Rhetoric II Book Club What is Book Club? Book Club is really just a great excuse to celebrate the end of our book, eat, drink, and have some great discussions! How does it work? Each book club will have 2-3 assigned Discussion Leaders (DL) and the rest of the class will be Participants. The DL s will lead the class in discussion and will be graded according to the success of their discussion. They will also turn in their detailed discussion notes for a grade. Participants will be graded on participation. What does it mean to be a Discussion Leader (DL)? The goal is to develop good discussion prompts and to lead the class in a hearty discussion. You may be assigned a discussion topic by me, but if not, you will create your own discussion points. You must also be prepared to answer any questions the Participants might have. Each DL will have approximately 20-25 minutes for their discussion. About a week before Book Club, Discussion Leaders will be emailed their assigned topics. This will be a discussion on either the end of the book or a key aspect of the book that we have not covered in class. DL #1 is responsible for the end of the book discussion: Since we do not get to finish the book before book club, you will lead us in a conversation on the final chapters of the book. This doesn t mean that you tell us about the end of the book we have all read it. It means you should raise questions, present ideas, and bring up any ambiguity regarding the final chapters. DLs #2 & 3 are responsible for a discussion on an important aspect of the book: You will be leading a discussion on your assigned topic and anything you think is important to discuss regarding that topic and how it relates to the overall book. You will not be speaking to the class for 20 minutes about what you think was an important aspect, but rather you will ask guiding questions that will open up a class discussion in which you will participate and lead. Before Book Club, DL s will prepare a class discussion about their assigned topic. This involves (1) reviewing the whole book to find the passages/scenes/characters that are relevant to the topic (2) forming several (2-4) text-based, open-ended questions to guide Participants thinking on the topic (3) forming concluding questions that will guide Participants to new insights or conclusions on the topic. Some ideas to ponder: the author s purpose, message, themes, relevance to us today, character growth/development, symbols, worldview, human condition, etc. See the page at the end of this document for a sample discussion guide. After Book Club, Discussion Leaders must turn in an MLA-formatted document containing the list of passages they used for reference and the questions they wrote. Their grade will be based on the thoroughness and creativity of this material (20 points) as well as on the success of the discussion (25 points) and their preparedness to answer Participants questions (5 points). A successful conversation is one that elicits lively conversation and leads to new insights. If the class looks silently at you with bored, glazed eyes then that would be BAD. (over)
What does it mean to be a book club Participant? The Participant s role is just as important as the Leader s in shaping a rousing discussion. Participants will: Come to Book Club with some of your own prepared questions and thoughts. To earn participation points, Participants may ask questions of the Discussion Leaders or may respond to the questions of the leaders. Remember, it is ok to disagree with each other, but it is not ok to be disrespectful. Engage in conversation by giving answers to the DL s questions, responding to other Participant s ideas, or asking new/related questions. Receive a participation grade (30 points). I will be keeping track of the discussion. All participants will begin with a 70%, and will receive points to raise this grade based on their thoughtful involvement in discussion. **You must come to class with some prepared questions/thoughts. (And it could be really fun to try to stump your Discussion Leaders although revenge is sweet ) Book Club Assignments for This Year: Discussion Leaders for Picture of Dorian Gray: : Did Dorian's character change or was it merely truly revealed by the end of the novel? Was Dorian really the naive, young man that Basil portrayed in Chapter 1, or was it just Basil's obsession with Dorian that made him see him in that light? Is Dorian a good person overall? Choose a position on Dorian s character and defend it with textual support. You may also want to consider Oscar Wilde s attitude toward Dorian (and support your opinion with evidence from the text). : By the end of the story, which character has exerted the power of influence the most? Compare their different influences. How much blame can be placed on the influence of others? Support with specific textual evidence. : When PODG was first published, it was considered an immoral book. Do you agree? Would it be considered immoral by today s standards? Consider the moral content of the novel, using scripture as your standard. Also, consider the many biblical allusions in the book. What purpose do they serve? How should we, as Christians, respond to this text? To people who live with the philosophy of aestheticism? Is this book still applicable to us today? Discussion Leaders for The Great Gatsby: Discussion Leaders for Lord of the Flies: Discussion Leaders for The Sun Also Rises: Discussion Leaders for 1984: **Prompts will be emailed one week before Book Club**
SAMPLE DISCUSSION NOTES Discussion Guide: The Picture of Dorian Gray Assigned Prompt: Explore and evaluate Basil Hallward s opinion of Dorian Gray throughout the book, paying attention to what it reveals about Basil and what Basil might represent. The early friendship: Key Texts: First time we see Basil react to Dorian strange mix of pleasure and fear: As the painter looked at the gracious and comely form... a smile of pleasure passed across his face... But he suddenly started up, and, closing his eyes, placed his fingers upon the lids, as though he sought to imprison within his brain some curious dream from which he feared he might wake (ch. 1, p. 5). Basil prizes Dorian for what he means artistically: [I]n some curious way...his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art... Unconsciously he defines for me the lines of a fresh school, a school that is to have in it all the passion of the romantic spirit, all the perfection of the spirit that is Greek.... Dorian Gray is to me simply a motive in art... I find him in the curves of certain lines, in the loveliness and subtleties of certain colours. That is all (ch. 1, pp. 12-13). Declaration he won t exhibit the painting pp.6-13 especially: Because, without intending it, I have put into it some expression of all this curious artistic idolatry... the world might guess it; and I will not bare my soul to their shallow, prying eyes....an artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them. We live in an age when men treat art as if it were meant to be a form of autobiography. We have lost the sense of abstract beauty. Some day I will show the world what it is; and for that reason the world shall never see my portrait of Dorian Gray (ch. 1, p. 13). To Lord Henry: He has a simple and a beautiful nature...don t spoil him. Don t try to influence him. Your influence would be bad (ch. 1, p. 16). Dorian sperceptionofbasil sattitude: Youlikeyourartbetterthanyourfriends.Iamnomoretoyouthanagre en bronze figure. Hardly as much, I dare say (ch. 2, p. 25). [NB, Basil thinks this comment is out of character for Dorian. After Dorian s outburst:] This is your doing, Harry, the painter said bitterly. Lord Henry shrugged his shoulders. It is the real Dorian Gray that is all. It is not (ch. 2, p. 26). On the same page Basil says he will destroy the painting rather than the friendship. Dorian objects. The Sibyl episode and the breaking of the friendship: Basil s comments about Dorian s engagement to Sibyl: I can t believe it. Dorian is far too sensible (ch.6,p.62). I hope the girl is good, Harry. I don t want to see Dorian tied to some vile creature, who might degrade his nature and ruin his intellect (p. 64). Don t Harry. You have annoyed Dorian. He
is not like other men. He would never bring misery upon any one. His nature is too fine for that (p. 67). Comments on the price of sin in suffering, remorse, degradation, p. 68. If this girl can give a soul to those who have live without one, if she can create the sense of beauty in people whose lives have been sordid and ugly, if she can strip them of their selfishness and lend them tears for sorrows that are not their own, she is worthy of all your adoration (ch. 7, p. 70-71). Basil s reaction to Dorian s response to Sibyl s death: Dorian, this is horrible! Something has changed you completely. You look exactly the same wonderful boy who, day after day, used to come down to my studio to sit for his picture. But you were simple, natural, and affectionate then. You were the most unspoiled creature in the whole world. Now, I don t know what has come over you. You talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you. It is all Harry s influence. I see that (ch. 9, p. 93). Then, The painter felt strangely moved. The lad was infinitely dear to him, and his personality had been the great turning- point in his art. He could not bear the idea of reproaching him any more. After all, his indifference was probably merely a mood that would pass away. There was so much in him that was good, so much in him that was noble (p. 95). Basil confesses his feelings about the painting to Dorian: And now good-bye, Dorian. You have been the one person in my life who has really influenced my art. Whatever I have done that is good, I owe to you. Ah! you don t know what it cost me to tell you all that I have told you.... It was not intended as a compliment. It was a confession. Now that I have made it, something seems to have gone out of me. Perhaps one should never put one s worship into words (ch. 9, p. 99). The last visit and the revelation: Basil goes out of his way to see Dorian before leaving England for an extended time. The purpose of the visit: it is entirely for your own sake that I am speaking. I think it right that you should know that the most dreadful things are being said against you in London.... Mind you, I don t believe these rumors at all. At least, I can t believe them when I see you. Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man s face.... But you, Dorian, with your pure, bright, innocent face, and your marvelous untroubled youth I can t believe anything against you. And yet I see you very seldom, and you never come down to the studio now, and when I am away from you, and I hear all these hideous things that people are whispering about you, I don t know what to say (ch. 12, p. 126-127). More: One has a right to judge of a man by the effect he has over his friends. Yours seem to lose all sense of honour, of goodness, of purity. You have filled the with a madness for pleasure. They have gone down into the depths. You led them there. Yes: you led them there, and yet you can smile, as you are smiling now (p. 128). And finally: I won t tell you that I don t want to preach to you...i do want to preach to you. I want you to lead such a life as will make the world respect you. I want you to have a clean name and a fair record....you have a wonderful influence. Let it be for good, not for evil.... I wonder do I know you? Before I could answer that, I should have to see your soul.... But only God can do that (p. 128-129).When Dorian says he ll show Basil his soul: This is blasphemy, Dorian!...You must not say things like that.they are horrible, and they don t mean anything (p.129). [Can something be horrible if it doesn t mean anything??] Read Dorian s description of Basil s and the picture s influence upon him, p.132.
Basil s reaction to the picture: Christ! What a thing I must have worshipped! It has the face of a devil... Good God, Dorian, what a lesson! what an awful lesson! There was no answer, but he could hear the young man sobbing at the window. Pray, Dorian, pray, he murmured. What is it that one was taught to say in one s boyhood? Lead us not into temptation. Forgive us our sins. Wash away our iniquities. Let us say that together. The prayer of your pride has been answered. The prayer of your repentance will be answered also. I worshipped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshipped yourself too much. We are both punished. Dorian Gray turned slowly around, and looked at him with tear-dimmed eyes. It is too late, Basil, he faltered. It is never too late, Dorian. Let us kneel down and try if we cannot remember a prayer. Isn t there a verse somewhere, Though your sins be as scarlet, yet I will make them as white as snow? (ch. 13, p. 132-133). Questions: 1. Based on the passages in chapter 1, does Basil not want to exhibit the painting of Dorian because he doesn t want to confess his idolatry (fear of sin), because he doesn t want the world to see his soul (sense of privacy), or because he feels like it failed his standard of art as abstract beauty (artistic ideals)? 2. Do any of these motives religious, personal, or artistic seem more dominant based on Basil s later actions towards the painting and Dorian? 3. Basil seems to live out the philosophy of aestheticism in his commitment to his art and his idealization of Beauty, as seen in his relationship with Dorian. However, he also has a high view of moral purity, seen in the way he is constantly urging Dorian to stay innocent/pure, and he frequently uses Christian language and imagery (refer to bolded terms in the texts above). Are aestheticism and Christianity in conflict for Basil s worldview, or does he blend the two by using Christian language to describe his aestheticism? 4. Why does Basil refuse to believe the bad things said of Dorian, and how does this action flow out of his worldview? (In other words, could it be, if he is mixing up aestheticism and Christianity, then beauty=righteousness and ugliness=sin?) Would this be a reliable test of character in ordinary situations? 5. In the last scene of Basil s life, when he finally understands Dorian Gray s secret and urges him to pray Scripture, has Basil experienced a transformation? Concluding Questions: 1. With the whole story in view, was Basil s sin idolatry towards Dorian Gray, or idolatry towards beauty? 2. Oscar Wilde would probably not want us to draw moral lessons from Basil s life BUT oh well.what do we learn about the process and effects of idolatry from Basil? Note: For further help in understanding how to structure a question-based discussion, look at the Paideia model for a Socratic Seminar: http://www.paideia.org/socratic-questioning/. The format I am asking you to use is similar to the Paideia format in the way it moves from the text, to text-based/open-ended analysis questions, to synthesizing/evaluating/application questions. The only difference is that we are leaving out the introductory questions simply for the sake of time.