WLC+JohnK

Reading Assignments: Divide your novel into four sections - by pages or chapters. **Post the schedule below on your wiki page with your pages/chapters due filled in for each class.**

Class 39 World Literature Circles - Meeting #1 Pages / Chapters Due: chapters 1,2, and 3

Class 41 World Literature Circles - Meeting #2 Pages / Chapters Due: chapters 4,5, and 6

Class 43 World Literature Circles - Meeting #3 Pages / Chapters Due: chapters 7,8, and 9

Class 44 World Literature Circles - Meeting #4 Pages / Chapters Due: chapters 10,11


 * Preview** your book by answering the following questions on your wiki page:
 * What do you think this novel will be about based on the cover art? (complete sentence)
 * It is about a guide who comes from an dark, difficult place, and becomes one of the sacred man.
 * READ THE FIRST PAGE ALOUD IN YOUR GROUP
 * What is the POV (provide evidence)?
 * It is a third point of view as Raju's name is mentioned and 'he' is used in the first page.
 * However, later on, when Raju talks about his life, it changes to first person point of view.
 * What conflict is introduced?
 * Conflict is not introduced yet.
 * What characters are introduced?
 * Raju and the man the from Mangal.
 * What do you learn about each of the characters (provide textual evidence)?
 * The unknown man is from Mangal.
 * Raju is polite, and he is very open and friendly to others. ["But he a (Raju) was too polite to open a conversation."]
 * What is the setting (time, location)?
 * (First page) It takes place when the sun is setting, and the place is not far from Mangal.
 * Full setting is not revealed in the first page. However, the text in the back shows that the setting takes place in a fictional place called Malgudi.
 * What do you think this book will be about? (complete sentences)
 * I think think book will be about a tourist guide.

After each world literature circle discussion, please complete the following reflection in complete sentences on your page. (Clearly label each discussion reflection.) **What was the most interesting idea or insight that was discussed in your group meeting today?** Describe the discussion in as much detail as you can, noting the ideas various members came up with as well as any follow-up questions that were asked. (This reflection needs to be a paragraph in length.)

Reflection #1: The Guide 1-3

An interesting comment was that Raju's teacher is similar with Napoleon in the //Animal Farm//. They both use their power to gain personal goods. They both use the uneducated people to get what they want. This book has connections to lots of other books that we have read this year. "It is fated thus." (pg. 5) shows connections to //Romeo and Juliet// and //Candide// which talks about fate. The way that Raju changes from a prisoner to a holy man connects to the //Metamorphosis//. Also, the way that the author changes from first person to third person point of view is effective. The author uses the different point of views to explain different time settings. The comment that came up was that the author uses this type of writing effectively and fluently to proceed throughout the book.

Reflection #2: The Guide 4-6

It was unclear how Raju was corrupt when he took his customers around showing the main artifacts in town according to the time and money the customers have. He said that he felt responsible for his customers until he saw them safely off in the train. Raju turns out to be corrupt because as a tourist guide, he does not tell the people actual facts. He makes statistics and information up and tell those who are innocent while staying very quiet with those who are intelligent. However, Raju still gets paid and makes lots of money. Also, how Raju was becoming pessimistic about his life in the village, playing the role of a holy man reminded us about Candide. How Candide was very pessimistic going through all the hardships while Pangloss was very optimistic. Also, I am very curious about what will happen to Raju after telling Velan that he is not a holy man.

Reflection #3: The Guide 7-9

We discussed about the Temple Dancing which was talked about in the section. It is to show the love between man and woman or human being and God. We discussed about how the temple dancing would be like. The significance of the dance is to show love and respect to God, which at the time was important for having a fine life. //The Guide// also have connections to //the Metamorphosis.// Rosie have been ignored for days by Marco, her husband. She was treated as if she was completely invisible for days. This is similar to Gregor when he transformed into a bug. He was ignored by his family members, being locked in his room the whole time. An interesting question was that 'why doesn't the author use chronological order?' We thought that it could be just the style of writing or to make the book more interesting. Even though the author goes back and forth, it is very clear which time period the author is talking about.

Reflection #4: The Guide 10-11

In //Candide, Death of Ivan Illych//, and //The Guide//, the main characters go through enlightenment throughout the course of the book. Candide, as he travels around the world, he learns that there are new places and new people all over the world. He learns that there are places in the world where it is better than where he used to live. Candide also takes places in the time of the Enlightenment Era. At the end of the book, he realizes that each man should focus on his own ideas, and live his own life. In the Death of Ivan Illych, before the death of Ivan Illych, he has an enlightenment and thinks about how he should have lived his life. This is very similar to The Guide, in which Raju realizes that he should stop being selfish and start helping others. Both characters had an enlightenment before their death and they learned that being benevolent to others is more important than being too selfish and only thinking about their own lives.

About the Setting of //The Guide//: Malgudi

reliable sources: http://web.archive.org/web/20070513100401/http://www.iit.edu/~jainank/reading/db/narayan/malgudi.html (one address)

This source is reliable because the writings are not biased. Also, at the bottom of the page, there are references that the author used to write the information. The author uses quotes of R.K Narayan which shows that the information is correct.

Malgudi is a fictional town that Narayan based most of his stories on. It is located in Southern India, but no one knows the exact place where this fictional town would be located. Narayan does not provide clear geographical location of the place. As said in the website, Narayan was thinking about a railway platform and just named it the Malgudi Station. Many people guessed where this mythical town originated from, but it is not clearly known. Malgudi is purely an Indian town, and shows the lives of Indians and their society.//

Sentence pattern The Guide

pg. 173-174: "I could not bother to think of her own troubles, of the mess she had been led into, of the financial emptiness after all those months of dancing and working, of the surprise sprung upon her by my lack of -- what should we call it, judgment?

Sentence pattern 8: This sentence has dependent clauses in a pair or a series. It contains two or more dependent clauses that are parallel in structure. Also, each sentence starts with the same word, in this case 'of.'