Short Stories
Who is the author?
Ursula Le Guin :)
father - anthropologist
mother - author
What movement represented those who left their society to find better values?
The Counterculture movement
What are the 5 common topics Le Guin writes about?
existentialism, identity, legacy, symbolism, idealization
What does the narrator’s departure from Eden represent a rejection of?
Gender stereotypes
What is the theme of “The Wife’s Story?”
What is predatorial or inhumane is often a matter of perspective
Where did Le Guin spend her summers?
Kishamish/Napa Valley
What logic did the government enforce that made political excuses for the Vietnam war?
The “greater good” logic
What conflict does Odo struggle with?
Mind vs. body
The transition from “object“ to “subject” is shown through a shift from what perspective?
How old is Odo in “The Day Before the Revolution“
72
What religion did Le Guin consider herself to be?
nonviolent Daoist anarchist
What time period did Le Guin write her most famous works?
1970’s-1990’s
How are Odo’s interactions with the youth?
Disconnected
What is built only when traditional power systems are moved “beyond”?
Equality
Why did the omelas walk away at the end?
They saw the child and decided not to stay
What Daoist concepts did she incorporate in her stories?
- Wu Wei - nonintervention
- Cosmic balance or yin/yang
What was the name of the idea of the perfect life with a good house, car, family, etc.?
The ”American Dream”
How does Odo want to be remembered?
strong and capable
Adam uses “naming” as a tool for what?
Control or ownership
How did unnaming various creatures affect their relationships?
broke down psychological barriers
What Buddhist concepts were visible in her stories?
- mindfulness
- detachment
What was the cost of people thriving in their ignorance?
The suffering of others who made it happen for them
What does society tend to overlook?
Wisdom
What must be lost in order for the narrator to find freedom and deeper connection?
Certainty (the certainty of names)