"Orpheus sings: The Propoetides" 220-42
"Orpheus sings: Pygmalion and the statue" 243-97
Make sure you read my "Expectations for Reading Responses "prior to getting started on your assignment.
| 1. According to "Orpheus sings: The Propoetides," who were the Cerastes and the Propoetides in Amathus (a city)? What were their crimes and how do their crimes (especially the Propoetides) influence Pygmalion to react the way he does towards women? |
| 2. According to "Orpheus sings: Pygmalion and the statue," how is Pygmalion's statue, as she is characterized, different from the disgraced women, the Propoetides? What are significant aspects of her characterization? Why is Pygmalion enchanted with this statue? |
| 3. Pygmalion adorns his statue with fineries such as shells and other items that demonstrate his love for his beloved 'ivory girl.' Is such devotion warranted? What does such devotion imply about Pygmalion? |
| 4. Pygmalion is amazed when "the statue yields beneath the sculptor's touch, / Just as Hymettian wax beneath the sun grows soft and, molded by the thumb, takes on / so many varied shapes . . ."). How does the statue's transition from ivory into flesh suggest Pygmalion's joy and excitement? What makes this living 'girl of ivory' so much more a boon and benefit for Pygmalion? |
| 5. Is Pygmalion's love for his statue truly love? Is this wife revealed to be capable of loving Pygmalion back? |
| 6. Additional comments and points you'd like to add. |
| 7. Extra-credit: How is this story intertextual with the story of Pinnochio? |
Expectations for Reading Responses
In general, any teacher will tell you that what they are looking for is insightful, often original commentary that 1) cuts to the core of the piece read; 2) answers questions deftly rather than swiftly; 3) provides quotable evidence; 4) offers insightful analysis of those quotes. Ideally, a good response usually has 3 things that are completely related to basic PIE structure: a general claim, evidence supporting that claim, and analysis of that evidence.
As such, here is a sample of strong analysis based on a seven-line poem that I use in my English 100 class. The poem is Gwendolyn Brooks' "We Real Cool."
"WE REAL COOL"
--Gwendolyn Brooks
The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.
We Real Cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk Late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon. (642)
Sample Question: Why is the setting of this poem important?
Sample Answer: The setting of the Golden Shovel not only typifies the type of activities that go on at the pool hall, but also foreshadow the early deaths of the seven pool players. While there is no clear indication of a physical setting in terms of climate or geographical location, Brooks' decision to call the pool hall the Golden Shovel is a symbolic act. Most pool halls might give their establishments "cooler" names; even in Hawai'i, pool halls have cool names such as Hawaiian Brians' or Velvets; these names accentuate the fun or supposed grandeur of the activity. A shovel, golden or not, typically serves one purpose: it is used to dig a hole. Treasure-seekers or gravediggers use it as their most important tool. The narrators seem to be simultaneously living out the dual nature of the shovel's use: they seek hedonistic excess, and at the same time, are brought to dig their own graves because of that search. The word "Golden" implies that the pursuit for sensuality in this piece is valuable and worthwhile for these players, even though their lives may be at stake.
Commentary: The author has tried to employ what is known as "quote recycling" to set forward the juiciest and tastiest bits of quotes so as to comment on them strongly.
And here's an example of a response that is a rush-job, which usually results in a less than stellar grade.
Sample Question: Why is the setting of this poem important?
Sample Answer: The Golden Shovel is a bar. Bars usually attract drunks. That's why it's important. These kids are drunks.
The student, it can be argued, has made a strong assertion. Lacking quotable evidence, however, the student's claims cannot be significantly made legitimate in the reader's mind.