While definitely known for his novels and short stories, Mark Twain, the author of our Quarter 3 Class Novel Tom Sawyer, is also beloved as our foremost "humorist." A humorist is an artist, typically a lecturer or a writer, whose works display a unique, normally a sort of "folksy" sense of humor. Mark Twain's wry sense of humor is what led to his career on the lecture circuit. People would come to packed theatres here in the U.S. and in Europe just to hear him talk! Often, he'd tell humorous stories about his travels, his observations on human nature, and self-deprecating jokes.
Famously, in the 1960s, Hal Holbrook, an actor, recreated Mark Twain's lectures. Watch the following youtube clip in which Hal Holbrook acts out one of Mark Twain's lectures. As in the quote above, note that Twain's humor often contains a serious message. In the quote above, for example, Twain is making a (very modern!) criticism of politicians.
In this video, Twain talks about the nature of man -- how we squabble, fight over religion, war with other nations, and other such things. Note his sarcasm: "Man is a reasoning animal..." From this lecture, what are Twain's feelings on mankind and the way we treat one another? What is his message? Quote at least one line from the video that shows his sense of humor while also demonstrating his more serious message. Explain. Pin-point a moment in his lecture when he gets very serious and you can tell he does really care about this topic -- quote a bit of it and explain it. What do you think of Twain's method of making his argument with humor? Is it more or less effective than a straight-forward, serious argument? Does the humor take away or add to the message?
Remember, you need to write at LEAST two paragraphs!
While discussing the motif of darkness and lightness in Beowulf with you guys this week, I kept thinking of a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.
What do you think he means? How does this relate to Beowulf? How does this relate to our lives? In what ways can we follow Dr. King's words? Like Beowulf and Dr. King, how do we make sure we continue embodying lightness and love, even in the face of darkness and hate?
In an article entitled "Why Bother with Beowulf?" Melissa Snell claims that medieval literature provides a "gateway to our past." She contends it is important, enriching, and enlightening to read literature that is centuries old.
Do you agree? Are works like Beowulf still relevant? Is there still something profound to be gained from reading them? Should we throw them out of our English course curriculum in favor of newer, more modern works? If so, in what ways are modern works more relevant to our lives?
Whatever position you take, be sure to address the points Snell makes in her article and explain your reasoning soundly. Don't forget to respond to classmates' perspectives.
