Ms. Bridges' AP English

Hello Scholars! If it is raining tomorrow, there will be no AP meeting. If it's not raining, then I will - I hope - see you on Monday, February 23rd at 12 noon in #503. Same thing on Wednesday. February 25 will be the last meeting before school starts. Please start reading MADAME BOVARY. I will see if I can put a link to the book on this weblog. Please check this weblog because I will put info, background information and questions for you regarding MADAME BOVARY. If you have any questions or definitely intend to come this week, e-mail me at jkatbridge@aol.com.

Part 5, Chapter 5: The preceding scene is interrupted by the appearance of Lebezyatnikov who gives Sonia the dreadful news that Katerina has gone insane; she has taken her children into the streets and is trying to teach them to sing and dance like street performers. Chapter Six is a heartbreaking scene where we see the desperate straits that Katerina and her children are in, and where we also see the total disintegration of Katerina's mind. Katerina is in a manic state which apparently is one of the symptoms of end stage consumption. (Consumptives are believed to be filled with manic energy before they collapse dying, which is a common motif found in 19th century literature and music - i.e.; CAMILLE and LA TRAVIATA). Katerina falls in the street hemorrhaging from the throat; she is then carried back to Sonia's flat where she agonizingly dies. Svidrigaylov shows up at Katerina's death scene and offers to pay for her burial and to make provisions for the children to be place...

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Good morning scholars! Part Five, Chapter One: In this chapter, the character, Lebezyatnikov, expounds on his theories about Utopia (or an ideal society) which are put forth by the French social philosopher CHARLES FOURIER (1772 -1837). Fourier conceived of an ideal economic society (or commune) in which people share living space and work duties. Fourier based his ideas on Thomas More's UTOPIA, written 300 hundred years earlier, and on Plato's REPUBLIC. (DOSTOEVKSY, Irwin, page 124). Another tenet of the philosophy is "free love" where people are allowed to form romantic and sexual liaisons with multiple partners without marital entanglements. Children as a result of these unions would be taken care of by the entire commune. There were a few of these communes established both in Europe and in the United States (much to the outrage of the folk in the surrounding areas) in the 19th Century. This chapter is basically comic for Lebezyatnikov is used as a mouthpiece to exp...

Just a reminder, we will be having class tomorrow at 12 noon on Wednesday, February 18th in room 503. Please finish CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by tomorrow. We will be finishing up the novel and starting on MADAME BOVARY. Jkate Bridges

There will be class on Wednesday, February 18th at 12 noon in 503. Some more questions and thoughts for your consideration: 1. Part 4, Chapter 1: Do you believe that Svidrigaylov is an extraordinary man according to the "uber mench" theory? Why or why not? 2. Part 4, Chapter 2: What contrasts do you see between Dounia and Luzhin? Is Luzhin a reliable witness? What conclusions can you draw about the character of both Dounia and Luzhin? 3. According to Raskolnikov's theory an extraordinary man is isolated from society. At the end of the dinner with his mother, sister, Luzhin and Razumkhin, Raskolnikov decides to separate himself from his family - to isolate himself. Why does he do this? What other person in the story is isolated? 4. Part 4, Chapter 3: As Raskolnikov is leaving after the dinner, he stops and stares intently into Razumikhin's eyes. What important information is passed, unspoken, between Raskolnikov and Razumikhin? What important decision does Razumikh...

Just a note to let you know there will be no class today because it is a holiday. Hope to see you this Wednesday, February 18th at 12 noon in room 503. Jkatbridge

Good morning scholars! Here are some more thoughts regarding CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. Part Three, Chapter Five: Raskolnikov meets with Porfiry Petrovitch, who is related to Raskolnilov's friend, Razumihkin. Porfiry is in charge of the investigation into the murder of Alyona Ivanovna, the pawnbroker. Porfiry is a brilliant, cynical man who is a worthy match for Raskolnikov. It appears that Porfiry has read an article written by Raskolnikov in which he expounds further on his ideas concerning "the extraordinary man. Porfiry questions him at length about his ideas during which Raskolnikov states that the ordinary laws do not apply to extraordinary men who may murder with impunity if it is for a higher good (the ends justify the means - another tenet of Hegelian theory). There are ordinary men who take themselves to be extraordinary but when they seek to break the law then they must suffer for their transgressions. When Porfiry asks him if he believes that he is an extraordinary ma...

Hello AP Students! Remember we have class tomorrow from 12 to 2 pm in room #503 on Mondays and Wednesdays. Hope to see you tomorrow.

Good morning scholars - or good evening! Please scroll down to the next post first and read up on Mill, Bentham and Hegel before you read this. It may explain a few concepts. One interesting concept that Dostoevsky wrestles with is the continual conflict that is waged within the hearts of his characters. The characters seemingly have psychic "doubles" and throughout some of his books, such as CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV, some of the characters fall into such states of psychic confusion and disintegration that they are not certain what is real and what is hallucination. Keep in mind that during and after the murder of Alyona Ivanovna, Raskolnikov falls into a feverish dream state where he is not always certain what and who are real. Also keep in mind that Raskolnikov sees signs, omens and portents which he interprets as the universe's "go-ahead sign" to commit the murder: for example, his stumbling upon a conveniently located axe, his stum...

Hello AP Students: The next meeting will be on Monday, February 9th at noon in #503. Please RSVP me by e-mail no later than Sunday to let me know if you are going to be attending. My e-mail address is: jkatbridge@aol.com. You need to be finishing up CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by then. I will be posting more questions and activities on the weblog regarding Dostoevksy's novel before Monday. Thank you, J.K. Bridges

Hello AP Students! Our first meeting will be at noon in #503 on Wednesday, February 4th. Please be sure to read and finish CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. I hope to see you on Wednesday, #503. Jkate Bridges