Topics for Further Study
- Investigate the traits of the chambered nautilus and deliver a class presentation on its biological and ecological importance. How does this species manage to survive? What role does it play in the evolutionary timeline? Why and how does it construct its shell in a logarithmic spiral? What was its interaction with humans in the mid-1800s, and what is its current status? Does Holmes's poem accurately reflect the nautilus's biological traits? Explain your reasoning.
- Holmes was famous for his conversational prowess. Read The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table and use it as a model to lead a class discussion on philosophical, scientific, artistic, and other topics. You don't need to stick to the book's themes; you can address issues that are relevant to you and your peers. However, ensure you discuss the universal and philosophical importance of these topics. Like the autocrat, aim to challenge and even surprise your classmates to spark debate and conversation.
- Compose a poem that uses an animal or sea creature as a metaphor for a person or a human endeavor. Tailor your description of the animal to highlight specific qualities of the person or endeavor you are metaphorizing, and try to incorporate personification. For instance, if you choose a particular dog to symbolize a vicious person or trait, you might focus on the color and sharpness of its teeth, noting that they are perfectly aligned because it had braces when it was young.
- Examine the cultural environment of mid-19th-century Boston and write an essay on its intellectual climate. Who were the major factions or groups of thinkers, and what was their significance and influence? Outline the key philosophical debates of the era. What impact did the Boston renaissance have on the rest of the country? Discuss some of the factors that ignited this movement and how it eventually concluded. Which writings from this period have stood the test of time, and why do they continue to be relevant?
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