Pause you who read this...

"Pause you who read this, and consider the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

After Pip's first day at Miss Havisham's house, his life is changed completely. We've talked a lot about fate and coincidence in class. Consider your life as a chain of your experiences - what was that first link for you? You could consider it your fate or merely a string of coincidences that brought you here to this moment in your life and made you the person you are today.

Whatever the circumstances, write about your "chain." What was the first link? What were some of the links to follow? Which parts of your chain are thorns or flowers? Iron or gold?

Write at least two paragraphs in response. Due Monday, May 1.

Great Expectations: Intro to Motif

Motif in Literature:

• Recurrent images, words, objects, phrases, or actions that tend to unify the story.
• Motifs highlight or enhance the theme or meaning of the story.

One of the elements of literature we discussed at the beginning of the year is motif. In the long and complicated novel that is Great Expectations, identifying motifs early on can really help you carry the thread of the story. As we discussed in class, several motifs are introduced in the very first few chapters of the novel. Choose one that you find interesting and discuss its introduction. Identify the motif and then briefly paraphrase or quote TWO places within the first 6 (or so) chapters of the novel where the motif is referenced. How does the motif seem to be enhancing the theme or meaning of the story? What does it do to develop plot or character?

Write two paragraphs for this post. The first paragraph should identify the motif and explain why you chose to write about it - what about this motif interests you? How is it introduced? Make sure you write a few sentences about why you find it interesting.

The second paragraph should give two examples (paraphrased or quoted) of when the motif appears and then discuss how the motif is enhancing theme, meaning, and/ or developing plot or character.

Due Monday, April 24.