Of the Coming of John

Highlights

• Racism begins with the idea that people can be divided into groups called races, which are based on physical traits.
• Racism is a form of prejudice. It is a belief that some races are superior to others and should have more power than others.
• Racial stereotypes are usually negative and can lead to discrimination.
• Racism can come in the form of excluding, assuming, blaming, or labeling others based on their ¨race¨ or ethnic background.

Of the Coming of John

Reading Comprehension #3

Please, answer the following questions with complete sentences. 

Part I:
1. In what ways were the students at Well Institute "like ghosts"? 

2. What did the people think about John going north to college?


Part II:

3. Why do John's teachers tell him that he must leave the Institute? What is he like when he returns to college?


Part III:
4. What does the usher say to John about leaving his seat? Is it true? Why did the usher speak to John at all?


Part IV:
5. Is the judge happy that John wants to teach in the school for black children? Why, or why not?


Part V:
6. Why does John say to his mother, "yes, Mammy, I´m going... North"?

The Lottery

The Lottery

By Shirley Jackson

Reflection Questions

1 1. Is the lottery a collective act of murder? Is it morally justified? Is tradition sufficient justification for such actions? How would you respond to cultures that are different from ours that perform "strange" rituals?

  2. Were you surprised by the ending of the story? If not, at what point did you know what was going to happen? How does Jackson foreshadow the ending?

The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour

Please, choose at least two questions to answer or respond to your classmates comments instead.

 

1. "Now she understood that freedom is stronger than love." What do you think of this idea? What kind of freedom does Louise find? Where did she find it? 

 2. Louise thinks, "Men and women always believe they can tell others what to do and how to think." Why do you think she believes this? Do you agree with her?

 

3. What does Louise mean when she says, " Free, free, free!" Free from what? Today, are women more free than men, or less free?

The Tell-Tale Heart

 The Tell- Tale Heart

TRUE!-- nervous-- very dreadfully nervous I had been and am;but why you say I am mad?...

1. The old man was dead. His body, in pieces, was below the floor. But the young man believed that he could hear the old man's heart beating. Why?

2. What do you think will happen to the man after the police take him away? Should he go to prison? to a doctor? Should he be killed?

The Last Leaf

The Last Leaf

by O´Henry

Discussion questions

1.  Near the end of the story Johnsy states ¨I've been a bad girl, Sudie... ¨Something has made the last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was. It is a sin to want to die.¨  What does she mean?

 2. Why does Sue refer to the Last Leaf as Behrman's masterpiece?

3. The story covers different themes: love and friendship, hope, self-sacrifice and pessimism. Which one do you find more evident in the story? Why? Is there any evidence from the text?

 

 

The Lady or the Tiger?

Don't ever forget: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 

                                                         The Lady or the Tiger? 

Please, post your answers/comments for at least two of the following questions.

 Respond to your classmates's comments too. 

 1. Which is a stronger emotion- love or jealousy?
 2. Do you agree with the author that the king's method of administering justice was fair?
 3. Do you think the king's system is a deterrent to crime?
 4. If you were the lover, what door would you have taken?