Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Section 2 Summery
Michael Blomkvist is a journalist who starts his career by catching a group of bank robbers who the police could not catch. Blomkvist is forced to go to court however early in his career on charges of publishing libeous material. Blomkvist is sentenced to three months and jail and faces a fine. Blomkvist is the publisher of millenium magazine. I think within the next few chapters Blomkvist will go back to his succesful job and continue his work. I think he will be forced to pay a minimal fine. As long as he stays out of trouble he should have no problem with dealing with the law.
Character list
Lisbeth Salander: known for her "crooked smile," is one of the most intriguing characters to hit bookstores ever. She was born on Walpurgis Night, April 30th. This holiday marks the return of spring.
Mikael Blomkvist: is the detective of the piece. He's about 42 years old andhe hasn't come to terms with his inner investigator. Blomkvist is managing editor of Millennium magazine and, first and foremost, a financial journalist.
Henrik Vanger: turns 82 years old on the first page of the book. He's a widower and was married to a Jewish woman he helped escape Germany during World War II.
Harriet Vanger: is the mostly unseen star of the chief mystery of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. For most of the novel, the other characters think she's long-dead.
Martin Vanger: is CEO of the Vanger Corporation, and one of the novel's chief villains. For most of the story, he seems like a pretty nice guy. Even Blomkvist is taken in.
Hans Erik Wennerström: might be a little boring to read about because he never actually appears. None of the other characters meet him.
Erika Berger: owns most of Millennium. She's Blomkvist's boss, and his long-time lover. She's also married to Greger Beckman, an artist. Erika is smart, sexy, and unconventional.
Dragan Armansky: runs Milton Security and is Salander's boss. He's protective of her, yet can't protect her. They like each other, but he doesn't quite understand Salander. He's attracted to her, but thinks it's because she so different from the other women in his world.
Mikael Blomkvist: is the detective of the piece. He's about 42 years old andhe hasn't come to terms with his inner investigator. Blomkvist is managing editor of Millennium magazine and, first and foremost, a financial journalist.
Henrik Vanger: turns 82 years old on the first page of the book. He's a widower and was married to a Jewish woman he helped escape Germany during World War II.
Harriet Vanger: is the mostly unseen star of the chief mystery of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. For most of the novel, the other characters think she's long-dead.
Martin Vanger: is CEO of the Vanger Corporation, and one of the novel's chief villains. For most of the story, he seems like a pretty nice guy. Even Blomkvist is taken in.
Hans Erik Wennerström: might be a little boring to read about because he never actually appears. None of the other characters meet him.
Erika Berger: owns most of Millennium. She's Blomkvist's boss, and his long-time lover. She's also married to Greger Beckman, an artist. Erika is smart, sexy, and unconventional.
Dragan Armansky: runs Milton Security and is Salander's boss. He's protective of her, yet can't protect her. They like each other, but he doesn't quite understand Salander. He's attracted to her, but thinks it's because she so different from the other women in his world.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Parallels
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a very intense novel, rich in detail and dialogue. To the avid readers of our English class, this book by Steig Larsson is similar to The Kite Runner. It’s rich in plot and character development however, where the kite runner takes off in a faster in the beginning of the story TGDT is a slow developing story. Along with the character development there is the diction of Larsson that is on par with Hossein’s style. Besides the Kite Runner there isn’t much that can compare to TGDT, because of its intense style and great length.
Strong Section One Review Questions
Is there an embezzlement or fraud scandal that has occurred within the past twenty years that can be compared to or closely associated with the crimes committed in the novel thus far?
Give a short description of Mikael Blomkvist and a brief background of his life and current circumstances.
Give a short description of Mikael Blomkvist and a brief background of his life and current circumstances.
Section 3 Discussion ?'s
Discussion ?'s for the book as a whole from:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_g/the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo1.asp
1. Who do you consider the novel's protagonist, Lisbeth or Mikael? Why?
2. What point was Larsson trying to make with the themes running through this novel? How do issues such as violence against women, journalistic integrity, and more general notions of trust tie in with each other throughout the book?
3. What function do the sex-crime statistics on each section's title page serve?
4. Reread the passage from Mikael's book on page 103. What is its significance in terms of the plot?
5. On page 156, Henrik tells Mikael, "If there's one thing I've learned, it's never engage in a fight you're sure to lose. On the other hand, never let anyone who has insulted you get away with it. Bide your time and strike back when you're in a position of strength --- even if you no longer need to strike back." Over the course of the novel, who puts this advice to the best use? How, and why?
6. How does the involvement of several Vanger brothers with Swedish fascist groups cloud Mikael's investigation into Harriet's disappearance? What role does Harald play?
7. Why does Henrik become an investor in Millennium? Does his plan succeed?
8. Discuss the character of Lisbeth. Some think she is a "perfect victim" (p. 409), others find her intimidating, and Mikael wonders if she has Asperger's, but the reader is allowed to see exactly how her mind works. How do you see her? How do you think she sees herself?
9. What do you think about the way Lisbeth turns the tables on Bjurman? Is it admirable, or a sign that she's unstable?
10. On page 254, Lisbeth says her new tattoo is "a reminder." Of what?
11. Several times in the novel, Mikael's journalistic ethics are challenged. Do you consider him to be ethical? In your opinion, is anyone in the novel truly honorable? If so, why?
12. After reserving judgment for most of his investigation, Mikael determines that Harriet was, in fact, murdered and that he's hunting for a killer. What prompts this decision? How does this affect the rest of his investigation?
13. Discuss the role of parents in the novel. Who is a good parent, and why? How might Harriet's story have changed if her mother had behaved differently? What about Lisbeth's? Is Mikael a good father?
14. Blackmail is used several times in the novel, for different ends. Who uses it most effectively, and why?
15. On page 507, Mikael tells Lisbeth that to him, friendship requires mutual respect and trust. By those standards, who in this novel is a good friend? Is Mikael? What about Anita?
16. Discuss Henrik's request that Mikael never publish the Vanger story. Is it a reasonable request? Does Mikael's acquiescence change your opinion of him? Do Lisbeth's demands mitigate his ethical breach?
17. What ultimately drives Lisbeth to take action against Wennerström on her own? Does she go too far?
18. Reread Mikael's statement about the media's responsibility at the top of page 575. Can you think of a situation in the American media that is analogous to the Wennerström affair?
19. Discuss the ending. Was it satisfying to you? Why or why not?
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides_g/the_girl_with_the_dragon_tattoo1.asp
1. Who do you consider the novel's protagonist, Lisbeth or Mikael? Why?
2. What point was Larsson trying to make with the themes running through this novel? How do issues such as violence against women, journalistic integrity, and more general notions of trust tie in with each other throughout the book?
3. What function do the sex-crime statistics on each section's title page serve?
4. Reread the passage from Mikael's book on page 103. What is its significance in terms of the plot?
5. On page 156, Henrik tells Mikael, "If there's one thing I've learned, it's never engage in a fight you're sure to lose. On the other hand, never let anyone who has insulted you get away with it. Bide your time and strike back when you're in a position of strength --- even if you no longer need to strike back." Over the course of the novel, who puts this advice to the best use? How, and why?
6. How does the involvement of several Vanger brothers with Swedish fascist groups cloud Mikael's investigation into Harriet's disappearance? What role does Harald play?
7. Why does Henrik become an investor in Millennium? Does his plan succeed?
8. Discuss the character of Lisbeth. Some think she is a "perfect victim" (p. 409), others find her intimidating, and Mikael wonders if she has Asperger's, but the reader is allowed to see exactly how her mind works. How do you see her? How do you think she sees herself?
9. What do you think about the way Lisbeth turns the tables on Bjurman? Is it admirable, or a sign that she's unstable?
10. On page 254, Lisbeth says her new tattoo is "a reminder." Of what?
11. Several times in the novel, Mikael's journalistic ethics are challenged. Do you consider him to be ethical? In your opinion, is anyone in the novel truly honorable? If so, why?
12. After reserving judgment for most of his investigation, Mikael determines that Harriet was, in fact, murdered and that he's hunting for a killer. What prompts this decision? How does this affect the rest of his investigation?
13. Discuss the role of parents in the novel. Who is a good parent, and why? How might Harriet's story have changed if her mother had behaved differently? What about Lisbeth's? Is Mikael a good father?
14. Blackmail is used several times in the novel, for different ends. Who uses it most effectively, and why?
15. On page 507, Mikael tells Lisbeth that to him, friendship requires mutual respect and trust. By those standards, who in this novel is a good friend? Is Mikael? What about Anita?
16. Discuss Henrik's request that Mikael never publish the Vanger story. Is it a reasonable request? Does Mikael's acquiescence change your opinion of him? Do Lisbeth's demands mitigate his ethical breach?
17. What ultimately drives Lisbeth to take action against Wennerström on her own? Does she go too far?
18. Reread Mikael's statement about the media's responsibility at the top of page 575. Can you think of a situation in the American media that is analogous to the Wennerström affair?
19. Discuss the ending. Was it satisfying to you? Why or why not?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Part D, 10 relevant links
http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/13-fiction/375-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-larsson
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/
http://www.stieglarsson.com/The-Girl-With-The-Dragon-Tattoo
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/books/review/Berenson-t.html
http://www.shmoop.com/girl-with-dragon-tattoo/
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bookstore/recommended.asp?pid=24155
http://www.caribousmom.com/2010/04/16/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-book-review/
Ashlie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/
http://www.stieglarsson.com/The-Girl-With-The-Dragon-Tattoo
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/books/review/Berenson-t.html
http://www.shmoop.com/girl-with-dragon-tattoo/
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bookstore/recommended.asp?pid=24155
http://www.caribousmom.com/2010/04/16/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-book-review/
Ashlie
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