Literature Review
Discussion board includes the following questions:
1) A Wrinkle in Time is often challenged by groups that want to exclude it from school curriculum or libraries. What parts of the book seem controversial or potentially harmful (include citations)?
2) L'Engle suggests that the message of A Wrinkle in Time is universal and moral. Is there any evidence of this? Include citations.
3) Why do you think L'Engle includes Calvin? What is the significance of the sibling relationship between Meg and Charles Wallace?
4) LeGuin's version of science fiction is often considered distinct from other popular forms: there tends to be less gadgetry, more time spent on atmosphere, and less hand-holding of the reader as she builds the world of her stories. Is this true of "The Lady of Moge"? Do you see any connections between "The Lady of Moge" and A Wrinkle in Time?
5) Asimov's robot rules are famous and appear across many forms of pop culture. How do the stories in I, Robot establish the necessity for these rules? Are these rules enough to ensure robotics development proceeds ethically?
6) Use one of the assigned videos or "The Future Is Now" to analyze the assigned stories from I, Robot. How do these outside sources explain what is indirectly said or unsaid in the I, Robot stories?
7) Choose two of the following authors and explain how they are responding to some of the current events at the time of their writing: Ginsberg, Sexton, Kumin, Corso, Lorde, and Sontag. Compare those responses; are the authors responding similarly? Why or why not? Does it have to do with their experiences of America? Their style preferences or strengths?
8) If Beale Street Could Talk depicts an intimate relationship, complete with influence from a cast of distinct family members, as they navigate difficulties that are very much still current issues. Does Baldwin manage to tell a good story or does it become overly political or moralizing?
9) What did you think about Tish? Does her internal voice, the one that narrates to us, match her external voice, the one in dialogue with other characters? (include citations)
10) What does the ending of If Beale Street Could Talk mean? What do you make of the repetition?