Blog 8: NYT Article + Power in OMAM

Answer the following questions, either alone or with a partner. Your responses should be three-four sentences in length. You should be making connections between the NYT article and Steinbeck's text.

1. What is the main idea of this NYT article? What is its connection to OMAM?


2. According to the article, "Some Forecasters See a Fast Economic Recovery," what 'psychological factor' is mentioned as providing the U.S. society with a false sense of comfort?


3. Is there a similar psychological phenomenon that plays out in OMAM? [Hint: Where do the migrant workers' earnings go? Find support for your answers on pages 76-78 of the text.]



When you have finished this blog posting, take out your Chapter 4 Focus Questions and review the answers with your neighbor.

Blog 7: The Boss

When the boss is talking to George about their work, George speaks for himself and Lennie. What does his boss suspect is going on between George and Lennie? What is George's response?

Blog 6: Beginning, Of Mice and Men

Compare and contrast the two men who come into the clearing by the river. [pages 2-3] Why do you think Steinbeck introduces the men by describing their physical features, highlighting the fact that one is small and one is huge? What can the reader infer about the two men based on their descriptions?

Blog 5: Pandora's Box

The world was lucky in that Pandora did not release "foreboding" from the box Hermes gave her.

1. What was "foreboding"? How would it have changed our society, according to Greek myths?

2. Choose another "ill" in the box and write about how the world would be different had Pandora not released it.

Blog 4: "Hephaestus" & "Aphrodite"

In a group of two or three, answer the questions below in COMPLETE sentences. EVERY member of the group is to post the answers on his/ her own blog. This blog posting counts toward a class participation grade.

"Hephaestus"

1. Why was Hera disappointed when Hephaestus was born? What did she do with him?

2. Who saved Hephaestus?

3. What made Hera change her mind about her son? What did Hephaestus become the god of?

4. Compare Hephaestus and Apollo. How do their appearances differ?

"Aphrodite"

5. How was Aphrodite "created"? How is this birth similar to Athene's?

6. What gifts was Aphrodite promised by her suitors?

7. Which husband did Aphrodite choose? Do you think she chose wisely? Why/why not?

8. Which goddess is most powerful: Demeter, Artemis, or Aphrodite? Explain the reasoning behind your choice.

Blog 3, Myths: Apollo & Hermes Readings

Is Hermes a good god or a bad god? 

Explain using support from the text.

Myths Blog 2: Hubris

Everyone has been guilty at one time or another of "hubris." What was one time in your life where you were guilty of this? Explain the situation.

Look at your class notes from yesterday for the definition of this word. Make sure this entry is four to five sentences in length.