Western Lit (4/24/06) FINAL

[theoenophile.livejournal.com]

"My apologies for the lack of class last week, guys. If any of you actually spent the time studying... I'd be very surprised. I wouldn't've. But then, I'm a depressed, semi-alcoholic novelist who can't publish a novel and is forced to make ends meet as a high school English teacher."

"You may be completely unsurprised to learn that I will not be renewing my contract for this summer or next fall. This will be our last class together."

"Anyway, your final projects are due. Please make your presentation based on your written final project." [from the Syllabus]

"I will post your grades as soon as they are completed."

Comments

Re: Turn in your project

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

The story takes place at the castle of Prospero, prince of an undisclosed nation. Prospero and several hundred other nobles are taking refuge in the castle to escape the Red Death, a terrible and gruesome plague that has been sweeping the land. One night, Prospero holds a masquerade ball to entertain his guests, but late into the night, he notices one figure in a grey robe resembling a funeral shroud, with a mask depicting a victim of the Red Death. Gravely insulted, Prospero demands to know the identity of the mysterious guest. To the horror of all, the guest is revealed to be not only infected with the Red Death, but a personification of Death itself. Once this is revealed, all the guests suddenly contract and succumb to the disease. The theme of this story is how, eventually, nature punishes the proud that believe themselves invulnerable, and that no one, no matter how hard they try, can escape death.