You and your classmates will discuss aspects of the novel observed throughout the reading. The design of this learning experience is to have exchanges with your classmates relying on limited facilitation by the instructor–a student centered practice. Perhaps you do not do well with group discussions, if so, I will collect notes from today’s discussion that represent what you gleaned (extract information from various sources) from the conversation among your peers. This discussion will not formulate the sole value of your reading grade rather than an aspect of that meaningful relationship that you have with The Road.
You will find that targeting certain elements of the story will likely help you in your effort to find something meaningful to talk about. Some suggestions:
1. what is the point of the man keeping his son alive?
2. How valid is this story compared to other apocalyptic-centered fiction?
3. How does the lack of character names, the omission of chapters, and the constant time switching impact the story for you?
4. What is the impact of mental illness in the story, how does this manifestation relate to actual societal mental illness?
4. Great fiction raises more questions than providing answers for the reader.
The value of fiction:
“Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.”
―
“Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.”
― V for Vendetta
“Reading (fiction) is an intelligent way of not having to think.”
― The City of Dreaming Books
“If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats.”
― Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Fiction demonstrates that all devoted readers possess precisely the same moral compass. Reality acknowledges that the human experience is crippled by the inability to act in accordance with that moral compass. —Anonymous
Today’s discussion of the novel is an important component of your reading grade for the second quarter. You may recall that when the novel, The Road, was assigned you were told that there would not be an exam to determine if you read the book. Instead, you were assigned to demonstrate a meaningful relationship with the book. Today’s discussion represents part of that meaningful relationship.
Perhaps you do not do well with group discussions, if so, I will collect notes from today’s discussion that represent what you gleaned (extract information from various sources) from the conversation among your peers. This discussion will not formulate the sole value of your reading grade rather than an aspect of that meaningful relationship.