The Human Comedy: Overview
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Introduction |
Like "Our Town", The Human Comedy, is based on the small town America. This time the story is set in a small town in California in the forties, during World War II. |
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Table of Contents |
This unit will contain the following sections. |
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Topic |
See Page |
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Allusions |
C-2 |
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Thought Questions |
C-4 |
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The Things That Make a Soldier Great |
C-5 |
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The Human Comedy; pgs. 11-43 |
C-6 |
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The Human Comedy; pgs. 44-60 |
C-13 |
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The Human Comedy; pgs. 61-90 |
C-17 |
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The Human Comedy; pgs. 90-119 |
C-21 |
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The Human Comedy; pgs. 120-148 |
C-26 |
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The Human Comedy; pgs. 149-174 |
C-31 |
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The Human Comedy: pgs. 175-end |
C-35 |
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The Human Comedy; Wrap-up Questions |
C-38 |
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The Human Comedy: Criticism |
C-39 |
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The Human Comedy Exam |
C-41 |
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Feedback |
C-45 |
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Challenge |
For this novel, you can also read The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger and do one of the BDC in the library. Another appropriate novel would be A Seperate Peace by Knowles. |
Allusions
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Introduction |
An allusion is a literary term that will and has gotten a lot of attention in this class. |
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Definition |
An Allusion is a reference to a book or work inside of another book. An author does this so that his book or character has some of the characteristics of the other book. For example: After giving Tom his lunch, Johnny Carrel felt his palms start to bleed. In the example, Johnny Carol is being compared to Jesus Christ. His sacrifice is supposed to look as serious as Christ's. |
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Exercise |
The following headlines from the newspaper have allusions in them. To what works are these headlines referring? 1. Ken Griffey Sr.; The Ancient Mariner. 2. In the Big Inning, Let there be Mo. 3. Boston; Our City. 4. Carl Yastrzemski: Lord of the Pop Flies. 5. Star Tours. 6. Mo Better Blues; A Guide to Fishing off of Nantucket. 7. I came, I saw, I had lunch at Henry's. 8. We Who are About to Rock, Salute You. 9. Patriots Jack the Giants. 10. Roger Rocket Man Clemens. |
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Finding Allusions |
Watch the following Video from MTV and write down what allusions are used in it. Or Read the following article and underline what allusions are used in it. Or Listen to the following song and write down what allusions are used in it. |
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Homework 1: Finding Allusions |
Go home and look through old magazines and newspapers, then find 10 headlines that contain allusions. |
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Homework 2: Explaining Allusions |
Using the team, the dictionary or an encyclopedia, explain the following names from The Human Comedy. • Ulysses • Homer • Ithaca • The Human Comedy |
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Challenges |
The following are offered as challenge. • 6-7 Biblical allusions • 6-8 Allusions to Fables, Myths, and Literature • Spot That Allusion, p. 255 • Find 20 Allusions in Boston Globe or Herald headlines. |
Human Comedy Thought Questions
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Introduction |
The Human Comedy , like "Our Town," uses the backdrop of quiet America to show some serious and thoughtful issues about life and death. |
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Questions |
In small groups, answer the three of the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. (I may assign questions) • Do you think children are born innocent and then learn to be selfish and lying? When do they start becoming selfish and lying? What would recess be like if kids were like that? • Describe what George and Emily did when they saw each other for the very first time? • Imagine if the United States were at war right now. How do you suppose the island would be different? • List three or four things people (other than your parents or relatives) have done for you that were good or well-intentioned? • What makes small town life comfortable (think Our Town) • What makes small town life unbearable (again, think Our Town) • If you could trade your 21st year for your 7th, would you? Explain. |
The Things that Make a Soldier Great
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Introduction |
Edgar Guest is a classic example of a bad poet, but many of his quick phrases have become timeless. This poem is a good example of a work that has lasted a long, long time. |
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Question |
Read the poem and answer these questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. • What are the things that make a soldier great? Is always been observed that civil wars are the bloodiest. How does this quote show this? • What things don't make a soldier great? • According to this poem, what make the fiercest soldiers? • Do you think that many soldiers fight for this reason? Think of the movies you've seen that deal with war. Did many of those soldiers think of a "humble street"? |
The Human Comedy, pgs 11-43
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Introduction |
In this opening section, Saroyan introduces you to the main characters and the main themes of the novel. |
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Ulysses |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What is Ulysses looking at? Does he torture or torment that animals? Explain. 2. What is Ulysses interpretation of the train. How many people don't wave to the little boy? What does that say about the adults in this book. 3. Who does wave to the little boy? What does he say? Why do you suppose that is important. 4. What does he hand his mother? Why is his behavior unusual? 5. Complete the quote "by which he meant what no man __________ _________________________________________ tell." What do you suppose it means? How is that similar to Adam and Eve? |
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Homer |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 6. What is Homer doing How is he similar to his brother? How could the events in this chapter have a more negative tinge? 7. What does Homer do to the soldiers? What does Ulysses do that is similar? Explain the last two questions? |
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At the Telegraph Office |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 8. Who is Spangler and Grogan? What is the message that they are sending? Why is he sending it for free? 9. What does Spangler carry for luck? How might that object be important symbolically? 10. How old is Homer? What will he do with the money from this job? Why do you suppose he was hired? What could be the downside of being a messenger? |
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11. What is Mr. Grogan like? What makes you think he is a nice man? Why does he drink, do you suppose? Why did he ask Homer to sing Rock of Ages? Explain the last sentence of the chapter. |
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At Home |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 12. Who is Marcus? Why are they singing for him? 13. What questions does Ulysses ask? What is he ignorant of? Is he innocent? Explain. |
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14. Who does Mrs. Macauley think she hears? Why does she imagine this? |
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Mrs. Sandoval |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 15. Why is Mrs. Sandoval beautiful? How did she get her beauty? 16. What is the message Homer delivers? How does she take it? What does she do? 17. Why does Homer want to vomit? How does he feel? (please quote) What has he just learned? Is he still innocent? |
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Mr. Grogan |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 18. How does Homer wake the old man up? Why is Homer so frantic |
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19. What is Mr. Grogan trying to do? How did Homer come "just in time." Why do you think it is important that Mr. Grogan does his work by hand? 20. What song does Homer sing? Why? Why does he sing a different one and not Rock of Ages? |
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Mrs. Macauley |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 21. What is wrong with Homer? What is his relationship with his mother like? How does the economics of the time affect that? 22. How has Homer changed? What has he learned about? When Mrs. Macauley says that "schools are to keep children off the streets" what does she mean be streets? 23. What advice does she give her son? |
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ContinuedBess and Mary
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ContinuedThe Veteran
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Paragraph |
In one or two well written paragraph, sum-up and describe Homer's life. |
The Human Comedy: pgs. 44-60
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Introduction |
The main development of this novel, the slow education/experience/corruption of Homer continues. |
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The Ancient History Class |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. Who is the running champion? What is he like? 2. Why is the coach running the other boys so much? Why do you suppose he has so much invested in Ackley? Why would it be good for Ackley to win in the afternoon? 3. Who runs the Ancient History Class? Are the kids well behaved for her? How do Hicks and Ackley act prejudiced? Do people in high school act the same as those two? Explain. 4. Is Miss Hicks a good teacher? Explain. What connection do the Assyrians have with Ithaca? Is the text that they read accurate? Is it racist? |
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5. When Homer explodes, what does he do? Why? What does Miss Hicks silently make him do? How does Ackley respond? Why is Homer so poorly behaved? 6. What punishment does she give? Why is that appropriate? |
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The Human Nose |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 7. What does Homer make a speech about? How does he dig into Ackley? 8. Did anyone learn anything from the book? What might be a better way for Joe Terranova and Homer to learn? |
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Miss Hicks |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 9. What does Coach Byfield want? Why doesn't he get it? |
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10. What does the Coach do? Why is Homer upset? Why is Miss Hicks upset? How had Coach Byfield done this before?
Do similar things happen at Nantucket High? Explain. 11. Why did Miss Hicks keep the two of them after school? Why does Homer have such respect for her all of a sudden? What was important about the apology? 12. Finish the quote "In a democratic state, every man is the equal of every other man ______________________________" Explain that quote. Write an example of that quote in use. 13. What does she want her students to be? How is that different from being "well-behaved." 14. According to Miss Hicks, what does it mean to be "truly human" or "civilized." Is this true of many of the adults in Homer's life? 15. Who won the low hurdles? Why? |
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16. What did Coach Byfield try and do to stop the race? How did the racers react. What does that say about the kids? 17. What does the Coach call Terranova? What does it mean? 18. What does it mean to be an American? Why is it important that Byfield does not wait for the apology to be accepted? 19. What do the adults say to the kids at the end? Why do they say that? |
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Writing |
In one or two well written paragraphs, explain why the adults are so protective of the kids in this town at this time. |
The Human Comedy: pgs. 60-93
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Introduction |
Homer takes a back seat in these chapters while the other members of the town and family get more prominent play. |
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Big Chris |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. Who is Big Chris? Is like a child or an adult? Explain. 2. How does the trap work? Why is that an odd way for an animal trap to work? 3. How does Ulysses react when he is in the trap? Does that seem realistic? Why does the author believe he will act that way? When Big Chris asks about Ulysses father, how does the little boy answer? Why is he wrong? 4. Is Auggie all there? 5. How does Homer react to the emergency? How does Mr. Covington? How does the police officer? 6. How does Ulysses get out? Why don't the people go in the store? |
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Diana |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 7. Auggie asks "Why do you have to wait so long for? You can enlist in the navy when you are ______" Why do the adults make the kids wait so long? Why can't kids work? 8. Saroyan enjoys a little pun with Diana Steed. What is it? 9. What is the relationship between Diana and Spangler? Is she a phony? Does Spangler love her? |
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The Girl on the Corner |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 10. Why are the Raisin and the Wine Companies telegrams important? Why do they need Homer? Why do you suppose he does the message, aside from the obvious? 11. What does he do to the girl on the corner? Why is she lovely? Is this sexual harassment? Why does he do it? 12. Who else was in the bar? Why do you suppose the bartender buys the soldiers drinks? |
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Going Home |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 13. Is Spangler proud to have earned the messages? Why? 14. What song does Homer sing? Where else has this song appeared? What does this song mean? |
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Three Soldiers |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 15. How do the soldiers react to the women? How are they different from the guy at the drug store? Compare them to Spangler. What does Mary say about them? What is important about that quote? 16. Fat is parodying a type of speech. Who is he trying to sound like? In common with the allusions in this book, who else probably speaks like that? 17. What is on the telegrams that the soldiers send? Does that make you like them more? Who are they like, in this novel? |
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18. What is Marcus doing right now? Who is with him? Why does the author flash to him? 19. Why does Spangler leave the movie? 20. Does he love Steed? Explain. |
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Writing |
The war is the hidden, central element of this novel. In one or two well written paragraphs, describe what the town would be like without the war. |
The Human Comedy; pgs. 90-119
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Introduction |
The focus of the novel slowly turns back to Homer, but the War remains behind everything. |
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The Telegram |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 1. What is the telegram that Homer has to send? What question does he ask Grogan? Why does he ask it after having read the three telegrams to be sent? 2. What happens to Grogan? What are the pills? Why doesn't the author tell us in a more scientific way? 3. How does the telegraph affect Grogan and Homer? Which hurts Grogan more: The message or Homer's reaction? |
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Alan |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 4. What is going on in the house? Why can't Homer go in? 5. What do they think the telegram is, initially? Why do they want him to have punch? 6. Why is this crushing to Homer? 7. What is the narration of this novel? What is the tone? How does that make this more effective emotionally? |
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After the Movie |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 8. How do the soldiers act when they get out of the theater? Why did the author put this chapter here? |
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Valley Champion for Kids |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 9. What is wrong with Homer's leg? Symbolically, what does this show about Homer's experience? 10. How is Homer different from when he got this job? What does Homer want to work for? Why do you think he feels this way? Why does he say funny things in school? 11. Why is it important for Homer to thank his mother? |
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The Holdup ManAnswer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 12. What question does Spangler ask the old man? How does he respond? Explain the response? 13. Why should Grogan get a drink? What's the difference between Supposed to and Likes to? |
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14. What does the gunman want? How does Spangler give it to him? What does Spangler force him to do? How does he force him to do it? Why should people act decently? (Thought Question) 15. Why can't the man get a job? What does he mean when he says that the whole world's gone crazy? Why doesn't he like people? Who was one of his favorite writers? Which did he like, do you suppose, the Tiger or the Lamb? 16. According the holdup man, what is everyone in the world like? Why did he come into the store? What does he get from Spangler? 17. How does Spangler feel afterwards? Why does Diana's question haunt him?
Is he being decent if he marries her? |
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The Nightmare |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 18. What does Homer dream about Byfield? What do you suppose that means? 19. What does Homer dream about the other bike messenger? Who is the other rider? How can Homer also be the messenger of death? Who wins the race? How is Homer more experienced and less innocent now? 20. What is Homer's good dream? From this dream, what good can Homer expect in the world? |
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The Apricot Tree |
Answer the following questions fully. Use another sheet of paper. 21. Is Ulysses afraid of anything? What does Ulysses believe about the cow? 22. Who is Lionel Cabot? What do he and Ulysses do for awhile? |
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23. What are Auggie and the gang going to do? Are the Apricots ripe? Why are they going to steal them? Why does Ulysses go with them? Is it stealing?
24. Complete the quote "If I could ripen them ___________________" What is the Old Man's attitude towards the boys? How is he decent? 25. Why doesn't Ulysses run? Why does the old man like this? |
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Writing |
1. Write one or two paragraphs and explain what the word "Decent" means? 2. What should Spangler do about his girlfriend? 3. Write a brief one page story about going to school in the narration (third person limited) of Saroyan. |
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