As the final test on the novel entails comparing the novel to Jack London's famous short story,"To Build a Fire" ,we today first completed analyzing the novel's conclusion . Bobby focused on language in the final chapter describing how the death of John Thornton ,while tragic, also extricates Buck from any connection with mankind. We worked on incorporating quotes and textual support into Bobby's homework answers addressing this development. We then outlined in the virtual notebook the events of Chapter 5 in the novel as they closely parallel events and themes in the short story. After defining the term"motif", we began our study of the short story.I first discussed the function of the nameless protagonist as a universal symbol ,and we then studied the first part of the story to find similarities or motifs common to Chapter 5 of the novel. Thematically, we looked at specific language in the story describing man's arrogance and frailty in the face of the forces of Nature. For homework, finish reading the short story,"To Build a Fire".

We completed our study of Kafka's "Metamorphosis" by my first placing on the board characteristics of Kafka's existentialism. We then discussed examples from the story illustrating the theme of alienation -closed doors and inability to communicate. Next, we delved into the change in Gregor's family's treatment of Gregor who has become to them, repulsive. Marcel offered good examples from the story, and I placed his comments on the board under the category of a "metamorphosis" but ironically not of Gregor who we noted becomes more human or humane as his family becomes more cruel. We further located textual examples of the family's treatment of Gregor as a thing or animal .For example, upon his death, Gregor gets thrown into the trash. I noted how Gregor's harsh treatment fits into Kafka's existentialist view that includes elements of persecution . We then distinguished Kafka's brand of existentialism by discussing whether Gregor 's transformation into a beetle is a punishment for his failure to act or exercise his free will as Sartre of Camus might have argued. Marcel took good notes on these topics during class. For homework for Wednesday -study for final test on "Metamorphosis ".

During the first segment of the session, Lena took an exam covering the entire novel. After we reviewed the test, I discussed how to take "movie notes" listing differences between a novel and its movie version. We then watched a portion of the movie version of the novel ,and, at the end of the session, Lena ,in full sentences, listed in her notebook differences between the movie and the book. As Lena wants to finish viewing the movie at home on a large screen TV, for homework -complete viewing the movie and bring "movie notes " to class tomorrow.

As Bobby completed reading the novel over the weekend, we today reviewed the final chapters, and in preparation for a vocabulary quiz tomorrow reviewed vocabulary words from the novel. We first discussed whether the book's ending was happy or sad. Buck has returned to his natural wild wolf-like state but has forfeited the comforts of civilization. Bobby discussed how the ending was both happy and sad given the violent death of Buck's beloved owner, John Thornton. I then elaborated on how, in the final chapter, Buck becomes a mythic figure or a legend. We read aloud those passages where the legend of Buck becomes part of the native mythology about a "Ghost Dog" that roams the wild. Bobby's homework answers aptly noted how before the death of John Thornton Buck is torn between two worlds ,Man and the Wild, We supplemented his notes to indicate that the death of John Thornton frees Buck from his tie to Mankind. I then defined "motif" and discussed how we will be studying Jack London's iconic short story"To Build a Fire " and tracing motifs that run through the novel and the short story. For homework study for the quiz and read the first 4 pages of the short story.

As Lena completed reading the novel, I revisited the metaphor in the chapter 14 prologue addressing the bee colony's need for a queen. Lena has become adept at recognizing the bee analogy and right away offered that the need for a queen bee represents Lily's search for a mother figure. I then placed a question on the board,"Who are Lily's mothers at the end of the book?" Lena correctly identified in her notebook all of the mother figures who have stepped into the maternal role. After reviewing notes and vocabulary, Lena took the ch 14 vocabulary and comprehension quiz and scored 100%. I also distributed a review multiple choice exercise to help her study for the final test on Monday. After Lena completed the review exercise ,we began to watch the film version of the novel which we will finish viewing next week.

We explored the conflict between Buck's primordial instincts and his love for his new owner, John Thornton. Bobby studied the text and discussed the difference between Buck's owner in California and Buck's current owner ,John Thornton as the difference between a love relationship and a work relationship. We also studied much of text devoted to describing how the "call " of Buck's instincts, or the call of the wild, battles with Buck's longing to remain in the world of Man with his new owner. Thematically, I then placed in the virtual notebook a discussion of Jack London's view that love can combat the savagery manifest in both nature and human society. We last reviewed Bobby's homework answers which were excellent. He offered a great analysis of a quote from the novel discussing the conflict between Buck's primordial instinct and his love for John Thornton ,and also in class identified important plot developments. For homework, finish the novel and the ch. 7 study guide.

We discussed and edited Marcel's draft of his essay on Dickens as an advocate of reform of the criminal justice system . This assignment incorporates independent research on the Victorian criminal justice system and a discussion of Great Expectations. We first discussed edits to reduce excess words and to find more precise word choice of certain phrases. I further pointed out where additional independent research results were required . We spent a lot of time on organization of the essay with an emphasis on keeping similar ideas/arguments in the same paragraph as well as on the need for logical organization of sentences within a paragraph. I last noted where additional material from the novel could be added in connection with the legal profession's participation in the administration of justice. For homework due on Monday, revise essay per today's discussion and complete reading short story ,"Metamorphosis".

The arrogance of Man in refusing to acknowledge the overwhelming force of Nature was the topic of today's discussion. In this regard, we noted how the sled dogs respect Nature's brutal force by adaptation whereas the callow prospectors who refuse to adapt or who fail to recognize their shortcomings in the face of the superior forces of Nature perish. Bobby discussed plot developments as well as the chapter ending where the brutally beaten Buck is saved by the kind John Thornton. We then placed the conflcit of man v nature in the notebook as well London's theme, here introduced ,that the power of human love can neutralize some of the world's brutality and make the law "of the club and the fang" less dominant. For homework, read the next chapter and complete the study guide .

After defining the word "metamorphosis" , we focused on the characters' transformation first noting the irony in Gregor's parents' unabashed parasitic lifestyle given that it is their son who has been outwardly ,at least, transformed into a beetle. We then discussed the theme of alienation by first examining the dehumanizing effect of work in a modern society. In this regard, we reviewed Marcel's homework on this topic and made textual support additions to his analysis.Other symbols of separation and alienation, such as closed doors and the bedsheet covering Gregor from the sight of his family, were noted on the board. Class discussion further centered on Gregor's sister's removing all furniture from his room as a further attempt to dehumanize Gregor but which in reality only dehumanizes her due to her lack of empathy . Marcel offered ideas on why Gregor resists not the removal of his furniture but only the attempt to remove a photograph of a woman in a fur hat ,perhaps a symbol of comfort ,rationality, and normalcy. During the final segment of the session, we addressed Marcel's questions about his research essay on Charles Dickens as a social reformer of the Victorian criminal justice system. Homework-complete essay draft and bring to class tomorrow,

Before delving into the reading, Lena first completed exercises on identifying and correcting sentence fragments and run-ons. I then presented the chapter vocabulary words which Lena placed in her notebook. We started the final chapter of the novel stopping to annotate the text to highlight the theme of locating inner strength through the power of love and forgiveness. Lena has been very engaged in the story and was excited to accept my suggestion that she and her mother finish the final pages of the book at home tonight.