfold. It hints at the possible large amounts of guilt Amir feels when he thinks about what happened in the deserted alley. As a reader you are alerted to the fact that slowly you will be learning about events that occurred in the past over the course of the novel.

“I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.”

 This quote occurred after Hassan was raped at the end of chapter 7. By saying this Amir admits that what he did in his eyes was worse then cowardice. He compares Hassan to the lamb he had to slay to get the blue kite to prove to Baba that he was a winner like him and ultimately win his approval. 

1.    Create a personalized license plate for the protagonist, which may contain no punctuation marks or symbols and which consists of no more than seven letters, seven numbers, or a combination thereof.  Explain why your license plate is apt for the character.

The personalized license plate number that I would assign to Amir would be a mix of letters and numbers 8H6 MT5L

I think that Amir would be a combination because his character is a mix of constant guilt and arrogance, which is represented in the letters and numbers. They are slightly similar but still incredibly different like Amir’s personality qualities. 

  

 
What aspects or general themes from Cinthio’s Hecatommithi would make an interesting adaptation into Othello on stage?

I think the general theme that would make a clear and accurate adaptation would be jealousy. It is easily portrayed though acting and effectively draws the audience in.

I think the ending Shakespeare chose was Othello kills himself.     

 
What are Hugo's motives? Why does he manipulate the other characters?

I think Hugo’s motive for murder is he is jealous of his dad’s relationship with Otis. Hugo receives no love or attention from his father. He feels the need to make Otis seem less desirable and perfect so his father will pay more attention to him. Through manipulating Otis and other people around him Hugo succeeds in ruining his life and ending others. Hugo specifically manipulates other characters because the only way he could get to Otis was to weave a complicated web of lies. It is a tragic tale filled with lies, jealousy and deceit.

Why is Odin vulnerable to Hugo's manipulations?


Odin is vulnerable to Hugo’s manipulations because he becomes paranoid easily. Because he has a shady past he cannot escape the feeling that people want to ruin his life. Odin is the top basketball player and has a beautiful girlfriend, he has everything to loose and he looses everything.   



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