WLC+Jenny+Y

Class 39 World Literature Circles - Meeting #1 Pages / Chapters Due: P. 1-70

Class 41 World Literature Circles - Meeting #2 Pages / Chapters Due: P. 71-110

Class 43 World Literature Circles - Meeting #3 Pages / Chapters Due: P. 111 - 124

Class 44 World Literature Circles - Meeting #4 Pages / Chapters Due: 124 - end

What do you think this book will be about? (complete sentences)
 * 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 sentences)
 * The setting seems to be at a camp noticing the barbed wires. Also, the book has a very rough texture to it guaranteeing harsh conditions and adventure.
 * READ THE FIRST PAGE ALOUD IN YOUR GROUP
 * What is the POV (provide evidence)?
 * Third POV "Shukhov never slept through reville but always got up at once." (p.1)
 * What conflict is introduced?
 * Shukhov is in a camp.
 * What characters are introduced?
 * The main character Ivan Denisovich (Shukhov) is introduced.
 * What do you learn about each of the characters (provide textual evidence)?
 * He wakes up immediately at five in the camp when the reville sounds: "Shukhov never slept through reville but always got up at once. That gave him about an hour and a half to himself before the morning roll call, a time when anyone who knew what was what in the camps could always scrounge a little something on the side.
 * What is the setting (time, location)?
 * It is five o'clock in the morning at a camp.
 * I think the book will be about a day in the life of Ivan Denisovich as the title states in a Gulag. He will explain the misery and chaos there is in gulags and other harsh camps in Russia.

Reflections: 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.)

The most interesting idea discussed today was how there actually was a man who had shouted out complaints to the captain about how unfair they are treated as. He explains that although they need to put up with harsh conditions, pertaining to a specific Right of Russia, they shouldn't be forced to strip in the cold. He shouts out insults to the captain mentioning that he is not a true communist. It was interesting how he actually had knowledge of such rights of the people. Of course, the officer/captain was furious and made the guy isolated away from the rest. The funny thing was that the captain had nothing to say to the man that had shouted insults at him. This shows how unfair the treatments are of the gulags.
 * REFLECTION 1**

After spending a lifetime in gulags, people were usually sentenced. They were first send to transit camps by freight cars and then to their final destination - the gulag. In carriages, they would sleep on rough boards. Because of the large number of prisoners in each carriage, some had to sleep underneath the boards. Usually, 60 or more people would be crammed in one carriage. The prisoners weren't even allowed to put on other clothes other than the ones they were wearing when they were arrested whether or not the weather was severe. Obviously, the nation did not care to provide the prisoners with bedding so during the warmer weathers, people would spend the day and night in underwear due to the intensity of the heat in carriages. In the midst of the carriages, prisoners would exchange their belongings for bread or tobacco. There weren't any washing facilities although there were rats and vermin everywhere. They would have iron spikes fastened underneath carriages so that no one could escape to the floor and lie between the tracks. Four rows of plank beds in continuous decks, one above the other and running along the walls of the dark, filthy hold had been built. The space between them was so small that it was impossible to sit up. There was no ventilation and the toilets were makeshift wooden arrangements built on deck. It was necessary to queue for hours to use them and women only ventured there after dark, in groups. Prisoners used a parasha [latrine bucket] when they were kept locked in the hold and then the stench became intolerable. As the passengers disembarked after their journey, the dead and sick were laid on the shore and checked. The remainder were marched to Magadan transit camp situated a few kilometres away from the coast.
 * Historical Setting Research: Siberian Gulags**


 * REFLECTION 2**

We were answering one of my questions which were why did Shukhov feel unhappy or unsatisfied with the fact that his village that he used to live in no longer makes baskets, but rather prints on carpets and sells them for profit. We concluded that Shukhov was feeling out of place, and on top of that, he is a skilled carpenter. He would feel left out if he were to go back home. SHukhov seems to have troubled feelings of trying to earn money to a point, that he gave up finding ways to earn money. It actually makes sense because he is working as a prisoner in a camp! How is he supposed to earn money? Another interesting aspect we studied was that Shukhov wasn't a dull, dumb person. He actually inspected the camp well and he knows that he has a very unlikely chance of getting out of camps. He understands how the camps work.


 * REFLECTION 3**

I was alone today for my discussion group, so I resorted to discussing alone. I found an interesting connection with the Metamorphosis and the main character, Shukhov. Due to the stress and depression stage that Gregor was in, he underwent metamorphosis. This somewhat applies to Shukhov because the harsh surroundings of the gulags were making Shukhov more and more addicted to cigarettes. Also, Shukhov starts to question the camps and generals, he grows grumpy, grows greedy for food, etc. From this, I concluded the reading with a theme: brainwash. The camps seem to brainwash everyone. Shukhov began to think that the camp was his fate, his life. He realized that he couldn't get out of it. Many others became brainwashed and so, had so personality defects.


 * REFLECTION 4**

Today, we discussed many connections. One of the connections are with animal farm. They have the same backgrounds which is the gulag, otherwise known as the primary setting throughout both books. However, Shukhov does not see much of the unjustice acts among the gulag. A better connection could be with Candide. There is optimism exhibited everywhere. However, Shukhov's optimism is not as exaggerated as those found in Candide. I will look for more specific connections with the books in detail instead of having the plotline. For example, in One Day in the LIfe of Ivan Denisovich, Shukhov is very happy to be able to have a puff of a cigarette that was used by a fellow prisoner. He felt as though it was his birthday when he was given knew shoes although he would have to use it for around another 5 years. There is a connection to Pangloss's philosophy because Shukhov is happy despite the fact that he will never get a shoe again and he looks at the positive sides.


 * Sentence Pattern 7A**

"Shukhov saw someone he knew among them - a fellow from Vyatka - and gave him a piece of advice." (p. 45) This seems like sentence patter 7A because there are two dashes that start before and after the appositive. Also, the appositive is one idea and not a series which makes it different from Pattern 7. The appositive explains the someone that Shukhov knew, and has the dashes to emphasize the fellow from Vyatka. This is exactly what Pattern 7A is.