All-

Here’s the quick skinny on grades: they’re nearly done, I’m going crazy, and your last day to turn in work is June 14th. Cool? Here’s the week.

Monday: We’ll start off this week by taking a quick look at two more ultra short stories by Raymond Carver. “Mine” and “Little Things” are two versions of the same text which explore a tragic and profound moment in a couple’s relationship. I’m going to be asking you to do a short in-class analysis of the text, so if you were gone, make sure to ask.

Homework: Read “What we talk about when we talk about love”

Tuesday: After we discuss “What we talk about when we talk about love” I’m hoping to give you some time to start in on your homework, which is to read “Cathedral”.

Homework: Read “Cathedral”.

Wednesday: We’ll be working through an assignment to compare “Cathedral” and “What we talk about…” that will specifically focus on what you and a partner think that Carver has to say about the nature of relationships. It is a tricky thing to do, so I’ll be guiding you through it bit by bit.

Thursday: I’m dedicating the entire class period to the reading of our last Carver short story, “Will you please be quiet, please?” This story, in heart wrenching detail and alarming lack of specificity, examines what happens when our relationships are founded on less than truths. We’ll be discussing it, along with one more of Carver’s poems, on Friday.

Friday: In addition to the discussion mentioned above, I’ll be distributing the prompt for the final essay, which will be due next Wednesday.