Well folks, it's happened again - a change of plans. My apologies - this has been one of the most fluid, changeable courses that I have taught. How post-modern of us!
My staff retreat on April 8th and 9th has been cancelled. We will, therefore, have our last wrap-up class on that day. Yippee! I will bring lunch for all.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Holly's ACTUAL response to "Fugitive Pieces"
In class when we talked about "Fugitive Pieces," we discussed how it appeared to contain 2 books. I would like to argue that it was not 2 books, but rather three.
Book 1: Life with Athos
Book 2: Life after Athos
Book 3: Ben and Jakob's effect/legacy
I found that these three points in the novel as very transitional. Obvious growing up with Athos set up Jakob's future, and made him into the man he was after Athos' death. But the essence left behind by Athos was something unique and special, only obvious to Jakob. Jakob unintentionally repeated the mistakes of Athos at different points in the story. He eventually found happiness, though, while Athos chose not to remarry.
In a way, both Athos and Jakob were committed to the dead: Athos and his wife who passed away, and Jakob and his dedication to Athos and Bella. Their commitment to the departed stifles their lives; as if they are unable to breathe without the breath of those they have loved and lost.
The way Jakob holds onto the memory of Bella is so unique to me. I found it odd that it is her he misses the most passionately, even though he did not even realize he didn't see her body with her parents. She was an afterthought, in this respect. I wonder if maybe it was the guilt of not wanting to protect/find/know the fate of his sister immediately that caused Jakob to crave her presence so badly. The curiosity of Bella's fate was consuming.
The Writing :
I truly loved the style in which this story was written . the poetic emphasis was seen throughout the entire story, in while describing horrific events, the writing came through as stunningly beautiful. While this is not my favourite of stories, the writing is something unforgettable. the use of imagery and elegant language is unforgettable. Michaels is a truly talented writer.
as an aspiring author, Michaels stands out incredibly. The eloquence of the story even as it expressed times of turmoil and bitter sadness radiates a brilliance that is unique to Michaels. Her poetic background is what made this novel so powerful and moving.
Book 1: Life with Athos
Book 2: Life after Athos
Book 3: Ben and Jakob's effect/legacy
I found that these three points in the novel as very transitional. Obvious growing up with Athos set up Jakob's future, and made him into the man he was after Athos' death. But the essence left behind by Athos was something unique and special, only obvious to Jakob. Jakob unintentionally repeated the mistakes of Athos at different points in the story. He eventually found happiness, though, while Athos chose not to remarry.
In a way, both Athos and Jakob were committed to the dead: Athos and his wife who passed away, and Jakob and his dedication to Athos and Bella. Their commitment to the departed stifles their lives; as if they are unable to breathe without the breath of those they have loved and lost.
The way Jakob holds onto the memory of Bella is so unique to me. I found it odd that it is her he misses the most passionately, even though he did not even realize he didn't see her body with her parents. She was an afterthought, in this respect. I wonder if maybe it was the guilt of not wanting to protect/find/know the fate of his sister immediately that caused Jakob to crave her presence so badly. The curiosity of Bella's fate was consuming.
The Writing :
I truly loved the style in which this story was written . the poetic emphasis was seen throughout the entire story, in while describing horrific events, the writing came through as stunningly beautiful. While this is not my favourite of stories, the writing is something unforgettable. the use of imagery and elegant language is unforgettable. Michaels is a truly talented writer.
as an aspiring author, Michaels stands out incredibly. The eloquence of the story even as it expressed times of turmoil and bitter sadness radiates a brilliance that is unique to Michaels. Her poetic background is what made this novel so powerful and moving.
Holly's response to"Fugitive Pieces"
In class when we talked about "Fugitive Peices," we discussed how it appeared to contain 2 books. I would like to argue that it was not 2 books, but rather three.
book 1: Life with Athos
book 2: Life after Athos
book 3: Ben and Jakob's effect/legacy
I found that these three points in the novel as very transitional. Obvious growing up with Athos set up Jakob's future, and made him into the man he was after Athos' death. but the essence left behind by Athos was something unique and special, only obvious to Jakob. Jakob unintentionally repeated the mistakes of Athos at different points in the story. He eventually found happiness, though, while Athos chose not to remarry.
In a way, both Athos and Jakob were commited to the dead: Athos and his wife who passed away, and Jakob and his dedication to Athos and Bella. their commitment to the departed stiffles their lives, as if they are unable to breathe without the breath of those they have loved and lost.
The way Jakob holds onto the memory of Bella is so unique to me. I found it odd that its her he misses the most passionately, even though he did not even realize he didn't see her body with her parents. She was an after thought, in this respect. i wonder if maybe it was the guilt of not wanting to protect/find/know the fate of his sister immediately that caused Jakob to crave her presence so badly. the curiousity of Bella's fate was consuming.
The Writing:
I truly loved the style in which this story was written . the poetic emphasis was seen throughout the entire story, in while describing horrific events, the writing came th rough as stunningly beautiful. While this is not my favorite of stories, the writing is something unforgetable. the use of imagery and elegent language is unforgetable. Michaels is a truly talented writer.
as an aspiring author, Michaels stands out incredibly. the eloquence of the story even as it expressed times of turmoil and bitter sadness radiats a brillance unique to Michaels. Her poetic background is what made this novel so powerful and moving.
book 1: Life with Athos
book 2: Life after Athos
book 3: Ben and Jakob's effect/legacy
I found that these three points in the novel as very transitional. Obvious growing up with Athos set up Jakob's future, and made him into the man he was after Athos' death. but the essence left behind by Athos was something unique and special, only obvious to Jakob. Jakob unintentionally repeated the mistakes of Athos at different points in the story. He eventually found happiness, though, while Athos chose not to remarry.
In a way, both Athos and Jakob were commited to the dead: Athos and his wife who passed away, and Jakob and his dedication to Athos and Bella. their commitment to the departed stiffles their lives, as if they are unable to breathe without the breath of those they have loved and lost.
The way Jakob holds onto the memory of Bella is so unique to me. I found it odd that its her he misses the most passionately, even though he did not even realize he didn't see her body with her parents. She was an after thought, in this respect. i wonder if maybe it was the guilt of not wanting to protect/find/know the fate of his sister immediately that caused Jakob to crave her presence so badly. the curiousity of Bella's fate was consuming.
The Writing:
I truly loved the style in which this story was written . the poetic emphasis was seen throughout the entire story, in while describing horrific events, the writing came th rough as stunningly beautiful. While this is not my favorite of stories, the writing is something unforgetable. the use of imagery and elegent language is unforgetable. Michaels is a truly talented writer.
as an aspiring author, Michaels stands out incredibly. the eloquence of the story even as it expressed times of turmoil and bitter sadness radiats a brillance unique to Michaels. Her poetic background is what made this novel so powerful and moving.
Admin Issues
Last post for today - I promise! Just a reminder to everyone that there is no class next week. I will be away at a conference all week and will not be checking my email regularly. We will reconvene on Tuesday, March 25th, when we will watch the film of the EP and spend some time in our discussion comparing book and text.
There will also be no class on April 8th. Instead, I am expecting each one of you to schedule a slightly longer appointment with me to discuss your papers, topics and ideas, etc. This can be during that week, or earlier. I will be out of town Aptril 8th and 9th, however.
The process for the final papers has changed. We discussed this in class yesterday, but I have had more information about dealines and so on, and so can now formalize the dates and process. We changed the due date for the final paper to Monday, April 14th. I will mark these ASAP and return them to you on Thursday, April 17th (you can pick them up at the office). You will be given an opportunity to revise your papers after this date, based on my comments, and hand them in again on Monday, April 21st. There will be no extensions after this time, so this is an opportunity that you can avail yourselves of, or not - if I haven't received a revised draft on the Monday, I will submit the original mark from the 17th.
I hope that this works for everyone!
There will also be no class on April 8th. Instead, I am expecting each one of you to schedule a slightly longer appointment with me to discuss your papers, topics and ideas, etc. This can be during that week, or earlier. I will be out of town Aptril 8th and 9th, however.
The process for the final papers has changed. We discussed this in class yesterday, but I have had more information about dealines and so on, and so can now formalize the dates and process. We changed the due date for the final paper to Monday, April 14th. I will mark these ASAP and return them to you on Thursday, April 17th (you can pick them up at the office). You will be given an opportunity to revise your papers after this date, based on my comments, and hand them in again on Monday, April 21st. There will be no extensions after this time, so this is an opportunity that you can avail yourselves of, or not - if I haven't received a revised draft on the Monday, I will submit the original mark from the 17th.
I hope that this works for everyone!
Transgenerational War Trauma - Children
So, here are some thoughts on that other essay topic that we discussed in class. You could start with a discussion of Fugitive Pieces and how that novel shows that war, or the effects of war, don't stop with those who have been directly involved in it. The character of Ben, in particular, reveals how the legacy of war continues on into future generations. It is especially through his recounting of childhood memories that we see this, as he is the child of Holocaust survivors. There are certain characteristics that he shares with his (or as a result of) his parents' experiences, as well as Jakob's experiences during the war. And Jakob's memories, of course, are also childhood memories. For example, usually childhood memories are tinged with nostalgia for the past. But this isn't the case with either of these characters. There are a few, isolated, memories that Jakob can resurrect that might be described as nostalgic (memories of Bella playing the paino, for instance) but there are not many. It's as if the music has stopped with her death.
But it's not just the children of Holocaust survivors that are impacted by war history. While the children of Holocaust survivors may have specific legacies, children, in general, whose parents have been damaged by the war also suffer. We see this in Matt Pearson's son, who rejects his father, runs away from home, and so on - and Matt can't really cope with his family in the ways that he perhaps should. In fact, it is interesting that, in some ways he is closer to Charlie than his own son. What is that all about? And what are the effects of this on the children? We get much of the story of Broken Ground through a young person's eyes - and it seems that the war isn't over for any of them.
One of the questions that you could ask yourself is when you think that the effects of war end, and how it constructs history through the generations. Think about the specificity of Ben's experiences - can they be generalized to Charlie and Tanner, or are they quite different? How? Can we generalize to some extent, and then we have to focus on the differences? Or - ?
You could approach this partly in terms of beginnings, middles, and endings. When does a war really begin? End?
Just some thoughts that you can feel free to use in your writing.
But it's not just the children of Holocaust survivors that are impacted by war history. While the children of Holocaust survivors may have specific legacies, children, in general, whose parents have been damaged by the war also suffer. We see this in Matt Pearson's son, who rejects his father, runs away from home, and so on - and Matt can't really cope with his family in the ways that he perhaps should. In fact, it is interesting that, in some ways he is closer to Charlie than his own son. What is that all about? And what are the effects of this on the children? We get much of the story of Broken Ground through a young person's eyes - and it seems that the war isn't over for any of them.
One of the questions that you could ask yourself is when you think that the effects of war end, and how it constructs history through the generations. Think about the specificity of Ben's experiences - can they be generalized to Charlie and Tanner, or are they quite different? How? Can we generalize to some extent, and then we have to focus on the differences? Or - ?
You could approach this partly in terms of beginnings, middles, and endings. When does a war really begin? End?
Just some thoughts that you can feel free to use in your writing.
The role of Morphine in EP and Three Day Road
So, I was thinking about some of the ways that one couold develop a topic ddiscussing the role of morphine in the novels (The English Patient and Three Day Road). It seems to me that these books complicate or problematize the way that we, as readers, might think about the use of drugs in the context of war. In both instances, the drug is used as a way of staving off (physical) pain - in the case of the EP as a way of soothing his final days - death from burns is very painful. In the case of Xavier, after his amputation. However, it also seems that the morphine has another (at least one other) role - it brings out the stories of these characters through flashback memories.
In the case of Xavier, he doesn't seem to have much control over which memories are resurrected; in the case of the EP, Almasy seems to stay on track, but the drug brings him to telling his story in more detail than he has thus far in the novel. So, in a sense, this narcotic also eases psychic pain. Ironically, in the case of Xavier, while the memories are painful, it seems as though he needs to resurrect them so that he can make sense of the past. In the case of the EP, it is not Almasy that needs the story (he does remember, it seems) but the other characters in the novel. Carravaggio, for instance, seems to restore pieces of himself once he is able to let go of trying to "convict" Almasy in his mind.
And then there are the ways that the drug works for Elijah, in particular, and to a lesser extent, Caravaggio. It's unclear from the narration whether Elijah's descent into hell is assisted by his chronic use of the morphine, or whether the morphine acts to deaden his humanity. This could be explored a little - have a look at some of the references in the text. Caravaggio, it seems, doesn't "need" the morphine in the same way - but then again, perhaps he does. I wonder if the significance of his sharing morphine with the EP in that one section of of the novel is important? The characters do seem to bond over this; it takes this experience for Caravaggio to find some sense of peace since he has lost his thumbs...
All in all, both novels present a view of morphine use in the context of both physical and pyschic trauma, and doesn't seem to make a value judgement on these. Xavier, however, does seem aware that it is not a good thing, and that he must kick the drug once he is home. Interestingly, the drug which has released his memories (stories) must now be kicked through more stories (Niska's).
So, these are some thoughts. Do feel free to use them in any essay that you are writing.
In the case of Xavier, he doesn't seem to have much control over which memories are resurrected; in the case of the EP, Almasy seems to stay on track, but the drug brings him to telling his story in more detail than he has thus far in the novel. So, in a sense, this narcotic also eases psychic pain. Ironically, in the case of Xavier, while the memories are painful, it seems as though he needs to resurrect them so that he can make sense of the past. In the case of the EP, it is not Almasy that needs the story (he does remember, it seems) but the other characters in the novel. Carravaggio, for instance, seems to restore pieces of himself once he is able to let go of trying to "convict" Almasy in his mind.
And then there are the ways that the drug works for Elijah, in particular, and to a lesser extent, Caravaggio. It's unclear from the narration whether Elijah's descent into hell is assisted by his chronic use of the morphine, or whether the morphine acts to deaden his humanity. This could be explored a little - have a look at some of the references in the text. Caravaggio, it seems, doesn't "need" the morphine in the same way - but then again, perhaps he does. I wonder if the significance of his sharing morphine with the EP in that one section of of the novel is important? The characters do seem to bond over this; it takes this experience for Caravaggio to find some sense of peace since he has lost his thumbs...
All in all, both novels present a view of morphine use in the context of both physical and pyschic trauma, and doesn't seem to make a value judgement on these. Xavier, however, does seem aware that it is not a good thing, and that he must kick the drug once he is home. Interestingly, the drug which has released his memories (stories) must now be kicked through more stories (Niska's).
So, these are some thoughts. Do feel free to use them in any essay that you are writing.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Anne's Response to Fugitive Pieces
READER RESPONSE FOR FUGITIVE PIECES
I loved the emotions that Anne Michaels got stirred up in me. I cried and I laughed. I was angry and shocked. From the third page of the story, I was absolutely gripped: “I wanted to go to my parents, to touch them. But I couldn’t, unless I stepped on their blood” (7). I wanted to cry (and did) for this little boy, for all the kids and their families affected by this tragedy.
I love the way Michaels wove together her words – very poetic and striking. For me, this style worked incredibly well because as a female, it struck my emotional and romantic side. For example, when I compare the love-making scenes from Three Day Road to Fugitive Pieces, the latter wins, no contest. Michaels wrote in a more sensual style that appealed to me more. “Then I realize she’s entirely concentrated, pinioned under my tongue, that she’d giving me the most extravagant permission to roam the surface of her” (180). If only my Colin talked like that!
While the basic point of the this story is survival, I also believe it is about love. Michaela’s love for Jakob opens a whole new compartment in him that Alex was not able to open. I also think that it is Michaela’s love that allows Jakob to experience a degree of healing. We talked about this in class and I think it was Holly who said “but does anyone ever really heal from that?” I agree. A person never forgets traumatic events that happen to them. Those events shape and mold you as time goes on. But I do think there can be healing with the aid of the right devices. For Jakob, the devices are writing and Michaela’s love.
Regarding the end section of the novel: at first, it bothered me that new characters were being introduced to tell the rest of the story. As I’ve skimmed through the end part again, and after Tuesday’s class, I am beginning to feel less hostile towards it. I’m not sure who said it but something to the effect of “war touched generations” was said. I agree wholly with that and Ben portrays this. All his life, any discomfort, shame, or anguish that he felt has come from his parents and their experiences. They did not talk about anything with him yet his life was shaped by the trauma they felt. Ben finally achieved freedom/healing form his parent’s past: “in my hotel room the before I leave Greece, I know the elation of ordinary sorrow. At last my unhappiness is my own” (292). He may not be fully healed as he still had to work through that unhappiness as well as his relationship with Naomi, but there is partial healing. Contradictorily, some of it is due to his affair with Petra.
One a last note, I need to add that despite the fact that Ben’s parents did not verbalize their feelings or experiences, they did communicate to Ben. He was just not able to identify it until his ‘healing.’ The quote is on page 294 and he sees his parent’s drawing strength from each other. All along, Ben’s parents had been each other’s source of strength. They had survived together and even though they loved Ben, what they had was for them. Ben only saw the outer surface of the picture that his parents represented. Thankfully, he was able to go beyond the superficial exterior and see his parents for who and what they truly were. We would all be better off if we could live by the last sentence of the novel: I see that I must give what I need most.
I loved the emotions that Anne Michaels got stirred up in me. I cried and I laughed. I was angry and shocked. From the third page of the story, I was absolutely gripped: “I wanted to go to my parents, to touch them. But I couldn’t, unless I stepped on their blood” (7). I wanted to cry (and did) for this little boy, for all the kids and their families affected by this tragedy.
I love the way Michaels wove together her words – very poetic and striking. For me, this style worked incredibly well because as a female, it struck my emotional and romantic side. For example, when I compare the love-making scenes from Three Day Road to Fugitive Pieces, the latter wins, no contest. Michaels wrote in a more sensual style that appealed to me more. “Then I realize she’s entirely concentrated, pinioned under my tongue, that she’d giving me the most extravagant permission to roam the surface of her” (180). If only my Colin talked like that!
While the basic point of the this story is survival, I also believe it is about love. Michaela’s love for Jakob opens a whole new compartment in him that Alex was not able to open. I also think that it is Michaela’s love that allows Jakob to experience a degree of healing. We talked about this in class and I think it was Holly who said “but does anyone ever really heal from that?” I agree. A person never forgets traumatic events that happen to them. Those events shape and mold you as time goes on. But I do think there can be healing with the aid of the right devices. For Jakob, the devices are writing and Michaela’s love.
Regarding the end section of the novel: at first, it bothered me that new characters were being introduced to tell the rest of the story. As I’ve skimmed through the end part again, and after Tuesday’s class, I am beginning to feel less hostile towards it. I’m not sure who said it but something to the effect of “war touched generations” was said. I agree wholly with that and Ben portrays this. All his life, any discomfort, shame, or anguish that he felt has come from his parents and their experiences. They did not talk about anything with him yet his life was shaped by the trauma they felt. Ben finally achieved freedom/healing form his parent’s past: “in my hotel room the before I leave Greece, I know the elation of ordinary sorrow. At last my unhappiness is my own” (292). He may not be fully healed as he still had to work through that unhappiness as well as his relationship with Naomi, but there is partial healing. Contradictorily, some of it is due to his affair with Petra.
One a last note, I need to add that despite the fact that Ben’s parents did not verbalize their feelings or experiences, they did communicate to Ben. He was just not able to identify it until his ‘healing.’ The quote is on page 294 and he sees his parent’s drawing strength from each other. All along, Ben’s parents had been each other’s source of strength. They had survived together and even though they loved Ben, what they had was for them. Ben only saw the outer surface of the picture that his parents represented. Thankfully, he was able to go beyond the superficial exterior and see his parents for who and what they truly were. We would all be better off if we could live by the last sentence of the novel: I see that I must give what I need most.
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