Omelas Seminar

Starter 9:
Watch the following TED Talk:  Synthesizing Happiness.

Answer the following questions:

1. What are his lab's main conclusions about happiness?  What did they find in their experiments?
2. What is the difference between natural and synthetic happiness?  Do you think one should be valued over the other?  Why?
3. He says that "freedom is the enemy of synthetic happiness."  Why?  Have you seen this in your own life?

Turn in Starters 1-9

To email or the mailbox.

Start Omelas Seminar Reflection, Part 1

Write a piece of short fiction that extends the story of Omelas.  Choose ONE of the options below.  This must be TYPED.

OPTION 1:  Write the story from the perspective of one of the characters in Omelas

1. Flute player
2. Boy in basement
3. One who walks away

OPTION 2:  Write an alternate ending to the story, or a “what if” possibility.

1. What if someone tried to rescue the child and failed/succeeded?
2. What if someone who walked away came back?
3. What if the child dies?  What happens then?

OPTION 3:  Write about what happens to a person who walks away—extend the story beyond what LeGuin has shown us.

OPTION 4:  Write a missing scene that’s set in the same world—show us something about this world that the author doesn’t.

Omelas Seminar: Major Questions

1. What’s the difference between the people who walk away and the people who stay in Omelas?
2. What role does the idea of happiness play in this story?
3. How does her writing style influence the message and reading of the story?
4. Paragraph 3:  “The trouble is we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid.” Agree or disagree?  Why?
5. Paragraph 3:  “One thing I know there is none of in Omelas is guilt.” Why? How does this connect to the broader story?  To happiness?
6. Why do they show the child to all of their citizens?  What do they gain by seeing the child
7. Does our culture have its own small child in a broom closet?

Omelas Seminar Reflection, Part 2

Choose one of the major seminar questions listed on my DP.  Write one thorough and well organized paragraph that answers the question.  Take your time and craft this carefully.  Remember to:

1. Have a clear topic sentence
2. Use evidence (quotes) from the text to back up your position
3. Analyze your evidence thoroughly—explain what it shows, and how.  The more specific, the better!
4. Proofread carefully.

HOMEWORK

Omelas Seminar Reflection, parts 1 and 2.  DUE: In Lori's email by the end of the day on Wednesday, 3/6.