EVERYTHING MUST BE TYPED AND SUBMITTED TOGETHER.

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1 This summer Advanced Placement English Literature students will examine the role of FATE in literature from two different novels: Tess of the D Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. A Prayer for Owen Meany will make the most sense if you read Tess of the D Urbervilles first. There are several parts to this assignment. EVERYTHING MUST BE TYPED AND SUBMITTED TOGETHER. Part I Read Tess of the D Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - Norton edition, if possible. 1. Write a double-entry journal for this novel. A double-entry journal requires you to identify a sentence or a paragraph that is meaningful and has interest to you and copy it into your journal. Be sure to include a citation (for example: Hardy p. 100) THIS MUST BE TYPED 2. Write a personal response underneath the copied text. DO NOT WRITE PLOT SUMMARY or explain what you know about characters, setting or plot. Your response should reveal critical thinking. Each personal response should be one page, double-spaced. See attached example. 3. You will write a total of seven personal responses for Tess of the D Urbervilles, one for each phase, or section, of the novel. Hardy clearly marks each phase of the novel. They are: Phase the First: The Maiden; Phase the Second: Maiden no More; Phase the Third: The Rally; Phase the Fourth: The Consequence; Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays; Phase the Sixth: The Convert; Phase the Seventh: Fulfillment. EXAMPLE #1 OF A DOUBLE-ENTRY JOURNAL WHERE WAS TESS S GUARDIAN ANGEL? WHERE WAS THE PROVIDENCE OF HER SIMPLE FAITH? PERHAPS, LIKE THAT OTHER GOD OF WHO THE IRONICAL TISHBITE SPOKE, HE WAS TALKING, OR HE WAS PURSUING, OR HE WAS IN A JOURNEY, OR HE WAS SLEEPING AND NOT TO BE AWAKED. (HARDY, P. 73) THIS PASSAGE REVEALS THE TRUE NATURE OF HARDY S BELIEF TOWARDS TESS S INNOCENCE. TESS IS A SWEET INNOCENT GIRL, WHO NEVER WANTED TO EVEN SACRIFICE HER LIFESTYLE, BUT WHEN HER FAMILY PUT PRESSURE ON HER, SHE FELL TO THE SUBMISSIVE NATURE OF HER TIME. TESS SACRIFICED HER SELF FOR HER FAMILY, AND 1

2 WHAT DID SHE GET IN RETURN? SHE WAS RAPED. HARDY FINALLY REVEALS WHAT HE THINKS OF GOD. THERE IS NO PROTECTION FOR THE INNOCENT. TESS NEVER HURT ANYONE, SHE NEVER DID ANYTHIGN TO GET IN THE WAY OF OTHERS, BUT SHE IS THE ONE WHO MUST TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE WORLD S PAIN. WHERE WAS THE PROTECTION FOR THE INNOCENT? IT WAS NO WHERE. THE GUARDIAN ANGEL WAS AWAY, WITH MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO. THE VIRGINITY OF A YOUNG WOMAN WASN T IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO STRAY AWAY FROM HIS ACTIVITIES. TESS WAS A WOMAN OF SIMPLE FAITH AND SHE DESERVED TO HAVE HER FAITH REWARDED, BUT NO. THIS ANGEL MIGHT AS WELL NOT EXIST. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS GUARDIAN OF HE DOESN T PROTECT TESS IN HER GREATEST TIME OF NEED? IT SEEMS THAT ACTUALLY, IF ANYTHING, PROVIDENCE IS CONSPIRING AGAINST TESS. IT FORCED HER TO GO TO A FAR OFF FARM, IT PUT HER IN HARMS WAY WHEN SHE GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH THE FELLOW FARM HANDS, AND AT THE END IT PUT TESS FAR AWAY FROM ANY PROTECTION. THIS GUARDIAN ANGEL MAY BE SOME COSMIC JOKER. HE PUTS ALL THE PROBLEMS IN TESS S WAY, AND WALKS AWAY FROM THE SCENE ON SOME JOURNEY. HARDY REVEALS THAT THE GUARDIAN ANGEL IS A JOKE. THE ANGEL IS NO GUARDIAN. IT IS JUST A COMIC OBSERVER OF THE MISERY OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THEM THE MOST. IN THE END, THERE IS NO GUARDIAN ANGEL, ONLY THOSE WHO PREY UPON THE BELIEVERS. EXAMPLE #2 OF A DOUBLE-ENTRY JOURNAL Tess of the d Urbervilles: Double-Entry Phase Responses Phase the First: The Maiden The atmosphere turned pale, the birds shook themselves in the hedges, arose, and twittered; the lane showed all its white features, and Tess showed hers, still whiter. The huge pool of blood in front of her was already assuming the iridescence of coagulation; and when the sun rose, a hundred prismatic hues were reflected from it. Prince lay alongside, still and stark; his eyes half open, the hole in his chest looking scarcely large enough to have let out all that had animated him. (Hardy p. 26) This scene in particular reminds me of the opening pages of A Tale of Two Cities in which the red wine spilt all over the streets of France symbolizes the actual blood that will soon be spilt during the Reign of Terror. Here, it is actual blood that probably represents a number of horrors to come; including the violation of Tess, her broken heart, the death of her illegitimate child and perhaps even the murder of Alec. Furthermore, this scene seems to be only one of many in which horror and tragedy conducts itself under beautiful English scenery. The blood and sorrow seems to sharply contrast the coming of a fresh, lovely morning, and it is here, in the middle of the road, with the coming of light from all directions that Tess seems incredibly vulnerable; both physically and emotionally. With the rising of the sun and the start of a new day, Tess has found herself at the start of an entirely new and life-changing epic, Thus, the death of Prince functions as not only a symbolic omen, but as a key event in the novel. Above all, this questions the role of fate in the life of Tess. Would she have been as persuaded to visit the d Urberville residence had she not felt the obligation to redeem herself after killing Prince? 2

3 YOU MAY NOT USE ANY OF THE QUOTATIONS LISTED BELOW ON YOUR SUMMER ASSIGNMENT. 1. Don t you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of the d Urbervilles, who derive their descent from Sir Pagan d Urberville, that renowned knight who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror, as appears by Battle Abbey Roll? Never heard it before, sir! 2. Clare came close, and bent over her. Dead, dead, dead! he murmured. After fixedly regarding her for some moments with the same gaze of unmeasurable woe he bent lower, enclosed her in his arms, and rolled her in the sheet as in a shroud. Then lifting her from the bed with as much respect as one would show to a dead body, he carried her across the room, murmuring, My poor poor Tess, my dearest darling Tess! So sweet, so good, so true! The words of endearment, withheld so severely in his waking hours, were inexpressibly sweet to her forlorn and hungry heart. If it had been to save her weary life she would not, by moving or struggling, have put an end to the position she found herself in. Thus she lay in absolute stillness, scarcely venturing to breathe, and, wondering what he was going to do with her, suffered herself to be borne out upon the landing. My wife dead, dead! he said. 3. Under the trees several pheasants lay about, their rich plumage dabbled with blood; some were dead, some feebly twitching a wing, some staring up at the sky, some pulsating quickly, some contorted, some stretched out all of them writhing in agony except the fortunate ones whose tortures had ended during the night by the inability of nature to bear more. With the impulse of a soul who could feel for kindred sufferers as much as for herself, Tess s first thought was to put the still living birds out of their torture, and to this end with her own hands she broke the necks of as many as she could find, leaving them to lie where she had found them till the gamekeepers should come, as they probably would come, to look for them a second time. Poor darlings to suppose myself the most miserable being on earth in the sight o such misery as yours! she exclaimed, her tears running down as she killed the birds tenderly. 4. As soon as she drew close to it she discovered all in a moment that the figure was a living person; and the shock to her sense of not having been alone was so violent that she was quite overcome, and sank down nigh to fainting, not however till she had recognized Alec d Urberville in the form. He leapt off the slab and supported her. I saw you come in, he said smiling, and got up there not to interrupt your meditations. A family gathering, is it not, with these old fellows under us here? Listen. He stamped with his heel heavily on the floor; whereupon there arose a hollow echo from below. That shook them a bit, I ll warrant, he continued. And you thought I was the mere stone reproduction of one of them. But no. The old order changeth. The little finger of the sham d Urberville can do more for you than the whole dynasty of the real underneath.... Now command me. What shall I do? 5. Justice was done, and the President of the Immortals (in Aeschylean phrase) had ended his sport with Tess. And the d Urberville knights and dames slept on in their tombs unknowing. The two speechless gazers bent themselves down to the earth, as if in prayer, and remained there a long time, absolutely motionless: the flag continued to wave silently. As soon as they had strength they arose, joined hands again, and went on. Read the six articles related to Tess of the D Urbervilles: (included in your folder) write a one page summary per article. The first four articles can be found in the Library Media Center under other Gale databases Twayne s Masterwork Studies. The Importance of the Work. Tess of the d Urbervilles: Unorthodox Beauty. Peter J. Casagrande, New York: Twayne Publishers, Twayne s Masterwork Studies 87. Critical Reception. Tess of the d Urbervilles: Unorthodox Beauty. Peter J. Casagrande. New York: Twayne Publishers, Twayne s Masterwork Studies 87. Death by Starlight. Tess of the d Urbervilles: Unorthodox Beauty. Peter J. Casagrande, New York: Twayne Publishers, Twayne s Masterwork Studies 87. The Goring of Tess. Tess of the d Urbervilles: Unorthodox Beauty. Peter J. Casagrande, New York: Twayne Publishers, Twayne s Masterwork Studies 87. Hugman, Bruce Tess s Fate Is Not Predetermined Readings on Tess of the D Urbervilles.Ed. Bonnie Szumski. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, Wright, T.R. Tess is a Victim of Men Readings on Tess of the D Urbervilles. Ed. Bonnie Szumski. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press,

4 Part II Read A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Read the two articles listed below and write a one page summary of each. Both articles can be found in Literature Resource Center in other Gale databases, Library Media Center. Aubrey, Bryan. Critical Essay on A Prayer for Owen Meany. Novels for Students. Ed. Jennifer Smith. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, Literature Resource Center. Reilly, Edward C. The Magnitude of a Miracle : A Prayer for owen Meany. Understanding John Irving. University of South Carolina Press, Rpt. In Novels for Students. Ed. Jennifer Smith. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale Literature Resource Center. Part IV QUOTATION Who are you? What are your beliefs and values? What makes you laugh? Answer any or all of these questions in ONE QUOTATION typed and printed as LARGE as possible on a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper to be displayed in class. Don t forget to include the author of the quotation your name a picture of yourself You will take an exam and write an essay on each novel in September. This entire assignment is due upon your return to school at our first class together. It will be collected right after attendance is taken. 4

5 YOUR SUMMER ASSIGNMENT WILL BE COLLECTED ONCE IT IS COMPLETE. YOU MAY NOT SUBMIT PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT TO ME. POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR LATENESS. Have a great summer. Happy reading! If you have any questions please me at MMEYER@tufsd.org and MLM823@gmail.com with summer assignment in the subject. The earlier you me the better. I will not be able to answer messages the last two weeks of August. 5