Summer Reading 2007

INCOMING FRESHMAN HONORS ENGLISH ONLY

Three books are required:
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, ISBN 0-7434-8758-3
• Heroes, Gods and Monsters, by Bernard Evslin - Honors freshmen must read two myths: Prometheus and Galatea
(ISBN 0-553-13525-2)
• Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (any version). Pygmalion is a play about a young man who "creates" a lady from a poor flower girl. The responsibility of the creator and the creation is a theme of this story. While Pygmalion is not part of the summer journal, you will be taking an objective test over this book on the first day of school.

You do not have to read any of the other selections on the incoming freshmen summer reading list (unless, of course, you want to for your own enjoyment!)

SUMMER READING JOURNAL -

Parts I, II and III should be in a spiral notebook, written in dark blue or black pen, on one side of the paper.

Part I Write one letter to Victor Frankenstein from the point of view of either William, Elizabeth, or Clervel, discussing the following philosophical questions citing details from the text. You will be writing in first person ("I"), but you must take on the persona of one of these characters.
a) How do you feel about Victor's pursuit of pure knowledge without any limits or taboos?
b) Discuss the irresponsibility of Frankenstein in abandoning his own creation to fend for himself.
c) Agree or disagree with Victor's decision to destroy the 2nd creature.
d) Discuss the morality of making revenge a purpose of one's life.

The following is an example of the way you may start. You may use this beginning or create your own.

My dear ___________________ [brother] [husband] [friend] Victor:

I am given this opportunity to communicate with you from the afterlife, having been murdered by the monster you brought to life. I have been deprived of my adulthood, the privilege of pursuing a career, having a family, and growing old surrounded by loved ones by your arrogance in creating a life and not immediately accepting responsibility for the moral instruction and guidance of that life.

You must write a minimum of two pages each on parts a, b, c, and d, but all four sections are parts of your one long letter. Interject your own thoughts as if they are the thoughts of the persona you have become, and support your opinions by citing quotations and specific details from the text.

Part II Read the myth of Prometheus from the above referenced Heroes, Gods, and Monsters. How does the novel Frankenstein compare to the myth of Prometheus? Write two pages where you discuss the appropriateness or inappropriateness of the novel's subtitle: The Modern Prometheus.

Part III Look up the following words in the dictionary and indicate the part of speech. You will be tested on the definitions of these words:

Vocabulary

1. fervent	7. perused	13. quelling	19. filial	25. reprobate	31. dogmatism	37. timorous
2. hitherto	8. dross	14. fastidious	20. imbued	26. chimera	32. facile	38. conjecture
3. celestia	9. solicitude	15. ameliorate	21. citadel	27. insurrection	33. incipient	39. perdition
l 4. satiate	10. prudent	16. irrevocably	22. inclemency	28. panegyric	34. depravity	40. clemency
5. ardent	11. daemon	17. indefatigable	23. progeny	29. mien	35. candor	41. entreaty
6. niche	12. paroxysm	18. caprice	24. prognosticated	30. pedantry	36. infamy	42. odious

Bring your completed journal and all three books to the first day of school in September.

We will be reading several of the other myths from Heroes, Gods, and Monsters during the first few weeks of school.