scand151

A Souvenir from Vilnius

Today's reading is a mystery short story written by one of the most popular contemporary writers in Finland, Leena Lehtolainen. Comment on at least one of the following questions. From what perspective is the story told? How do you feel about the narrator and what are some aspects of the story that make you feel the way you do? Is the story a typical mystery story? Why or why not? How would you characterize this mystery story? In other words, what other detective or mystery stories would you compare it to? Does the story discuss any social or political issues? If so, how?

Lovers and Leavers

Does the film Lovers and Leavers (Kuutamolla) resemble what we think of as Hollywood film more than the film Man Without a Past does. If so, why? If not, why not? Choose one example from the film that helps support and explain your answer.

The Man Without a Past

Aki Kaurismäki's film The Man Without a Past differs in its visual presentation and story from films that come from Hollywood. Identify one (or more) element of form or story that you think would not be in a Hollywood film. Use the element you identify to raise a question for others in the class, about why the element you've identified would not be in a Hollywood film. So, for example, you might note: "The choice of songs for the soundtrack differs from Hollywood films I know. How do you think the soundtrack differs?" The more detailed and specific you can be in your identification and question, the better.

Interwar Modernism Poems

Don't forget to read the poems assigned for tomorrow. Your job is to do two things. In reading the poems, you have two tasks before class. First, write one question about one poem. What don't you get? State your question as clearly and concisely as possible. Second, find someone else from the class's question, and try to answer their question as best you can. These will be two separate entries.

One of the most interesting things about reading your self-reflective essays was to see how you cited others' entries. One of the best ways to figure out the material is by thinking about what your classmates have to say. This assignment seeks to stimulate that kind of exchange. 

Characters in Here Under the North Star

It can be difficult to keep track of all the characters in a sprawling novel like Here Under the North Star. I propose combining our efforts to create a guide to the characters in the novel, that the whole class can use in finishing up the novel. I'd like everyone to post a comment on one of the characters. Try to use specific examples to support your points (and help others find the examples by including page numbers in parentheses). If you're interested in writing about a character someone else has already written about, you might add something to that character's profile by posting a second or third entry that brings up an example that hasn't been discussed by others. As you read, you can turn to the blog for more information about the novel. I'll begin by posting an entry myself--but please note, it'll be incomplete, and require some further additions...

Here Under the North Star

One of the ways Väinö Linna's Here Under the North Star comments on Finnish history is by referring to earlier famous poems, novels, and figures. How does Linna's novel call to mind the Kalevala, Runeberg's poetry, Kivi's Seven Brothers? What are specific examples in the text where you see such references? What do the references mean, do you think? (Please use page numbers and quotes as necessary in posting responses to this question.)

Seven Brothers--The Novel

The decision that begins the main plotline in Aleksis Kivi's novel The Seven Borthers is the seven brothers' decision to flee their society. There are  reasons they decide to flee, and each brother has a little bit different reason for deciding to leave. What are some of the reasons?

Sibelius-The Film

Let's begin by assuming we don't know who Jean Sibelius is. What are two images that the filmmaker uses to tell you who Jean Sibelius is? Consider how the images recur in the film, and what the filmmaker seems to be saying with them. What do these images say about Jean Sibelius?

Depiction of Nature and Farmer Paavo

"Our Land" and "Paavo of Saarijärvi" are two of the most famous and important poems of nineteenth century Finnish literature. One of the important themes in both poems is the depiction of nature. How is nature described in the poems? What devices does Runeberg use to depict nature? What do you think his depiction of nature says about the attempt to create a distinctly Finnish culture during the mid-nineteenth century? What is nature in these poems?

What is the Kalevala?

What is the Kalevala? That's the question of the day. You can respond to the question in a number of different ways. On the basis of your impressions of what you've read of the Kalevala. On the basis of what you know about other epic poems you've read. On the basis of a definition that says what the Kalevala isn't. But if you can answer this question after the reading and today's lecture, you'll have a good sense of one of the definitive literary texts we'll read in the course.