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Transcript
Literature 10
Agenda 4/20/2018
- Author/About the Selection
- Key Q's w/Summary
- Wrap-Up: HW
About the Selection
About the Author
- Born in Worchester, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University.
- He was known as a humorist and was famous for his devlopment of the comic antihero.
- He published 12 anthologies of humorous essays and twenty years' worth of weekly theater criticism for the original Life magazine and The New Yorker.
- He also briefly worked at the New York Tribune and Vanity Fair.
- Benchley's forte is wiriting personal essays about simple, everyday, situations. He has a knack for making hilarious events out of commonplace experiences.
Key Questions
- What is implied by the contrasts in lines 5 - 10?
- The contrasts imply that more may not be better than less if the excess of material possessions does not lead to an improvement in society.
Key Questions
- What aspect of society is criticized in lines 11 - 13?
- This verse deals with excesses rather than paradoxes. The author does not point out contradictions so much as to criticize the choices we make. The author states that our excesses are geared toward gratifying physical needs.
- What does the author mean by the term "life"?
- The author implies that although people may technically continue breathing for a greater number of years, they are existing rather than living, since their lives are filled with meaningless pursuits
- Why do we "have trouble crossing the street"?
- The author implies that society spends an inordinate amount of time achieving technological breakthroughs, but does not take the time or trouble to reach out to others and make them feel welcome
Key Questions
- What paradoxes are presented in lines 22 - 24?
- The author accuses our society of hypocrisy. We aim to eliminate pollution but do not work on the calues that threaten our souls. Splitting the atom was considered impossible; nevertheless it was easier to accomplish that removing society's prejudices. More books are available, but we learn less from them.
- What is the result of rushing without realizing? (line 25)
- According to the autho, we act quickly and often impetuously, embracing impatience as a virtue, but our efforts to speed up communication have resulted in a greater degree of miscommunication.
- What is the result of our wealthy society?
- The excessive material wealth that we enjoy has harmed us both physically and emotionally. Our food is more plentiful but less nutritious; we have more free time, but we do not know how to enjoy it.
Key Questions
- Why is there more divorce although the standard of living is high?
- The author implies that a "fancier" lifestyle may be condusive to more broken homes, as family members seek emotional gratification from materal objects
- Explain the metaphor of the "show window" and the "stockroom" (lines 39 & 40)
- The metaphor figuratively states that although we may appear healthy and successful, our apparent prosperity conceals an inner emptiness.
HW
My Face
- Study for your test on Monday
- Paper for Bible & Lit due on 27th (next Fri)
Robert Benchley
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