Lit 10 1/12/18

Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007)

• A well-known American author of German descent.
• He was always interested in writing. He wrote for his high school newspaper and supposedly wrote for Cornell Univeristy's paper when he went to uni for biochemistry (he was interested in science as well, which is why so many of his works have sci-fi themes).
• In 1943, during WWII, he enlisted in the Air Force.
• He was captured by the Germans during the war an remained a prisoner of war until the Allied forces firebombed Dresden, Germany.

Continued

• 25,000 people died in the aerial bombing of Dresden.
• After the war, Vonnegut went to graduate school for athropology.
• Vonnegut really enjoyed writing about sci-fi and human nature, so it's easy to see that he draws inspiration from his interests.
• His most famous work, and a very well revered modern-day classic, is Slaughterhouse Five (which is actually banned in schools). The book is essentially a anti-war peace, stemming directly from his own expereinces of WWII. It also includes sci-fi themes.
• It was very popular when it came out in the 1969 because there were many anti-war rallies and protests against the Vietnam War (1955 - 1975).

Story Background

• The Lie isn't sci-fi, but it can definitely be seen as a story about human nature and how people are easily manipulated because they are too caught up with themselves.
• This story was written in 1962, so a couple of years before he finished Slaughterhouse Five.
• Main characters (up until where you read):
• Doctor Remenzel: father of Eli
• Sylvia: mother of Eli
• Eli: focus character of the story (he isn't necessarily a main character or protangonist, but rather who the storyline is focused on).
• Ben Barkley: chauffer

Story Background

Focus of story: Characterization

• Characterization: a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story. There are two kinds of characterization.
• Direct: "This kind of characterization takes a direct approach towards building the character. It uses another character, narrator, or the protagonist himself to tell the readers or audience about the subject" (Literary Devices, 2018).
• Indirect: "A more subtle way of introducing the character to the audience. The audience has to deduce for themselves the characteristics of the character by observing his/her thought process, behavior, speech, way of talking, appearance, and manner of communication with other characters, as well as by discerning the response of other characters" (Literary Devices, 2018).
• What type of characterization does Vonnegut use?

Brief Summary

• p. 72 - 73: We learn about that the Remenzel family is currently traveling to the Whitehill School for Boys, a private prep school in Massachusetts. One of teh first things that we read is that they are in a Rolls Royce. This is a huge indicator that they are a family that comes from money (very old money)--aside from the fact that they have a chauffer.
• a prep school is usually essentially private & prestigious high schools that are geared towards getting its students into equally prestigious uni's (think Chilton Academy from Gilmore Girls).
• Dr. Remenzel and his wife Sylvia are both quite excited that Eli is attending such a prestigious school. We learn that this is because the whole Remenzel family has attended Whitehill School for Boys. They're a legacy family. Eli, however, seems absentminded about the whole thing.
• p. 74 - 75: We learn a bit more about the characteristics of Sylvia here. She doesn't come from money and often refers to herself as a "country bumpkin", which explains why she is so excited for Eli to be apart of the legacy of the Remenzels at Whitehill. Dr. Remenzel has more an reserved sense of excitement. Sylvia at one point suggest that Eli receive special treatment because of the Remenzel name, but Dr. Remenzel refuses such a notion.
• Sylvia also asks if Eli has the possibility of rooming with "the Africans", which can mean she may be prejudiced towards African-Americans. Keep in mind this is 1962 and racism is alive & well (which still kind of rings true today too). The Civil Rights Movement was also happening during this time.
• As they approach the school, they happen to run into one of Dr. Remenzel's classmates at Whitehill. They greet each other, equally excited about their sons starting at Whitehill. Eli is seen slouching in his carseat, seemingly ashamed of something. The story ends with Sylvia reading a portion of the Whitehill catalougue about the scholarships the school gives out.

Key in-text questions:

• p. 72: What is the significance of the adverb, "emptily"?

• p. 73: Why does Sylvia want to know "what number" Eli would be?

With the very first words, that he utters, spoken "emptily", Eli reveals that he is feeling very far from from "good", in sharp contrast with his father's mood. This is the start of the chracterization for Eli.

Sylvia is impressed because her son is a member of an acient and moneyed family , and she is impressed by the number of Remenzels who have attened Whitehill because the number suggests a long history of wealth and infleunce. Referring to Eli as number also serves to dehumanize him, making him a link in a numbered chain rather than an individual.

Continuation:

• p. 75: Note the further reinforcement of characterization in the first dialougue of p. 75. What do we learn from these lines?

• p. 74: What have we learned about Sylvia?

Sylvia is "nouveau riche" (French for newly rich; new money), and she takes a rather vulgar delight in her son's beign part of an important family with an sacred school tradition.

We learn that Sylvia is foolishly childish and that her husband is funny cognizant (having knowledge or being aware) of her weakness.

• p. 75: Why is Eli's head described in terms of chaos?

• p. 74: How does Dr. Remenzel relate to his wife?

The earlier description of the back of Eli's head as a "pinwheel" of coarse hair suggests a physical lack of control in his appearance. He may be feeling chaos within himself, but we don't know why yet.

Dr. Remenzel's attitude toward his wife varies from annoyed impatience to patronizing snobbery. He seems more interested in his plans than in Sylvia or his son, Eli.

Continuation:

• p. 75: How do the 2 cars differ?

The Rolls-Royce obviously indicates wealth and status; the shabby Chevy shows a lack of both. The Rolls Royce is also described to be in top condition, while the Chevy is described here as "shuddering".

Critique

The Africans highlight the innate prejudices of Sylvia (and later, Dr. Remenzel, but that's later in the story). Sylvia's snobbery and patronizing attitude towards those who are not on her financial or social level is apparent when she speaks about the dorming as she constantly refers to the African students as "those people"--as if they are pariahs.

Critique

HW for Tuesday:

• Finish The Lie (pp. 76 - 81). Remember to take note of the in-text questions.
• Do the usual paragraph + vocab assignment.
• Read Pride & Prejudice. 12 pgs/day. You'll finish in about a month and then we can discuss it, watch the movie, and you'll have a couple weeks to write your paper.
• Quiz on the Signal Man & The Lie on Wednesday. It will be some vocabulary and some storyline questions. I'll post a list of the vocab words on the FB page.
• On Tuesday, I'll give you the topic of the paper.

HW for Tuesday: