1) As you'll remember, we began our discussion of 1 Henry IV with a look at the two realms of the play: the court and the tavern. King Henry presides over the court, Falstaff over the tavern. (Perhaps there are more than two realms in this play, but those are the two that got our attention.) Though born to the court, Prince Hal makes his home for a while at least in the tavern--where Falstaff is his "father"? Is there textual evidence to support the thesis that Falstaff is a father of sorts to Hal--and that Hal recognizes him as such? If so, consider this question: which father, Henry or Falstaff, is the better one for the future king--and better in what way?

2) As Dan Dyer observed, The Call of the Wild is more than a mere "dog story." What "more" is it? Point us to key incidents or scenes to support your thoughts. Consider also this perhaps related question--a very broad question, to be sure: what does London's short novel have in common with "The Allegory of the Cave," the Odyssey, and 1 Henry IV? Does it share a theme, a pattern . . . what?

3) Compare (and contrast) the search for self in at least two of the following works: "The Allegory of the Cave," 1 Henry IV, The Call of the Wild, and Their Eyes Were Watching God.  By the way, if you are interested in that concept of "following your bliss," see Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (New York: Doubleday, 1988), chapter 4.

4) Interpret "Nam-Bok The Unveracious" as Jack London's "Allegory of the Cave."

5) Argue that Their Eyes Were Watching God is hardly less relevant to readers who are white and male than to those who are, like Janie and the author herself, black and female.

6) Write a personal essay (reflective or narrative or a combination of the two) using as a springboard 1 Henry IV, The Call of the Wild, or Their Eyes Were Watching God.  If you are considering this option, discuss the topic with me.

7) In my introduction of Michael Longley, I referred to "Ceasefire" and observed that this poem and many others convey Longley's engagement with Ulster's political culture, his participation in and contribution to public discourse. But I also observed that other poems of his imply the complementary obligation of the citizen to reflect, even--or especially--if that means retreating to a sacred place within the natural world. Elaborate on these observations, and draw a conclusion.