We have slowly, somewhat methodically read Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game in class. Along the way, I have asked you many questions; I have asked you to discuss ideas with your partner, and I have directed you to reflect on the way the author has built several literary elements, especially plot and character.
I would like two posts that show reflection. In the first post, please consider why I have been so involved in the reading, why have I interrupted this suspenseful story so many times with my irksome questioning? What do you believe was my primary purpose?
In the second post, I would like you to consider what you learned by reading the story this way; for better or for worse. Please be specific and genuine.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
First of all, I just have to say that I personally enjoyed this story very much. I believe that Ms. Gerber has been so involved in the reading because she wants our class to thoroughly understand the material and be able to say back to her the main parts of the short story such as exposition, rising action, climax, etc. I believe Ms. Gerber asked questions because she wanted our class to get into the story by foreshadowing events and interpreting the figurative language incorporated within the story.
ReplyDeleteI learned that sometimes, when both of your choices are bad, you just have to pick the better of the two and tough it out. This takes place in "Most Dangerous Game" when Rainsford has to decide whether or not he will face General Zaroff or the other cossack, Ivan. Both are bad, but Rainsford feels that he has a better chance against Zaroff rather than Ivan. Sure Rainsford may have fallen off the boat at the beginning, but he was still alive in the end and that is all that matters.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI belive that Ms.Gerber has been so involved in this story, because she wanted to teach are class how to be active readers. It is good to be an active reader, because than you can question the story and then read to find your answer. I think that your primary purpose for stoping and asking questions was to get us to find the five parts of a story (exposistion,rising actions,climax,falling actions,and demonout).
ReplyDeleteI have learned many things from reading this way. To start off I have learned to be an Active reader. This allows me to ask questions about the text and then read on to find the answer. Active reading keeps me engaged in the story. I also learned that some humens at times are like animals. Rainsford said he could never be a beast, but throught the story he starts to think like an animal. Finally twards the end of the game Rainsford realizes that he to is an animal.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ms. Gerber asked us so many questions while reading to not only help us understand the story, but to also help build suspense and make us want to read more.
ReplyDeleteBy reading this way I learned that I can understand the story more clearly when I stop to think about what just happened or why somebody did something. Because this story is written differently compared to other things I have read, stopping to think about what I read helped.
ReplyDeleteAn analysis, a comparison, and a statement or two were all thrown at us by the one we call teacher: Ms. Gerber. Despite some harsh diatribes of some who wish only to condemn, I believe there was a method to her madness. I have come to the conclusion that these questions were to keep me aware; to make me think about every aspect of the story, written or otherwise. Because of her interrogations, I believe I have a firm grasp on the slippery snake that is literature.
ReplyDeleteI have read stories of many genres, but reading this story I was able to think to realize what I could not in the time provided. Without out these interoggations, I would have missed important implications, inferences, and other details crucial to my understanding. For example, I would have likely missed the irony hidden amidst the thrilling tale of Zaroff's hunts.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that Ms. Gerber interrupted us while in the most suspenseful parts of the story. Some parts need a little clearing up because we don't really see the whole idea and what the author is trying to say. Ms. Gerber got us thinking outside the box for the real meaning the author is trying to convey. If gerber did not explain to us, I would of probably been lost and not of known why this and that is going on in the story.
ReplyDeleteReading the story with several discussions about what is going on, really shows there is a meaning behind the writing. Discussions help us analyze the context to know what the author really means. The author got us thinking and discussions really clarified what he was trying to convey. Details and main ideas that were missed could of ruined my understanding of "The Most Dangerous Game". This is how those annoying interruptions really help your understanding.
ReplyDeleteI believe you were interrupting us during the story to show us what we should look for in upcoming stories such as "The Necklace" and others. You were simply pointing out things like the protagonists, antagonists, rising action, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this story, I was honestly hooked and could not wait to see what would happen, which is rare since I do not enjoy reading so much. In reading this short story, I learned about the moral the author was hoping to convey, that violence and cruelty may sometimes be contagious. An example is Rainsford killed General Zaroff even though the General had promised his freedom. Did Rainsford kill the general because of what the general had put him through or because "he was still a beast at bay?" This story was very interesting and I hope all short stories can surmount this one!
ReplyDeleteI beleive that YOU, Ms. Gerber, interrupted this suspensful story with your "irksome questions" because you wanted to teach us how to be an "active reader". your questions encircled around the plot and its contents. You also used the text to teach us how to see the hidden messages riddled within the story. you explained to us the irony and gave us the tools to ask our own puzzleing questions and how to figure out the answer.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was constantly annoyed by the pesky discussion questions that were thrown at us, I can truley appreciate learning about being one of those pesky questioners. Using this techniqe taught me how to be more insightful of the text I read, and how to use this tool to "read between the lines". i now know how to catch the others tone and voice in a storie and use it to explain the irony and the unknown. Before, I was quite annoyed with active reading and now, i understand the full meaning and appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI think that you kept interrupting the story with your questions because you wanted to make sure we understood what was going on in the story. If you had not questioned us about the story, than I would not have understood it the way I do now. I know that you wanted the class to understand the deeper meaning within the story. I think you have been so involved in the story because it has a significant message in it and you want us to make sure we know what that message is. I believe your purpose was to teach us how to read between the lines and truly understand a story.
ReplyDeleteBy reading the story this way, I have a better understanding of what the author is really trying to convey. Sometimes I do not always understand after I read something and I have to read it again, so when we read it this way, I did not have to read it over since Ms. Gerber explained it all for me. I hope that we continue to use this method when we read stories because I am sure it helps out other people in my class and not only me. This method also helps me understand the deeper meaning to the story so I can think of what the thesis might be.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ms. Gerber has been involved in the reading because she wants the wheels in our head to start to turn so we can fully understand the story. Also she asked questions that we would see on quizzes or worksheets, so it gave us a headstart on the work. I also think Ms. Gerber explained the more difficult elements of the story to us so we could get a better idea of the irony and symbolism used in "MDG".
ReplyDeleteI have learned from this story that it is necesary to look at a situation from both point of views to truly understand what is going on. Such as when Rainsford,the hunter, became Rainsford,the hunted. Ms.G also taught us to be good active readers while reading this story. The story also taught us about symbolism and irony
ReplyDeleteWith you reading and being involved, helped me keep track of character personality. With the interruptions, you asked us to reflect to an event that adds most suspense to the story. It gave me time to think of what the author was originally doing, and how creative he had done it. I believe that your purpose was to keep me, as a student, connected to the story plot and to show the mood and style the author had used to create this piece. It is like an artist and his/her sculpture. I will use this knowledge in my up coming story.
ReplyDeleteI learned that as an author, you don't have to throw out and give away your main idea, but rather hide it in text; have obvious clues. I also learned that you must be able to keep both the antagonist and protagonist's points sharp and as detailed as one another, rather than only talking about one side of the story and their perspectives; keep their build equal.[?] Example: Good has this and that. Bad has that and this.
ReplyDeleteActively reading and being questions has allowed us to think and develop our own opnions as well as better understand miniscule details such as why certin metaphors are used and how seemingly insagnifigant details are in fact extreamly relevantwhich we would have, if reading on our own, probably skipped over withought a thought.
ReplyDeleteFrom this reading expirence I learned that authors use phrases and speech in extreamly relative ways that are can have a deep meaning behind it and give hints to later developments in the plot.
ReplyDeleteI think that you stopped us many times in the reading because you wanted us to fully understand what was going on in the story. When you ask us questions we become more involved in the story. When you told us to talk to a partner about what had just happened, or to you ask us to reflect we become more involved into the story. The build up of suspense wants us to keep reading and want to know what is happening next.
ReplyDeleteThis story made me think about everything. What is going to happen next? Will Rainsford be caught? What is the big game Zaroff is talking about? I had to think about these questions and beyond. By reading this way I think that I learned how to better analyze the story. I understood who the characters were and what their motives were.
ReplyDeleteI Think when you stop reading the story and start to ask questions it really helps me understand what is going on in the story. I know the basic things But you help me understand the deep things such as: theme, moral message, and irony. As i can see it helps everyone else too.
ReplyDeleteI think the way we read it now with u stopping and asking questions is much better. I learned that authors do not go out and tell u the theme, they kind of say things in the beginning that you need to know and those attach with what happens in the end. This way works better because you are the one who makes sure we get those subtle hints that the author puts in the begging
ReplyDelete