19 th Century Literature Global Introductions

1. 19th Century LiteratureGlobal Introductions

2. Unlimited Riches • If you could have unlimited riches, to what extent would you be willing to give up things that are important to you? • Would you chop off your thumb? Would you live away from your family? Would you love someone who you weren’t attracted to?

3. Lost your Nerve? • Describe a time when you were so afraid that it impacted your ability to think or take action.

4. Secret • Would you be willing to be a friend or love someone who admitted they had a large “secret” but told you they would never expose the secret to you during their lifetime?

5. Nature’s Inspiration (Emerson’s “Nature”) • Describe a time when you were inspired by or in “awe” of nature (the night sky, the ocean, the mountains, etc.). What inspired you?

6. Home Alone (Thoreau’s “Walden”) • If you had to choose a place to live for two years where you would be without friends or family, where would you choose to build your house? Why would you choose to live there?

7. Fight for Your Rights (Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”) • For what right or cause would you be willing to fight? Would you be willing to die for any specific cause or right?

8. Poetry • If you had to read poetry, what type of poetry do you prefer? Why do you prefer this type of poetry? • Traditional with Rhymes, Meter, and Stanzas? • Nontraditional (lacks rhyme, meter, stanzas, etc).