TMP English

How does a political event help inform literature?  In the case of the Russian Revolution, many author's have responded to the revolution in ways that demonstrate their use of mood and tone.   We will be looking at several author's and in particular, Isaac Babel, who wrote about his life growing up in the Ukraine and his role as an observer during the Polish/Russian war.  He also writes about his experience as a young Jewish man growing up in Odessa and describes an eye-opening experience that forever changed his view of himself and of the world.  The Story of My Dovecote describes his life as a Ukrainian young man in Odessa , his Jewish heritage and his nationality as Russian. 

Your first assignment will be to read "Dolgushov's Death" by Isaac Babel and complete the following:

1. Find 10 vocabulary words (words you do not know) and define them. 

2. Describe the Tone and Mood of the short story.

3. Explain any imagery that helps describe the story.

Homework for 4/20 and 4/21 - Read The Dovecote by Isaac Babel.  See me for copies of the text. View the dovecote.pdf file for information about Babel and the story. 

Homework for 4/21 4/22 (Tuesday/Thursday class)   Make a list of eye-opening experiences from your life.  Identify 5 things that have happened to you that changed you or you learned an enormous life-lesson from. 

Tell the story of one of these events, reflecting on how it was meaningful to you.  Consider how it might be meaningful to others who have had similar experiences.  There should be a clear sense of beginning, middle and end. This reflection should be typed and at least a page long. 

Classwork 4/21 We will begin writing an essay that answers the question: 

How is Russian literature affected by historical events?

Essay due 4/28  4/29.  See the rubric for how to write the essay.  Essays will be typed and submitted at the beginning of class.