Journal #3: The Challenges in Representing Another (2020)

When we read fiction, we sometimes are given intimate access to the thoughts and feelings of characters in ways that would be impossible in our ordinary interactions with others. In fact, authors often attempt to represent characters whose lives are significantly different from their own, and in some cases different from those of most people. But this raises important questions:

How much can a writer claim to understand or know of the experiences of another?

Is there any limit to what an author can try to portray?

If so, how do we determine those limits?

Your response is due by Friday at 16:00. And remember: maximum 300 words!

Journal #2: The Persuasive Effects of Fiction (2020)

Fictional narratives often cause us to think or feel in particular ways. One might even say that they “persuade” us, in ways that are similar to the rhetoric that is used in an essay.

In what ways can works of fiction persuade us to think, feel, respond to things in particular ways?
What are some of the benefits of being persuaded in this way?
What are some of the risks?

Your response is due by Friday at 16:00. And remember: maximum 300 words!

Journal #1: “Home Burial” (2020)

In class, we read Robert Frost’s poem “Home Burial.” Write about your impressions of what “Home Burial” says to you. Also, consider the possible ways in which this poem might be “ethical” or can be analyzed in terms of its ethical content. Some angles to consider:

Think about the relationship between the characters. What does the poem reveal about each of them?
Does the poem cause you to take sides with one of the characters, or to see the situation from his or her perspective? If so, how?

Welcome!

If you’re reading this, you’re probably enrolled in my “Fiction and Ethics” course at the University of Helsinki. Welcome!

As you probably (hopefully) know by now, I’d like you to write a short “journal” entry now and then in response to a question (or series of questions) that I’ll pose here on the blog. To add your journal entry, you will “comment” on the journal for that week (not here!). To comment, simply write your first name, the first initial of your last name (not your full last name!), and your e-mail address. Your e-mail address will not be posted on the blog. Most likely, I will need to approve your first comment on the blog, after which your comment will appear on the blog.

Your journal entry should be no more than 300 words — PLEASE! I realize that some of you will want to write more, if the topic interests you, but we need to keep the amount of text manageable for everyone to write and read.

The journal entry should be posted by Friday at 16:00, so that everyone in the class will have an opportunity to take a look at the entries and prepare for our discussion on Tuesday. If, for some reason, you notice that your entry has not appeared on the blog by noon on Saturday, please send me an e-mail so that I can try to locate it (sometimes comments go to the spam folder).

One last thing: Please write your comment before you’ve read the comments of others. I want to hear what you have to say! Also, I’ve found that, when students read the comments of others before they write/post their own, they tend to say/feel that “everything’s been said already.” It’s inevitable in a class of this size that there will be some repetition, but we can discuss the similarities, differences and disagreements in class 🙂

I’m looking forward to reading your ideas!

Best wishes,

Howard