2. Several students still do not have their Bicycle paragraph finished.
3. We discussed the unbalanced power relationships that exist in the babysitter - employer dynamic.
4. We discussed Napolean's statement "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
5. We read the short story "The Ninny," and completed the following three questions (these were handed in at the end of class) :
a. Which character deserves more scorn: Julia or the owner? Why? (Synonyms for scorn:
renounce criticize disdain, despise, be critical of).
b. The author, Chekhov, was concerned about problems in his society. What problems do you think he was showing in this story?
c.
After almost cheating out Yulia on her earnings, the owner rails
against her saying,
“Why didn’t you
protest? Why did you keep your
mouth shut? Is it possible that there is anyone in this world who is so
spineless? Why are you such a
ninny?”
The author then writes, “She
gave me a bitter little smile. On
her face I read the words: ‘Yes, it is possible.’ “
Read this over carefully to discover there is a something subtle
about Yulia’s response. What is
it? How does it change the
reader’s perception of her?
