Sophys: Author of the Day is Stephen King (yes, that one--he is awesome, prolific, and insightful) and our lesson today is about existential philosophy after we share our awesome homework from last night. Camus is merely one of many existential thinkers of the early 20th century, but I'd like you to think about The Stranger in more of a broad context before we move on to the next assignment.
Again, for those of you planning ahead: Our next outside reading is
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas; I have copies in the media center on file for you if you'd like to check one out with your ID, but if you want to buy your own please get the abridged version. Let me clarify--I am not encouraging an easy shortcut, but merely recognizing that Dumas edited his own text so many times that the unabridged is really bloated with endless descriptions of the French countryside. Which is all well and good, but I'd rather you read something more vigorously paced.
APees: Syntactical analysis of a passage from Gatsby, followed by thought questions on The Awakening. If we have additional time, we can go over the two poems--particularly the moving "Magnolias in Snow."
Travel meeting is tonight at 7 in room 313. Totally optional.
