Varying Meanings of "Home"

Great class discussion today!
If you missed class, we discussed the following topics and ideas raised by the stories:

“Coming Home Again”
1. What is the effect of the first sentence?
2. page 1, paragraph 2: “The world of our house.” What is the significance of this use of diction?
3. Why is food such an important association? Look at the imagery here. Why the focus on food?
4. Why title this story Coming Home AGAIN? What is the significance of “again”?
5. page 5, paragraph 4: “immaterial.” Why might the mother feel immaterial? How does Chang-Rae Lee feel about her now vs. childhood?
6. “Often enough, my mother was the object of my derision.” How did he feel in relation to his mother?

“On Going Home”
1. What is the difference between the author’s own home and her home growing up?
2. Why does Didion feel guilty about her daughter’s sense of “home”? How was it different from her childhood.
3. How does Didion refer to her family members? She doesn’t name them, she simply calls them husband, brother, mother, aunt, baby. What is the significance of this?

Perceptions of Home:
1. How is your home life different from the home life of your parents? Your grandparents? What mitigating factor represents the biggest difference between your grandparent’s generation and your generation?
2. What does she mean by “classic betrayal” in reference to marriage?

Religion and Family:
How important is religion in the family setting?

Homework:
Complete your first Friday reading. If you have questions, remember to email me at saritawheatley@gmail.com if it is after 4 p.m.
Bring your copy of Capote's In Cold Blood. We will discuss the various ways Capote elicts sympathy for the murderers as well as the ways he crafts the text to achieve his purpose.