Discuss the portrayal of women in one or more of the stories we’ve read so far. Are they flat or round characters? Static or dynamic? To what degree, in your opinion, are the main female characters depicted in stereotypical ways- and do you think the author was fully aware of any gender stereotypes in his or her depictions? Incorporate evidence from the text(s) in your response.
Imagine for a moment that someone was going to take all of the stories assigned in weeks 1 and 2 and destroy them forever: no one in future generations could read about these characters, and no one who had read these would ever again remember them.
Somehow, though, you had an opportunity to save ONE of these texts from eradication. Which of these stories would you save for future generations, and why? Think specifically about character as you respond.
Do you think that this week’s characters are more to blame for the conflicts and adversities they face, or does the fault lie more greatly in the outside forces affecting them? Pick a side.
To answer this question more specifically, imagine for a moment that each of this week’s protagonists were on trial; you can choose to either prosecute or defend each one of them. Which would you prosecute? Which would you defend? Explain.
Swap characters from any two of these week 1-2 stories into the other’s story, in that character’s place. How would either or both of these stories change as a result, and why?