WLIRP+Carol

**World Literature Independent Reading Project** Quarter 1 2009-2010 Note: In order for your book to qualify it must be by an author from a country other than the United States or the United Kingdom OR the primary setting must be outside of the United States or the United Kingdom.


 * Title: //The Count of Monte Cristo//
 * Author: Alexandre DUMAS
 * Author’s Nationality: French
 * Setting (only list the primary settings): France (as far as I'm aware of)
 * Total Pages: 1462 pages
 * Original Publication Date: 1844-1846
 * If your book is translated, who is the translator? If not translated write “NA”: Lorenzo Carcaterra
 * Do you currently have a physical copy of the book? Yes I do : )
 * If you do not have a physical copy, how soon can you get one? (Write “NA” if you have a copy.) NA

1. If you don’t already, obtain a physical copy of the book and bring it to class when instructed. 2. Become an expert on your book by the end of the first quarter. The quarter ends on October 15th, so you have about seven weeks to complete the book. Keep in mind that you will be reading this book in addition to assigned readings for class, so when the homework load is light read your book. This is also the book you should use for KIS Reads. 3. Read actively by taking notes in the book (use Post-its if it’s on loan), and make sure you understand the main conflicts, how the characters develop, and any major themes. 4. At the end of each weak, write a 100-200 word reflection about your reading. Use your notes or post-its for ideas. 5. Your book will be the basis of a writing project at the conclusion of the first quarter, so keep track of the book.
 * Directions:**

How many pages do you need to read per week to be completed by 15 October, 2009? Week 1: 31 August - 4 September: NA Week 2: 7-11 September: 244 Week 3: 14-18 September: 488 Week 4: 21-25 September: 732 Week 5: 28 September - 2 October: 976 Week 6: 5-9 October: 1220 Week 7: 12-15 October: 1462 You must be completed with your book by Thursday, 15 October, 2009.
 * Once your selection has been approved, fill out the following:**

 **Reflections **  How is your World Lit. reading going? Are you keeping up with your reading plan? What do you think about your book so far? What are the main conflicts? Are there any particularly interesting characters? Why? Have you noticed any major themes developing? Do you see any connections between your World Lit book and anything else you have read recently?

**First Reflection**  //The Count of Monte Cristo //, written by Alexandre DUMAS, has been a wonderful chance for me to expand my knowledge of the history of France. In the beginning, although I'm still reading a fairly beginning portion of the novel, I was riveted by the distinctive characters. According to my interpretations, I think the book is, so far, a masterpiece of adventure. Thus it makes me wonder what their next obstacles, or paths they are going to take. Amazingly, I am keeping up with my plan. I planned to read a week worth pages all in weekend; I prefer reading all at once so that I don't have to figure out the preceding plots. I can make connections with primary sources that I read in Mr. Spivey's class; how people in the state of nature is self-centered. Characters in my novel plot for accusations to achieve their peace. Also, I'm looking forward to read more romantic scenes- not to mention my curiosity: "WHERE IS MONTE CRISTO?"  **Second Reflection**
 *  Alexandre DUMAS, the author of //The Count of Monte Cristo, rendered a fabulous chance for me to expand my knowledge of French bureaucracy. // I feel very comfortable reading different titles, now that I finished reading. In the beginning, I was very confounded to see so many French titles (e.g. mlde.). My plan was at risk in the course, but with Chusok break, I was able to catch up with my plan. I also figured out Alexandre's writing style, which I do not prefer. He has excessively articulate ways of describing the setting, and the costumes; I was anticipating more actions over descriptions. Nevertheless, it was fascinating to explore new culture through reading a single book. I would fervently recommend to my acquaintances who enjoy reading poems, and other explicative scriptures.

**

**P****odcast Presentation Project Outline** Introduction: //The Count of Monte Cristo //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> written by Alexandre DUMAS is a story of a gentleman named Edmond Dantes plotting machinations to avenge his incriminators. After his imprisonment and the spectacular escape, he claims himself as the count of Monte Cristo. His fame and wealth allows him to take actions that would degrade or lead to demise of his combatants. Amidst all the cunning schemes, however, the Count achieves the ultimate happiness, as he grows amorous with Haydee.

<span style="color: #f65b28; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Body: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Item #1: //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Count of Monte Cristo //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Item #2: //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Romeo and Juliet //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">

1) Suicide as a reasonable response to tragic circumstances Item 1:
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> How are they alike? **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Item 2: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> = DUMAS and Shakespeare present suicide as a honorable and reasonable response to tragic circumstances.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Maximillien Morrel’s attempt to commit suicide proved his deep affection towards Valentine.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Haydee vowed to Monte Cristo that she would take away her life if he abandons her. Thus Monte Cristo accepts her sincere love.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Because Romeo and Juliet both committed suicide, it proved their unbreakable love and allowed their houses to reconcile.

2) Father negative influence on their child Item 1: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Item 2: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> 3) Alien places as the savior from guilt Item 1: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Item 2: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> 4) Tragedy led by the greed of money Item 1: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Item 2:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Villefort could have proved Monte Cristo’s innocence, and receive respect from the public, but he abstained to do so because of his father. If he were to claim the innocence of Monte Cristo, then it will be conflicting, since he needs to indict his father. The mere existence of his father led Villefort to be guilty and drive him insane, eventually.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Juliet conceived the idea of drug because Capulet strongly disagreed with her. Capulet forecefully tried to wed Juliet and Paris, but former showed disgust towards this decision. Irate Capulet then attempted to force his daughter to be obedient. On the contrary, Juliet conceived the idea of potion to abstain from the marriage. This plan did not work out the way it was anticipated, and led to Juliet’s demise.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Although Edmond Dantes was not responsible for the political crime, he was accused of it. The public was aware of this trial, but they forgot, rather did not recognize Edmond Dantes, of this political criminal after years in the Island of Monte Cristo.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">After Romeo was banished from Verona to Manchua, the public population forgave his murder of Tybalt.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">When Monte Cristo played on Danglar’s greed of money, it left as him as a destitute man in the end.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Capulet’s greed to wed Juliet and Paris for family’s financial prosperity led to Juliet’s demise.

**<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">How are they different? ** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> 1) Author’s contradicting perspective on human achievements Item 1: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Item 2: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> = The authors have very contradicting plot line. The former has a positive perspective of human achievement, while the latter has a negative perspective of human achievement. Because Romeo and Juliet ruthlessly tried to protect their love, in the latter novel, it resulted in death.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Dante avenged on his incriminators, then became happy with his new inamorata, Haydee (Revenge to happiness)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Romeo and Juliet merely loved each other, but led to death (love to death)

2) Human actions VS fate Item 1: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> e.g. #1) Danglar fall from the most affluent man in his vicinity to a destitute man was an anticipated result. Monte Cristo played with Danglar’s greed, and thus Danglar was left penniless. e.g. #2) Monte Cristo’s public declaration of Villefort’s guilt drove Villefort insane. e.g. #3) Mondego Morcerf suicide was profoundly affected by Monte Cristo. He most critically and publicly defamed Modego. Item 2: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> e.g. #1) Romeo and Juliet fell in love. Humans cannot resist their attractions and deep affection to each other by simple words, or actions. It does not occur accordingly to their intentions (e.g. “I want him to love me” does not necessarily guarantee love). e.g. #2) Romeo blames fate for his murder of Tybalt, and this murder further aparts the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo claims himself that it was out of his hands by screaming, “O, I am Fortune’s fool!” (3.1.142)
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The Count of Monte Cristo //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">’s story progresses based on human actions (actions/decisions of Edmond Dantes). It is never predetermined by fate; the results always derive from the human decisions.
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Romeo and Juliet //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">’s tragedy was uncontrollable; fate played much role in their adversity.

3) Different result from the same plot Item 1: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Item 2:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">When Valentine takes a pill to appear dead, it was to avoid her family conflicting with her inamorato’s family. Maximilian Morrel falls in to despair, but Monte Cristo reveal the truth that she is actually alive. By the end, Valentine and Maximilian are finally able to explicitly love each other and experience the zenith of life.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">When Juliet takes the potion to appear dead, her intention was to shun from her marriage and live with Romeo on a safe land. However, the miscommunication between Juliet and Romeo led to death.

<span style="color: #f65b28; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25px;">Conclusion: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> To be frank, I was not as excited as I anticipated in the beginning. Hackneyed vocabularies, difficult French phrases from time to time, and other components of French culture made it complex to unravel the hidden fun of this novel. However, I enjoyed in the latter half of the novel. Once I got used to the author’s style of writing, I was able to feel intimate with the characters. I would recommend to those students who are patient, and enjoy heroic stories.

<span style="color: #f65b28; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Introduction: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The Count of Monte Cristo //<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> written by Alexandre DUMAS is a story of a gentleman named Edmond Dantès plotting machinations to avenge his acquaintances who incriminated him. After the spectacular escape from his cell, he claims himself as the count of Monte Cristo. His fame and wealth easily allows him to revenge on his old foes. Amidst all the cunning schemes, however, the Count achieves ultimate happiness, as he falls in love with Haydée. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Alexandre DUMAS and William Shakespeare both present suicide as a reasonable response to tragic circumstances. The former author portrays this theme through two characters: Maximilian Morrel and Haydée. Maximilian’s suicidal contemplation on behalf of Valentine Villefort’s false death impresses Dantès, and eventually leads to a jocund reconciliation of the two youthful lovers. As for Haydée, Dantès truly comprehends her sincere affection towards him when she solemnly vows to take away her life if he abandoned her. Shakespeare, likewise, demonstrates the same theme by concluding suicide of the Montague and Capulet’s children as a way of residing into peace. In these two novels, we can clearly depict suicide as a suitable response to generate peace. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The story of <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The Count of Monte Cristo // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">proceeds based on human decisions, while <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">//<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Romeo and Juliet // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">ripens <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">solely on fate. Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of the former novel, makes spontaneous decisions that revert the result. The outcomes of his machinations are predetermined neither by faith nor other supernatural factors <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> For example, Baron Danglar, Gérard de Villefort, and Fernand Mondego, all of who imprisoned Dantès, fall from the zenith of life to either destitution or demise. These results did not occur by accident; Dantès articulate calculation made it possible. However, in <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">//<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Romeo and Juliet, // <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> the deep affection, the fundamental cause of their death, are not controllable factors. Love does not occur according to one’s intentions or words; fortune needs to meddle. Also, Romeo explicitly states his murder of Tybalt as the fortune’s play by screaming, “O, I am Fortune’s fool!” (3.1.142). As a result, the readers can figure out the authors’ different styles of story building. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="color: #f65b28; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Conclusion: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">To be frank, I was not thrilled to read in the beginning of the novel. Hackneyed vocabularies, difficult French phrases from time to time, and other components of French culture made it complex to unravel the hidden fun of this novel. However, I enjoyed the latter half. Once I got used to the author’s style of writing, I was able to feel intimate with the characters. I would recommend to those students who are patient, and enjoy heroic stories. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 140%;">
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">Podcast Presentation Project Script **
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">How are they alike? **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">How are they different? **<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">

<span style="color: #ec4141; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 170%;">**Podcast**