AP Language: Devil Final: #11

AP Language: Devil Final: #11: Why did it take so long for Holmes to finally be caught and brought to justice?  Is anyone at fault for this, or is it just the best it coul...

I believe it took so long for Holmes to be brought to justice because he was one of the first serial killers to have existed. In a time when people hadn't experienced crimes to this degree of today they would have never thought that one person could be so cruel as to lure women to his hotel and kill them. In chicago at this time people were just used to the "usual" murder of a person who had done another wrong, but they would only kill that one person and they would have a reason for it. Whereas Holmes killed almost at random and had no reason other than that he enjoyed it. And so without this understanding of what people can really be capable of they trusted Holmes because he had not given them a reason not to that they knew of. In addition police at this time were not as vigilant as they are today purely because they didn't anticipate this type of a killer or thought that one person was capable of so much murder. People during this time were very trustworthy. I feel like the only person at fault for al of this was Holmes himself. If he hadn't been the way he was there wouldn't have been any murders in the first place. The people and police around him were just dealing and reacting to the situations in the best way possible. Because they had been taught that they can trust other people until they did something that denied them that trust.

AP Language: Final Response to The Things They Carried

AP Language: Final Response to The Things They Carried: Even though The Things They Carried  is set during the Vietnam War, in what ways is it relevant today, with regard to war and politics as we...

This book is relevant to today in more ways than one. First off in politics we tend to ignore the actual glaring problem and just deal with the easy stuff and what would benefit a select few people rather than the whole. You can see this in all the health care plans and what not. In the book you see it in the whole point of going to Vietnam. Even the soldiers fighting over there don't know why they or fighting or for what. In addition they were largely ignored when they were able to return home. Just as our society today tends to ignore the needs of the poverty. We believe that they need to deal with it themselves and that they will be "all right." The soldiers in Vietnam were changed and had to face many fears. Just as many children change and face their fears today. However they don't have to do it through a war, but the underlying meaning of change is still there. You become a different person through going to college, changing home environments, or a war.

Final Response to The Things They Carried

Even though The Things They Carried is set during the Vietnam War, in what ways is it relevant today, with regard to war and politics as well as our personal struggles?
Share your response and respond to one other response by midnight Monday, May 27th.

AP Language: SH5 versus The Things They Carried

AP Language: SH5 versus The Things They Carried: In your first sections of reading from The Things They Carried , what have you noticed in the novel that is similar to SH5 ?  Briefly summa...

They way that Tim O'Brien writes is very similar to Vonneguts in that it is a very short and choppy type of writing. They both go from one story or situation freely and without warning really. They both are trying to  make us feel the feelings they had during the war. Even though we know that their stories aren't wholly true, we believe them because of the feeling they give us which is exactly what both authors are trying to do. Make us actually feel what they felt. In addition they both put themselves in their stories. Talking about the process they went through to get to the point where they actually wrote the stories. Also they put themselves in the actual story parts about war too but only in a minor way. Another similarity is that they both didn't want to actually write the book but felt they had to, in order to keep living.

SH5 versus The Things They Carried

In your first sections of reading from The Things They Carried, what have you noticed in the novel that is similar to SH5?  Briefly summarize the moments in the plot/novel, then explain how it is similar to SH5.

Devil Final: #11

Why did it take so long for Holmes to finally be caught and brought to justice?  Is anyone at fault for this, or is it just the best it could have been, given the time period?

Devil Final #10

The film rights for this book were purchased in 2007 by Leonardo DiCaprio.  If you were the casting director, who should be cast as Burnham and Holmes (and pick 2 other major characters)?  Then, explain why these actors/actresses should play that particular character.

Devil Final #9

Burnham and Holmes were both visionaries in their own ways.  Discuss what drove each of these men, whether they were ever truly satisfied, and how their lives ultimately ended.

Devil Final #8

What do you think of Holmes' claim he was the devil?  Can people be inherently evil?  How would you explain his strange attraction and cold-hearted behavior?  Explain.

Devil Final #7

How did the fair, White City, contrast with Chicago, the Black City?  Explain.

Devil Final #6

How did Holmes' hotel contrast with the buildings of the World's Fair?  Can architecture reflect goodness or evil, are buildings neutral until used?  Explain.

Devil Final #5

What ultimately led to Holmes' capture and the discovery of his crime?  Was this inevitable?  Explain.

Devil Final #4

How was Holmes able to exert such power over his victims?  What weaknesses did he prey upon?  How was Holmes able to get away with so many murders without becoming suspect?  Why wasn't he caught earlier?  In what does his story "illustrate the end of the century" (370) as the Chicago Times-Herald wrote?

Devil Final #3

How did the Chicago World's Fair change Chicago?  America?  The world?  Discuss some of the inventions and ideas that were introduced at the fair that still impact life today.

Devil Final #2

At the end of the book, Larson suggests that "exactly what motivated Holmes may never be known" (395).  What possible motives of Holmes are exposed in The Devil in the White City?  Why is it important for people even today to try to understand the motives of a person like Holmes?

Devil Final: #1

Why do you think Larson chose to tell Burnham and Holmes' stories together?  How did the comparison affect the narrative?  Do you think the stories worked well together or would you have preferred to read about just Holmes or just Burnham?  Explain why.

OTHER OPTION: Devil conclusion blog

What did you think about how the author, Larson, ended both his stories?

Devil conclusion blog

Now that you have finished reading Devil, write a little about what you thought of the book, the writing, the plot, and the characters... be specific about likes and dislikes!

Devil Part III: "The White City"

Choose a quote or passage from this section of the reading and reflect on its significance. The reflection can be a personal reaction, a literary analysis, a comparative observation (to other literature we've explored), or a springboard to deeper discussion with your peers. In essence, you are participating in an interactive discussion with one another. We will be looking for critical thinking, unique perspective, insightful questions and observations, as well as genuine interest in what others have to say about the novel.

How We Grade Blog Postings

Hello!  As you prepare to post your response to the blog question, here are a few things to keep in mind.  1. be sure to post by midnight on Monday, Mar. 4th!  2. be sure you are not the shortest blog responses out there.  In fact, we would advise you to shoot for a longer posting!  We would expect to see more than just a short paragraph in order to give full credit.  3.  You can build your blog posting in response to someone else's posting, just hit the 'comment' or 'reply' button and respond with your ideas!

Part II Devil Blog Question (Option 3)

Parts 1 & 2 are full of an array of characters with different kinds of personalities. Between the options of the shady Holmes, the overall-picture guy Olmsted, and the logic-oriented Burnham, who do you most relate to and why?

Part II Devil Blog Question (another option)

What is the deal with Patrick Eugene Joseph Prendergast?  The author, Larson, is obviously making a third plot strand with Prendergast, albeit much shorter and less in-depth.  What is your interpretation of this man?

Part II Devil Blog Question

The title of the second part of this novel is "An Awful Fight."  In what ways and/or for what characters was this section an awful fight?

Stephanie Reuter

When I went to Chicago it is just what everyone describes it as, like crazy chaos. Whenever we wanted to get somewhere we had to leave extemely early because there is so many people. It is so big it is like a place of wonder. With wonder comes mystery which is the way Larson describes Chicago. Chicago is so big and crazy that it is hard to even think. Larson describes Chicago as being mysterious with a crime aspect to it. When someone says Chicago i autoaticaly think crime everywhere. When I read Devil in the White City especially Holmes' story crime is like the main thing I think of. All in all I believe that Chicago is a place of mystery but also full of crime.

The Devil in the White City: Part I

Discuss the intrigue of the city of Chicago--past and present. If you've been there, describe your impressions. If you haven't, how have others characterized this Midwestern town? How does Erik Larson characterize it?