Archive for June, 2008

Great Books: THE SOUND AND THE FURY Part 4

Monday, June 30th, 2008

April 7, 1928

On the day before Easter, 1928, a teenaged “Negro” boy named Luster is watching after Benjy, the mentally challenged youngest son of the declining aristocratic Compson family of mythical Jefferson, Mississippi. It is Benjy’s 33rd birthday, and Dilsey, the Compsons’ cook and Luster’s grandmother, has baked him a cake. Luster and Benjy are looking for Luster’s quarter that Benjy has lost.
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Great Books: THE SOUND AND THE FURY Part 3

Friday, June 27th, 2008

Quentin (the deceased male) is attending Harvard University. The day of his death (he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Charles River) he walks around Cambridge, struggling with his thoughts. Quentin is a character filled with anxiety. Caddy’s promiscuity and the accompanying shame and disgrace trouble him deeply. He wanted to protect his sister from the harshness and judgment of the world. Likewise his overbearing, manipulative mother is too much to take. As a result, he kills himself.
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Great Books: THE SOUND AND THE FURY Part 2

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

The story is set in the fictional county of Yoknapatawpha that Faulkner created for the setting of his third novel Sartoris. The inspiration for the The Sound and the Fury came from one of his short stories, “Twilight.” He had created the character of Caddy in this story. In a scene where Caddy has climbed a pear tree to look into the window where her grandmother’s funeral is being held, her brothers are looking up at her and they see her muddy pants. Faulkner claimed he loved the character of Caddy so much that he felt she deserved more than a short story. Thus the idea for The Sound and the Fury was born.
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Great Books: THE SOUND AND THE FURY

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008

William Faulkner (1897-1962) arguably was the greatest American author of all time, and may have been the greatest author in the world. Faulkner came from an old Mississippi family, joined the Canadian Air Force during the First World War, studied for a while at the University of Mississippi. Except for some trips to Europe and Asia, and a few brief stays in Hollywood as a scriptwriter, he worked on his novels and short stories on a farm in Oxford.
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Lesson Two

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Thy Father Seeketh After Thee

As he went, he cried out, “My son Absalom! I wish I had died for you. Absalom, my son, my son!” ? 2 Samuel 18:33 (NCV)

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18

During the Civil War, a Pennsylvania Dutch Quaker father disagreed vehemently with his son about his son’s decision to enlist in the Union army. Nonetheless, the son enlisted and participated in many battles. During late 1862, the Quaker father had a dram that his son was wounded in battle. Knowing that a battle had been fought recently at Antietam Creek, Sharpsburg, Maryland, only a few miles from home, the Quaker father made his way by horse-drawn buggy until he came to the battlefield, the worried father set out. It was now dark and the father lit a lantern. While searching for his son, he came across many wounded young men. Some cried for Help; others merely whimpered. Growing discouraged, the Quaker father began to cry, “Jonathan Smythe, thy father seeketh after thee!” For several hours he cried. Many sons answered, but none of them were his Jonathan Smythe. By the man kept diligently at his task until he heard a very faint, barely audible reply, “Father, over here.” And the son finished, “I knew that you would come.” The Quaker father knelt down, took Jonathan in his arms, comforted him and took him home. Jonathan recovered? In our Bible story today we meet rebelliouus, disturbed Absalom. Disobedient, disloyal Absalom led a rebellion against his father. Many of us will not understand why David was so upset when Absalom was killed.

Why do you think David was sad? Ask your father or another adult why he thinks David was willing to give his own life for his very bad son.

Lesson One

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Lost Horizons

Then they said to each other, “Let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower. And let’s make the top of the tower reach high into the sky. We will become famous. If we do this, we will not be scattered over all the earth.” ? Genesis 11:4 (NCV)

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Lost Horizons by James Hilton is a story of four people brought against their will to a mythical place called Shangri-La. It is a magical place hidden in the mounts where no one grows old. The story is about Hugh Conway, who finds himself trapped by the fascination of eternal life. Humankind has always sought to create a perfect society; the Tower of Babel is one notable example. But God had other plans? “this is only the beginning of what thhey will do” (Genesis 11:6). Ultimately, all plans to create a perfect society fail ? unless one centers that society on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Plans to create a life without worry fail without a life centered on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The SAT Day

Friday, June 20th, 2008

Here is one example of a typical test-day schedule. Times will vary depending on the actual time of the test, how far away the test site is, etc.

6:00 A.M.
Students: Wake up and eat a healthy breakfast. You should have been arising at this time for a week or two before the exam to prepare your body. The whole family should gather and pray for the student.

6:30 A.M.
Last minute check-ups: six sharpened #2 pencils, calculator with fresh batter, snack (no candy), ticket, picture ID, watch.
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Important Note to Parents

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

You and your family are encouraged to join your student in this time of preparation. For example, everyone can join in learning new vocabulary words. Also, in some lessons I have included MindTrap® dilemmas (from the board game of the same name). I recommend you buy this game, and, as a family, try to solve one each day. They are fun and will help your student learn how to think.

Also, consider having your child learn Latin and/or Greek instead of modern language. Mode languages can be picked up fairly easy in college. Greek and Latin will help in vocabulary preparation and grammar skills.
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How to Use This Book

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

The SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student is designed to prepare you academically and spiritually for the challenge ahead of you. There are three components to this course: 1) a daily devotion, 2) reading and vocabulary exercises, and 3) math and verbal exercises.

The lessons include:
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Frequently Asked Questions – III

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

How Important Is Stress Reduction?

My thirty years of coaching remind me how important stress reduction is to high SAT I scores. In fact, in my opinion, it is the most important preparation variable. For Christians, at leas, stress reduction is best accomplished by a frequent and thorough devotional and Bible memorization program. The SAT and College Preparation Course for the Christian Student amply discusses this point and provides preparation exercises that will equip the student to be ready for the SAT I.
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