Descending into Fire and Rising up from the Ashes: October 4, 2017

Focus: What does Steinbeck reveal to us in his final chapters?

As you walk in, please write your East of Eden motif on the front whiteboards.

1. Warming up with Steinbeck's fires (pun intended!):

Take a look at Lee's commentary on fire (598).  Put it into your own words and consider whether or not you agree with him.

Revisit the three scenes in recent reading in which a character sets something on fire:

• Sheriff Quinn's burning of explicit photos (558)
• Cal's burning of the money (565-6)
• Abra's burning of Aron's letters (578, 583)

In each scene, what does the fire release?  What does it destroy?


What do these objects have in common?

Why is destruction by fire (vs. a different method of destruction) appropriate to these particular objects?

How/what do these fiery scenes contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole?

3. Enjoying our final Socratic seminar on East of Eden

4. Wrapping up: Lingering questions, big epiphanies, generous kudos

HW:
1. Enjoy a few days without a reading assignment. You've earned it. 

2. Bring your laptops an East of Eden to class on Friday; you will compose your big question blogs in class. A heads-up: Your Tuesday writing will be about East of Eden.

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3. Start reading your sonnet out loud a few times a day; aim to memorize it by October 23.