–How does justice work in the world of “Punishment”?  What happens when one tells the truth? What happens when one lies?

–What do we make of Chandara’s choice to take responsibility for the death of her sister-in-law? Do you see her as a hero or as a victim?

–Explain the significance of the details Tagore offers about the marriage between Chandara and Chidam.  How do they help us understand the events of the story?

–How do you understand the title of the story?

–As she approaches death, Chandara both says, “to hell with him,” and maintains that she loves her husband.  How do you reconcile these two apparently contradictory statements?

On Tuesday March 7th, I enjoyed a Marathon Reading event about “Frankenstein”. This program is organized by Prof. Stephanie Insley Hershinow, a wonderful person. I believe it is my honor to meet someone like prof. Stephanie and my thanks goes to prof. Jennifer Sylvor for encourage me. It is a great opportunity for me to read front of prof. Stephanie and other students. Since I started Baruch this is the first time I read and next day I raise my hand on 2850 class for participating class reading.

1. Why do you think Tolstoy begins his story with the announcement of Ivan Ilyich’s death, rather than organizing it chronologically?
2. “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is full of French words. What purpose do they serve?
3. How does Ivan Ilyich’s family react to his illness? What do their reactions tell us about them?
4. On his deathbed, Ivan asks, “Why, and for what purpose, is there all this horror?” Does the text provide an answer to this weighty question?
5. Compare the attitude toward death we see in Ivan Ilyich’s family and social milieu to that of our own society. How do we treat illness and death?

–What motivates Hedda to encourage Lovborg to resume drinking?
–Discuss the role of Thea in the play? What function does she serve?
–What role does class play in Hedda Gabler?
–What does Lovborg’s death mean to Hedda?
–Do you feel sympathetic to Hedda? Why or why not?

Last week I attended one of the Art-a-Thon event and it’s similar to an arts & crafts workshop. There was a whole table dedicated to origami, building legos, making clay, and even some fabric you can work with. In addition, there was even a 3D printer in one corner of the room and a computer powered by a pie (weird but interesting). Upon walking in, I went straight to the crafts table to make origami and after a while, I decided to check out the other things in the room. That’s when one of the students there let me try on a Google Cardboard headset and it was very cool because it allowed me to experience some virtual reality scenarios. For example, riding a rollercoaster or swimming in the ocean. It felt like I was actually there and before I know it, an hour passed by and the event was done. I had a good time!

1. In Shelley’s “A Defence of Poetry,” he states that “poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the World.” What do you think he means by this?

2. Compare Shelley’s attitude toward nature with that of Wordsworth. What do these two Romantic poets seem to share and where do they differ in their relationships with the natural world?

3. “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?,” the concluding line of “Ode to the West Wind” is one of Shelley’s most frequently quoted lines. What do you think it means?

I showed up expecting to be read to but  I was taken by  surprise when the Dean, upon completing the  introduction, asked me to read immediately after him! Well, I could not just say no to him so I took a deep breath and remembering to enunciate clearly and project to the audience, I started to read. Mind you all this was being recorded and pictures were being taken, for the Ticker no doubt.  What else can I say? I love the book and it was thrilling to read in front of an audience. I  really enjoyed hearing the various different reading styles that everyone else brought with their reading of the work and would most certainly attend another event like this one.

–In what sense does “Tintern Abbey” offer readers a “religion of nature”? What are some of the specific ways in which nature works as a substitute for traditional religion?
–Why do you think Wordsworth gives “Tintern Abbey” such a precise and detailed sub-title? What is the significance of this poem’s full titile?
–In the final portion of “Tintern Abbey,” the speaker turns to his “dear friend.” Who is this friend and what role does he/she play in the poem?
–“Composed upon Westminster Bridge” and “The World Is Too Much with Us” are both sonnets. Why do you think a poet might choose to work with such a highly structured form?
–Describe some of the ways in which Wordsworth’s poetry conforms to some of the features of Romanticism that we’ve discussed. What evidence can you find to illustrate this?

 Today, I attended a great event, which is Marathon Reading. Marathon Reading, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was one of the events from ART-A-THON that was held by The Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.  Professor Hershinow progressed this event. She was pretty nice and attentive.

 Since I had never experienced of attending reading event. I was quite excited! I participated in reading like one page. Many people could take their turn to read the book. It was very nice to read the book with other people’ voices. It helped me to concentrate on reading. If I have a chance next time, I would love to go to the reading event again.