Maus: Vol. I, Ch. 6

LAST ONE! :-)

1. Coming as it does after the concluding episode of Chapter Five, what is the significance of Mala and Art's conversation?

2. What is Mala and Vladek's appraisal of Art's book?

3. How do they get arrested, and what does Vladek say when they arrive at Auschwitz?

4. What happened to Anja's diaries? How does Art react?

5. Having come to the end of Volume One, what do you think is the significance of the volume's subtitle, "My Father Bleeds History"?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, May 21

Maus: Vol. I, Ch. 5

So, do you love it yet? Aren't you just wanting to read Vol II, too??

1. Discuss Art's comic strip "Prisoner on the Hell Planet." How does Mala react to the strip? Vladek?

2. After they are relocated from Sosnowiec to Srodula, what happens to the family?Shortly afterward, what happens to many children in Srodula? What later happens in Zawiercie (where Tosha and the children have gone)?

3. How do they get arrested by the Gestapo and how are they able to get out of detention?

4. What does Vladek have in his safe deposit box?How does he feel about Mala? Do you think his characterization of her is accurate?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Sunday, May 20

Maus: Vol I, Ch. 4

Read Ch. 4. Here are your questions:

1. How is Vladek able to get by in Sosnowiec? Describe the increasingly difficult conditions in the town.

2. What happens to Anja's grandparents? What does Vladek say here about Jews's attitudes toward turning in other Jews?

3. What do we learn in the concluding scene with Mala and Art?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, May 17

Maus: Vol. I, Ch. 3

Read Ch. 3, and answer the following questions. Add extra comments as necessary.

1. How does Art open chapter three? What do we learn?

2. What happens to Vladek in the war?

3. How does Chapter Three conclude? What do these episodes from the present show us about Vladek? About Art? Why does Art include them?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Wednesday, May 16

Maus: Vol. I, Ch. 2

Read Ch. 2. Again, please make general, thought-provoking comments along with answering the following questions.

1. How does Spiegelman portray the Poles?

2. What is the situation when they return to Poland? What happens to Vladek shortly after they return?

3. Why do you think Art concludes the chapter in the way he does, just as Vladek goes to war?What do we learn by this brief return to the present?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, May 15

Maus: Vol I, Ch. 1

Read Ch. 1 of Maus Vol. I. Make general comments, and then answer the following questions. Please take time to really put thought into this exercise. This could be a great experience for all of us.

1. Before the memoir proper begins, why does Spiegelman (Artie) present us with the roller-skating episode from his childhood?

2. Why does Art include the story about Lucia, when his father told him to leave it out?What does Art mean when he says he wants to make the story more real, more human?

3. In Chapter One, is there any sense of what's about to happen to Vladek, his family, and his people?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, May 14

TEST

Please respond to make sure everything's working correctly!

Simone de Beauvoir: The Second Sex

I gave you this document in class.

Read this example of feminist existentialism. Answer question 3 at the end of the excerpt (for once!). Please also answer the normal questions for blogs - POV, etc. How are existentialist ideas evident in this piece?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, April 12

Brezhnev Doctrine

Compare this document with the Truman Doctrine (which you were supposed to have read last week). What similarities between the 2 documents? Communism vs. Democracy aside, are both men essentially dedicated to the same things for their countries? Make other comments as necessary.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Wednesday, March 28

The Truman Doctrine

Remember that this is a speech given by President Truman directly to Congress. What points stand out as directly supporting containment? Use specific quotes, please. Also, what is the POV? Might Truman have an ulterior motive? If so, what is it? Pay attention to his appeal to human emotion.

Please also make general comments about this important document.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, March 22

Churchill's Response to Munich

Remember - this document can be found in your text on page 1005. Also remember that this document is from 1938 - before the declarations of war.

Read this document in light of our discussion today in class - that Churchill deviated greatly from Chamberlain's plan of appeasement. Comment on how this document shows Churchill's devotion to British politics - and even world politics. What does this show about his character? If you were an MP (member of Parliament), how would you have reacted? What is the POV? Make any other pertinent comments as necessary.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, March 6

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Do any of these points stand out to you? Comment as necessary.

Take your thoughts from the previous post (Chamberlain). Now, comment on this. Do you think Chamberlain was naive or simply wanting to keep peace at all costs?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, March 5

Neville Chamberlain: Peace in our Time

Neville Chamberlain, British PM, arrived back in England from the Munich Conference ecstatic that he had achieved "peace in our time." He stood in front of many people, waving a piece of paper that was Hitler's guarantee that he would do nothing further. Read Chamberlain's statements. Comment on your first reactions. Then, read the next post.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, March 5

Stalin's Purges, 1935

This document gives very interesting insight into the control Stalin had over the USSR. Pay special attention to the italicized introduction before the document begins. Note that this is from a textbook!

Choose one or two of the arguments in this document and comment on the nature of them. What was Stalin's purpose in this? How is this an example of propaganda? How does this represent the control that Stalin and the Communist Party had over the USSR? What, if any, is the bias/POV here?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, March 1.

John Maynard Keynes: The Economic Consequences of the Peace, 1920

Read Keynes' pivotal work about his economic predictions about the world after WWI. Now that we've talked about Europe and the Great Depression, comment on Keynes' main points.

Remember, Keynes was a member of the Bloomsbury Group and therefore a Modernist. Keep that in the back of your mind as you read.

Summarize Keynes' main points. Choose one of his main points to analyze and defend as his most convincing argument.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Feb. 26

Hitler Denounces the Versailles Treaty

I gave you this document in class. Read the document, and answer the following questions along with the normal questions.

What are Hitler's main points?

How does this document reflect Hitler's oratorical skillls? Can you see how people would be willing to listen to him?

How does this document foreshadow future events in Germany? Do extra research if needed.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Feb. 20

The Treaty of Versailles

Click the link above to view excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles. Choose two of the points, and comment on them. How do these specific points prevent lasting peace in Europe? Conversely, how do these points foreshadow future conflicts?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Feb. 12

UNIT 6 TEST

In the off-chance that y'all think to check this during your snow day, your test will be either tomorrow or Monday, whichever is the first day back to school.

Please be prepared! Email me with questions, etc.

Josephine Butler: Protest Against State Regulation of Vice

This is the document I gave you in class.

Click here to read more about Josephine Butler.

What are her main points? Can her ideas truly be called a "crusade"? What things included in the Women's Protest most caught your eye? What is her POV?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Jan. 29

Auguste Comte: A General View of Positivism

Read this excerpt from Comte's work on Positivism. What are his main points? Do you agree with him? Do some background work on Comte... what is his POV?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Jan. 23

Giuseppe Mazzini: The Duties of Man

Mazzini founded Young Italy, which was one of the first organized movements that wanted a united Italy. Read this excerpt from Mazzini's essay "The Duties of Man." Why would his ideas appeal to the Italian working class? What is Mazzini's POV? Answer these questions, and also make general comments about the document itself.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Jan. 4

Marx and Engels: The Communist Manifesto

I will give you this document in class. How I would love to give you this entire book to read...

Comment on this pivotal work in socialist history. Also, consider this following. "The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class." What does this statement mean? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Dec. 7

Ricardo: The Iron Law of Wages

How might Ricardo be considered a liberal? What are his main points regarding wages?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Wednesday, Dec. 6

Lord Byron: The Isles of Greece

This poem is perhaps one of the biggest examples of early 19th century nationalism. Contrast what you know about both Lord Byron (even do a little extra research) and the Greek quest for independence with De Maistre's piece about conservatism.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 30

Joseph de Maistre: Divine Origins of Constitution

You will be using this document along with the next one to do a comparison exercise. How do the points De Maistre makes support conservatism?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 30

Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Kubla Khan

Coleridge is considered by many to be the quintessential Romantic writer. This poem, Kubla Khan, is one of his greatest works. Legend has it that Coleridge had these visions in the midst of a dream while on opium. When he awoke, he sat down and wrote this poem. This poem is a difficult one. Try your best to read it, take it apart, and then comment on the Romantic elements you see.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 16

Napoleon

Again, no document, but food for thought:

Was Napoleon a tyrant or the savior of the ideals of the revolution?

Discuss, debate, go out on a limb...

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Nov. 14

Robespierre

No specific document, but food for thought: Was Robespierre being a dictator, or was he doing what was necessary to save the revolution?

Comment on the above question in a mature response, and also respond to your classmates' ideas. In your response, consider elements of what it means to be a dictator versus what it means to be dedicated to a cause.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Nov. 9

What is the Third Estate?

This pamphlet was written by Abbé Siéyès at the dawn of the Revolution.

How does he define the Third Estate? What injustices does he claim it suffers? What complaints does he point out that the Third Estate has with the monarchy?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Nov. 6

Immanuel Kant: What is Enlightenment?

I gave you this document today in class.

Read this excerpt from Kant's essay. What does he say is the definition of Enlightenment? What is Kant's opinion of the role of freedom? Choose a few of Kant's ideas and make general comments on them.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Oct. 30

John Locke: Second Treatise on Government

I also gave you this document in class.

Compare/contrast this document with Hobbes's. Comment on the implications of Locke's ideas.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 25

Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan

This document is one of those that I gave you in class.

Under what context (historical) does Hobbes write this document? How does Hobbes view man? What is he justifying? What is his view of a "social contract"? Why would he have these views?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Oct. 24

Frederick the Great's Political Testament

This document is the one I gave you in class.

What is Frederick's overall view of politics? What about the monarchy in general? What is his justification for absolute monarchy?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Oct. 17

Jean Rousset de Missy: Life of Peter the Great

You only have to read the excerpt from Rousset de Missy about Peter. Be sure to click the link for this document only.

What do we learn about Peter the Great from this document? Is he a politique? What is the point of view of the writer? Does he see Peter as "great" or otherwise? Support your position.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Oct. 5

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes

Why would Louis XIV do this? What is his point of view? What does he hope to achieve with this? Is he a politique?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Wednesday, Sept. 27

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

As you know, Mary, Queen of Scots, was Elizabeth I's cousin. Comment on their relationship, as well as the significance of Mary's execution. Compare/contrast what you know about Elizabeth's decision to execute her cousin with your observations of Elizabeth's speech to her troops (previous doc).

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 19

Elizabeth I: Against the Armada

This is the speech given by Elizabeth to her troops in 1588. Comment on Elizabeth's character, using specific examples from the speech.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 19

Ignatius of Loyola: Spiritual Exercises

Read the Spiritual Exercises.

Answer the usual 5 questions. To whom was Ignatius writing?

Pick two (2) of Ignatius' rules that you found most interesting and comment on them.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Sunday, Sept. 10

Luther's 95 Theses

Compare this to the Tetzel document. Why is this so radical? Pick out your favorite thesis and comment on it. What are the major themes?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 5

Tetzel's Sermon on Indulgences

Scroll down until you see the text of Tetzel's sermon. I think this is a powerful document commenting on the role of religion at the time. Comment on it, and then take a look at Luther's 95 Theses.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 5

Erasmus: In Praise of Folly

Use the document I gave you today in class.

Remember to answer the usual 5 questions on your syllabus.

Also, What is Erasmus criticizing? How do his ideas influence Martin Luther? What is his perspective?

While we haven't explicitly talked much about Luther yet in class, remember our brief discussion of him in the context of Christian humanism.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, August 31

Hans Holbein's The Ambassadors

Holbein is another Northern Renaissance artist whom we didn't cover in class. Look at this painting. How is this an example of Northern Renaissance art? How is this different from Italian Renaissance art?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Wednesday, August 30

Machiavelli's The Prince

This is chapter 17 of Machiavelli's The Prince. In this chapter, Machiavelli asks the famous question, "Is it better to be loved or feared?". Answer the usual 5 questions. Also give your own personal opinion about whether it's better to be loved or feared. Use examples from the text to support your response.

Due: MIDNIGHT Monday, August 28

Castiglione's The Courtier

This is Castiglione's entire book, but I want you to scroll to the bottom where he describes the qualities for both male and female courtiers.

Remember to answer the five questions listed on your syllabus. Also, why are these qualities about which Castiglione writes important? How do they reflect the values and ideas of the time?

Due: MIDNIGHT Wednesday, August 23

Welcome!

Welcome to the TRHS AP European History document blog!

Each week, you will be given historical primary and secondary documents to analyze and answer questions about. Your responses will be turned in here, on the blog, and you will be required to respond to each other as well.

This blog is for the use of our class ONLY, and it should not be used to communicate with each other about other classes, etc. Occasionally, I may post class announcements (for example, if I forgot to tell you something in class), so you will need to make sure and check the blog regularly. I will do my best to explicitly tell you when you have a blog assignment, but there's always the possibility that I will forget. Thus, take the initiative to check the blog on your own!

This is intended to be a fun assignment, as well as to help you increase your skills in analyzing historical documents, which is a key element of both the course and the exam. Please keep all comments school-appropriate. Abuse of the blog will result in a failing grade for this portion of your overall grade, so please don't abuse it.

Here's to a great year, and to 9 passing grades on the AP exam in May!