Periods 2 and 3 - Socratic Seminar 9/30

Please Go To Dropbox and download a copy of the Socratic Seminar / Inner Circle - Outer Circle Handout. 

As 3rd Period Asked for an Opportunity for this to count as a 6 weeks grade I was happy to oblige.

Follow the Instructions Explicitly as you will need:

1. An annotated text to be admitted to the discussion 

2. Six (or more) deep, perceptive questions.

3. A note card with at least TWO questions from each of the THREE levels on the handout

Our Focus will be chapters 1 - 5 and perhaps a bit after. but in the context of the WHOLE text.

 

Consider The Context - Come with Ideas and Something to Say

A. Please re-read chapter 2 (pages 31-55), and respond to any of the following:

At the end of the chapter, Macon Dead tells his son, “Pilate can’t teach you a thing you can use in this world.  Maybe the next, but not this one.  Let me tell you right now the one important thing you’ll ever need to know: Own things.  And let the things you own own other things.  Then you’ll own yourself and other people too” (55).

1) What do you make of Macon’s advice for Milkman?  Is it good advice?  Why?  Do you trust what Macon has to say about Pilate?  How is this idea of “owning things” potentially problematic?

2) To answer these questions, I’d like you to consider the contrast between Macon Dead’s personality, values, and relationship with the community (and family) and Pilate’s personality, values, and relationship with community.  What “lessons” do they each teach Milkman?  Has Milkman already learned something important from his first mature interaction with Pilate?

 

AND

 

For your assigned character (Hagar, Pilate, Ruth), please answer the following question. Take note of AT LEAST one significant quotation.  You may refer to evidence in ch. 4 that relates to this question, if you wish.

Hagar: Jan-April Birthdays

Pilate: May-August birthdays

Ruth: Sept. - Dec. Birthdays

If you already started on a different character before you saw this, no worries. Just post on whatever you started. 

·      What issues and themes does Morrison want to explore through the women of Song of Solomon?  What recurring motifs and images (concerning women) do you see?  How are they significant?  Do the stories/significant events of chapter 5 make you sympathize with your assigned character? Why or why not?