“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov Elements of Literature Fourth Course Pg. 209 - 221 NJ Detention Center Puts Immigrants in Solitary, The Brian Lehrer Show, 09/14/2015 “Reports have surfaced about two immigrant detention centers in North Jersey where immigrants who yell or talk back are being placed in solitary confinement for days at a time. Andrew Lyubarsky, a member of the NYU School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic who recently authored a report on harsh and unnecessary treatment at NJ detention centers, and Khalil Cumberbatch, a former detainee who saw how the box was used to intimidate detainees, discuss the confinement tactics being used today.” For more information: http://www.wnyc.org/story/nj-detention-center-puts-immigrants-solitary/ Word(s) of the Day Elements of Literature Fourth Course Pg. 209 - 221 Plot Analysis The Proper Ingredients to Making a Well-Structured (Short) Story a. Short story (pg. 1005) Short piece of narrative fiction. - Edgar Allen Poe is often credited with writing the first short stories. - He defined the short story as a narrative that can be read in a single sitting and that creates a “single effect”. b. Exposition (pg. 998) Type of writing that explains, gives information, or clarifies an idea. - Exposition is generally objective and formal in tone Ex. A magazine article on nutrition Exposition is also the term for the first part of a plot (also called the basic situation), which presents the main characters and their conflicts. c. Rising Action The conflict, or complication, in a story Round-Table Discussion Elements of Literature Fourth Course Pg. 209 - 221 Important Quotes & Topics for Discussion - “In the opinion of some of them, the death penalty ought to be replaced everywhere by imprisonment for life.” (pg. 210) - “The banker believes the death penalty is more moral and more humane than imprisonment for life.” (pg. 211) - Capital punishment kills a man at once, but lifelong imprisonment kills him slowly. (pg. 211) - Which executioner is the more humane, he who kills you in a few minutes or he who drags the life out of you in the course of many years? (pg. 211) - “Both are equally immoral for they both have the same object - to take away life. The state is not God. It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.” (pg. 211) - “Think better of it, young man, while there is still time. To me two million is a trifle, but you are losing three or four of the best years of your life. I say three or four, because you won’t stay longer. Don’t forget either, you unhappy man, that voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory. The thought that you have the right to step out in liberty at any moment will poison your whole existence in prison. I am sorry for you.” (pg 211) - What was the object of that bet? What is the good of that man’s losing fifteen years of his and my throwing away two million? Can it prove that the death penalty is better or worse than imprisonment for life? No, no. It was all nonsensical and meaningless. On my part it was the caprice of a pampered man, and on his part simple greed for money… (pg. 211) Excerpts from Other Works by Chekhov Elements of Literature Fourth Course Pg. 209 - 221 “Joy” by Anton Chekhov It was twelve o'clock at night. Mitya Kuldarov, with excited face and ruffled hair, flew into his parents' flat, and hurriedly ran through all the rooms. His parents had already gone to bed. His sister was in bed, finishing the last page of a novel. His schoolboy brothers were asleep. "Where have you come from?" cried his parents in amazement. "What is the matter with you? "Oh, don't ask! I never expected it; no, I never expected it! It's . it's positively incredible!" Mitya laughed and sank into an armchair, so overcome by happiness that he could not stand on his legs. "It's incredible! You can't imagine! Look!" His sister jumped out of bed and, throwing a quilt round her, went in to her brother. The schoolboys woke up. "What's the matter? You don't look like yourself!" "It's because I am so delighted, Mamma! Do you know, now all Russia knows of me! All Russia! Till now only you knew that there was a registration clerk called Dmitry Kuldarov, and now all Russia knows it! Mamma! Oh, Lord!" Mitya jumped up, ran up and down all the rooms, and then sat down again. "Why, what has happened? Tell us sensibly!" "You live like wild beasts, you don't read the newspapers and take no notice of what's published, and there's so much that is interesting in the papers. If anything happens it's all known at once, nothing is hidden! How happy I am! Oh, Lord! You know it's only celebrated people whose names are published in the papers, and now they have gone and published mine!" "What do you mean? Where?" The papa turned pale. The mamma glanced at the holy image and crossed herself. The schoolboys jumped out of bed and, just as they were, in short nightshirts, went up to their brother. "Yes! My name has been published! Now all Russia knows of me! Keep the paper, mamma, in memory of it! We will read it sometimes! Look!" Mitya pulled out of his pocket a copy of the paper, gave it to his father, and pointed with his finger to a passage marked with blue pencil. "Read it!" The father put on his spectacles. "Do read it!" The mamma glanced at the holy image and crossed herself. The papa cleared his throat and began to read: "At eleven o'clock on the evening of the 29th of December, a registration clerk of the name of Dmitry Kuldarov . ." "You see, you see! Go on!" ". a registration clerk of the name of Dmitry Kuldarov, coming from the beershop in Kozihin's buildings in Little Bronnaia in an intoxicated condition. ." "That's me and Semyon Petrovitch. It's all described exactly! Go on! Listen!" ". intoxicated condition, slipped and fell under a horse belonging to a sledge-driver, a peasant of the village of Durikino in the Yuhnovsky district, called Ivan Drotov. The frightened horse, stepping over Kuldarov and drawing the sledge over him, together with a Moscow merchant of the second guild called Stepan Lukov, who was in it, dashed along the street and was caught by some house-porters. Kuldarov, at first in an unconscious condition, was taken to the police station and there examined by the doctor. The blow he had received on the back of his head. ." "It was from the shaft, papa. Go on! Read the rest!" ". he had received on the back of his head turned out not to be serious. The incident was duly reported. Medical aid was given to the injured man. ." "They told me to foment the back of my head with cold water. You have read it now? Ah! So you see. Now it's all over Russia! Give it here!" Mitya seized the paper, folded it up and put it into his pocket. "I'll run round to the Makarovs and show it to them. I must show it to the Ivanitskys too, Natasya Ivanovna, and Anisim Vassilyitch. I'll run! Good-bye!" Mitya put on his cap with its cockade and, joyful and triumphant, ran into the street. “Life as a Series of Questions and Exclamations” by Anton Chekhov Childhood. What is it, a boy or a girl? When’s the christening? A strapping lad! Mama, don’t drop him! Ah, Ah! He’ll fall!! Has he cut his teeth? Has he got eczema? Take the cat from him, otherwise she’ll scratch him! Pull grandpa’s moustache! That’s it! Don’t cry! The goblins will get you! He’s already walking! Take him away, that’s not polite! What’s he done to you? Your poor jacket! Never mind, we’ll get it dry! He’s upset the ink! Go to sleep, chickabiddy! He’s already talking! Ah, what a charmer! Come on then, say something! He was nearly run over! Time to get rid of nanny! Don’t stand in the draught! You should be ashamed, how could you smack such a little one? Don’t cry! Give him a cakey! Boyhood. Just you come here, I’ll teach you a lesson! Where did you manage to smash your nose? Don’t upset mummy! You’re not a toddler! Don’t come up to the table, it’s your turn after! Read it! So you don’t know it! Stand in the corner! One out of ten! Don’t put nails in your pocket! Why won’t you listen to what mummy says? Eat properly! Don’t pick your nose! Was it you who hit Mitya? He fired it! Read me ‘The Bear’s Ear’! What is the nominative plural? Decline it and learn it! Leave the classroom! No dinner for you tonight! Bedtime, beddybyes! It’s ten already! He always plays up when we have visitors! You’re lying! Comb your hair! Leave the table! Come on then, show me your marks’ book! You’ve already torn those boots?! A grown up like you shouldn’t cry! How did you get this uniform dirty? You’re eating us out of house and home! One out of ten again? Thrashing is too good for you! If you’re going to smoke, then I’ll throw you out of the house! What is the superlative of facilis? Facilissimus? Rubbish! Who polished off this wine? Children, there’s a performing monkey in the yard! Why have you stopped my son from going up a form again? Grandma is here! Youth.