Thursday, July 28, 2011

_The Unbearable Lightness of Being_

Milan Kundera's novel is self-consciously constructed according to the presence of motifs, so feel free to start tracking some of them in Book 1, as we will do in groups for the rest of the session. Otherwise post discussion questions as usual. This book is rich not just in motifs but in metaphors and literary allusions, as well as ideas about art, history, and life. Enjoy!
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9 comments:

  1. AugieLomberaAugust 1, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    Discuss the importance of the book (Anna Karenina) that Tereza walks in with. What is the significance of naming the dog after the book page 24? What is the significance of the book being Anna Karenina (weight, story)?

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  2. YunAugust 1, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    What is the significance of Sabina hiding one of Tomas's socks and lending him her stocking? How does it relate to lightness and weight for this part 1?

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  3. Yong Yu XieAugust 1, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    What is the significance of justifying the latin roots and foreign meaning of words such as "compassion" in Book 1?

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  4. Joseph HuAugust 1, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    Based on the description of Tomas in part 1 (ie. Tomas' constant infidelity and his need to protect Tereza...etc), discuss whether Tomas is more of a "heavy" or "light" character.

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  5. jonasAugust 2, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    Why do you think Tomas views so many of his decisions as momentous dilemmas when he also believes that life is "only a matter of chance" (34)?

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  6. Emily ZhengAugust 2, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    What examples of doubling/pairs do we see in Part I? What is their significance?

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  7. Grace PoonAugust 2, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    What is the significance of the comparison drawn between Tereza's dream where she wants to urinate and the puppy who urinates on her blouse in real life?

    Grace

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  8. Jeremy JohnsonAugust 2, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    What is the significance of Tomas' repeated image of his relationship with Tereza, wherein he represents the Egyptians (specifically, the pharaoh's daughter) and Tereza represents Moses? Why is this story referenced, and why so frequently?

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  9. Dennis LuiAugust 2, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Dennis, Christine, Austen

    Why is heaviness significant and how does it physically manifest itself in the book?

    What distinction is made between passion and love?

    Time: What is the nature of time within the novel? Specifically how are cycles and recurrent events discussed? What might be the significance?

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