Applying Definitions of Honor to Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”
Project Overview
Students will access a primary source of an online archive of a NPR radio discussion on the concept of “Honor.” Having read the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe from their literature anthology, they will be asked to summarize two opposed views of the word “honor” and think critically about which definition best accords with the sinister actions of the main character of the story, Montresor.
The project will result in filling out a graded assignment sheet on the NPR discussion “Honor” as preparation for a paper that asks students to decide which definition of honor best accounts for Montresor’s actions.
Student Learning Objectives
For this RWLO, the student will be able to:
· Think critically about the concept of “honor.”
· Summarize two different definitions of “honor.”
· Apply abstract definitions to a concrete example (the Poe story “The Cask of Amontillado”).
· Compare and contrast two definitions and decide which works better for a specific case.
· Cite both a print source (a work in anthology) and an electronic source (an online archived radio discussion) in MLA format.
· Create a “Works Cited” page for the two sources in proper MLA format.
Procedure
Time: Approximately 75 minutes (the assignment will initiate a larger paper that will be completed outside of class over a period of several weeks).
Materials: Computers with internet access.
Prerequisites: Students should read the Edgar Allan Poe story “The Cask of Amontillado” before the beginning of class.
Implementation: This RWLO can be used either in a computer classroom or as a homework assignment to be completed partially outside of class and then discussed and finished in class.
Steps:
· Listen to the archived discussion of “Honor” from NPR on the internet.
· Students will fill out the questionnaire provided by the instructor that asks them to think critically about the concept of “honor.”
· The students and instructor will then discuss the various definitions of honor given in the NPR discussion.
· Students will write a paper on the role that honor plays in the Poe story “The Cask of Amontillado,” particularly focusing on the actions of the narrator and protagonist, Montresor.
Content Material
· Student Directions:
o Read the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe in our literature anthology.
o Access the website below and listen to the discussion. In case there is a technical problem with accessing the site, I have provided an electronic copy of the transcript of the discussion.
· Referenced URLs:
o http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1892717
· See handouts on following pages.
Student Handout Page 1
Go to the following web address and listen to the NPR discussion of honor:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1892717
and look on WebCT under “Resources” and click on “Writing and Literature Links.” Then click on “NPR Honor Discussion”.
Segment 1
What does the host, Joe Palca, mean when he says that “The word ‘honor’ has gotten quite a workout this week”? What examples does he give? Why would he mention this?
Why do you think the people on the mall are being interviewed on their views of honor?
Who does Palca say will be the guests on the show? What are their professions?
Guest 1 ______Profession ______
Guest 2 ______Profession ______
Guest 3 ______Profession ______
Why do you think these specific guests were invited?
Segment 2
What is Cohen’s definition of honor?
Cohen’s Definition:
According to Cohen, is honor a positive or negative thing? Explain.
Student Handout Page 2
Are there any social categories (groups by which people identify themselves) that are affected by honor? If so, how are they affected?
Segment 3
What is Lipsky’s definition of honor?
Lipsky’s definition:
On what points do Cohen and Lipsky agree? Explain.
On what points do they disagree? What exactly is each person’s argument? What are they debating about?
What examples are discussed? How does each guest interpret the two examples differently?
Whose definition of ‘honor’ does Lipsky quote? Why does he use this quote?
Student Handout Page 3
Length: 750 words minimum (900 maximum)
Content:
Having listened to a discussion on the concept of “honor” from the NPR website, you will apply Cohen and Lipsky’s definition of “honor” to the Edgar Allan Poe story “The Cask of Amontillado.”) Your thesis statement should argue that either Cohen’s or Lipsky’s definition of “honor” best accounts for Montresor’s actions and why. But keep in mind that your paper should discuss both definitions. Your paper should provide evidence in the form of quotes from the story and the NPR discussion. You may not use any sources other than the Poe story and the NPR discussion of “Honor.” Both sources should be cited in MLA format and appear in the “Works Cited” page.
Organization:
Your paper should follow a conventional structure for an academic paper. Your thesis should be easily recognizable in the introduction (usually, it is the last sentence).
Style/Expression:
Your paper should be written in as formal a style as appropriate for an academic audience and the purpose of evaluation. There should be no slang, colloquialisms, or informal expressions.
Punctuation, Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling:
Although your paper should contain few errors in punctuation, grammar, mechanics, and spelling, you will only be penalized in this paper for fragments and run-on (fused) sentences (including comma splices).
Format:
Your paper should be in proper MLA style. Follow very closely the sample paper on pages 2111-2114 of The Bedford Introduction to Literature and pages 448-55 of Rules for Writers.
Assessment
_____ Clearly identifiable thesis statement which states which definition of honor from the NPR discussion best accounts for Montresor’s actions in Poe’s “A Cask of Amontillado” (15 pts.)
_____ Thesis is an argument and has the right balance between being general and being specific (10 pts.)
_____ Evidence contains examples and quotes from story and NPR discussion (10 pts.)
_____ Evidence supports thesis (10 pts.)
_____ Organization: introduction, body w/ separate paragraphs, & conclusion (10 pts.)
_____ Captivating opening (10 pts.)
_____ Formal style as appropriate for an academic audience and the purpose of analysis with no slang, colloquial, or informal expressions (10 pts.)
_____ Complete and properly joined sentences—no sentence fragments or run-ons (20 pts. 5 pt. deduction for each fragment or run-on)
_____ Paper in proper MLA format and double-spaced in 12 pt. Times New Roman font with 1” margins (5 pts.)
_____ Total Points
Links to Course Competencies
This RWLO could be applied in the following courses: ENG 111 and ENG 121 (both introduction to literature and composition courses). Specifically, this RWLO meets the following course competencies:
· Communication. Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in verbal, nonverbal and written forms. Includes ability to use appropriate technology that supports or facilitates communication.
· Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Demonstrate ability to think critically and to solve problems using basic research, analysis and interpretation.
· Information Literacy and Research. Demonstrate ability to identify, locate and use informational tools for research.
Supplementary Resources
· http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/PoeCask.html (An e-text of the story).
· http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/writer/pov.asp (An interesting exercise on point of view in “The Cask of Amontillado”).
Recommendations
Recommendations for Integration:
This RWLO would work best in a lit-comp class that gives roughly equal weight to composition and literature. It works well as an introduction to critical thinking, as it asks students to think about familiar ideas like “honor” in a historical and unconventional way.
Back-up:
If the web access to the archived show fails or is too slow, a transcript can be purchased for classroom use for a reasonable price ($3.95). Search for the show and date at:
http://www.npr.org/transcripts/
1