Writing Assignments

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Activity Sheet per French 149 Novel

The Legacy of Colonialism in Africa Introduction to Boubacar Boris Diop’s Murambi

Deadlines:

 For Monday, April 23:

→ I will start reading Boubacar Boris Diop’s novel Murambi: The book of Bones (Parts I & II)

and prepare activities #1-7.

→ Please note that the book can be read on and downloaded from Madden Library’s website

via one of the two following links: o https://fresnostate-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-

explore/search?query=any,contains,murambi&tab=everything&search_scope=EVERYTH ING&vid=01CALS_UFR&offset=0

o https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csufresno/home.action

→ I will read . two articles from the New York Times

 No Class on Monday, April 30.

 For Monday, May 7, our last day of class:

→ I will finish reading Boubacar Boris Diop’s novel Murambi: The book of Bones (Parts I & II)

and prepare activities #8-14.

→ A reminder: the book can be read on and downloaded from Madden Library’s website!

→ I will read . two articles from the New York Times

→ I will also write two essay questions (See Activity 12 below for details). for the final

→ I will turn in my and/or the . essay #4 final version of my semester project

→ I will turn in all my extra-credits. This is the last day for extra-credit submissions!

 Are due on the day of the final, May 14, the following documents:

→ Your which is: final exam

o Mandatory for all students, except those who have done 5 extra-credits o A take-home exam which is a critical reflection on the books read this semester. o An open-book exam: so you can use your books, assignments & notes. No need to use

a blue book. If you type your exam, you need to submit it to Turnitin. o Available on Bd no later than 9pm on May 8, and o Due by 5pm on May 14.

→ Your : Open comment on any or all readings or what have you learned in optional journal #6

this class? Has this class changed you? If so: how? (4-500 words in lieu of your worst grade)

→ Your . essay #5 on Murambi

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1. Murambi: Sections I & II Activity #1: At home & in class.

 Open the folder entitled “The Legacy of Colonialism in Africa: "Murambi, the Book of Bones" by Boubacar Boris Diop.”

 Read the first document “A geographical and historical overview of Rwanda” in that folder.

 Watch the 4-minute film clip on Rwanda where Diop’s novel Murambi takes place. It is also available via Blackboard.

 Write 15 reflective questions (that have a solid content and need an explanation) about the document and the short film clip as well as their respective answers in preparation for the in-class activity.

 During class time next week, with a group of 2-3 people, each of you will take turn to quiz each other with your questions. The objective of the activity is for you to get a good introduction to the country of Rwanda.

Activity #2: At home.

 Read the second document “Introduction to Boubacar Boris Diop”.

 Write down 5 facts that could summarize Diop’s life.

 Write a 5-8 line paragraph that explains Diop’s creative work.

 Take a look at the vocabulary which is proposed to you in that second document. Keep it in mind when you read Diop’s book. It will help you understand what the book is about.

Activity #3: At home. No writing required here! Read the review of Diop’s Murambi below and keep it in mind while you go through the novel: “Built as an investigation and an indictment, with an extraordinary lucidity, the novel by Boubacar Boris Diop illuminates us on the ultimate genocide of the twentieth century better than all the essays and testimonies. With a sobriety of exemplary classicism, the author exposes the facts, its cogs and its hidden springs: some characters in situation, before, during and after the genocide, tell each other and meet, love and confess. As a true novelist, Boubacar Boris Diop forbids us to trivialize African dramas to better forget them. As a “storyteller of eternity”, with all the rigor of a flawless talent, the author forces us to face this grim reality.” (https://www.babelio.com/livres/Diop-Murambi-le-livre-des-ossements/243952) Activity #4: At home.

 Read the foreword of Murambi by Eileen Julien entitled An Urn for the Dead, an Hourglass for the Living. This foreword helps you understand the context of Diop’s Murambi.

 List three themes that Eileen Julien discusses in her foreword to Diop’s novel. Just list them. No need to explain them in writing. They will be discussed in class.

Activity #5: At home. No writing required here!

 Stat reading the first two Parts of Diop’s Murambi. Use the following link to access the novel: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csufresno/home.action.

→ Note that Murambi is divided in four parts and each of these parts has a title. What do these titles refer to? Also, some of the parts are divided into chapters.

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Activity #6: At home.

 Read Parts I & II of Diop’s Murambi. 1. Part I: (A bit of writing required here! Only write when asked) → Part I is called “Fear & Anger.” Why? Part I is also divided into three chapters and each

chapter has as title the name of a character. Why are there three chapters in Part I? → In the chart below, write the answers to the following questions as briefly as possible:

o What are the names of the three characters whose names are included in the titles of each of these three chapters?

o Who are they? o What makes them different? o Write down a quote which describes who each of these characters is.

Name of characters:

Who are they?

What makes them different?

What quote describes each of them?

2. Part II: (A bit of writing required here! Only write when asked) → Part II is called “The Return of Cornelius.” Why? In Part II Cornelius meets two of his

childhood friends: who are they? → In the chart below, write the answers to the following questions as briefly as possible:

o Who are Cornelius and his friends? o How are they different from each other? o Summarize very briefly each of these three friends’ stories. o Write down a quote which describes who each of these characters is.

Name of the three friends:

Who are they?

What makes them different?

What are their stories?

What quote describes each of them?

Activity #7:

 Which two articles are you going to read for the next class?

 No need to download and/or to summarize them. We will be discussing them in class.

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2. Sections III & IV Activity #8: At home.

 Read the introduction to Diop’s Murambi entitled “To Call a Monster by its Name” by Dr. Fiona Mc Laughlin who translated Diop’s from the French into English.

 Write down two facts that struck you in this introduction and explain in 1-2 lines why the two facts you have chosen are important for Murambi.

Activity #9: At home.

 In the Bd folder entitled “The Legacy of Colonialism in Africa: "Murambi, the Book of Bones" by Boubacar Boris Diop”, read the following three documents: (1) What is genocide? (2) The Ten Commandments of the Hutus. (3) The UN Convention on the Prevention of the Genocide.

 Write 9 reflective questions (3 questions per documents that have a solid content and need an explanation) as well as their respective answers in preparation for the in-class activity.

Activity #10: At home.

 Read Parts III & IV of Diop’s Murambi. Use the following link to access the novel: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csufresno/home.action.

 Remember that Murambi is divided in four parts and each of these parts has a title. What do these titles refer to? Also, some of the parts are divided into chapters.

1. Part III: (A bit of writing required here! Only write when asked) → Part III is called “Genocide.” Why? → Part III is divided into eight chapters and each chapter has as title the name of a character. → In the chart below, write the answers to the following questions as briefly as possible:

o Choose three chapters. o Who are the characters whose names are the titles of these three chapters? o Who are these three characters? o What makes them remarkable? o Write down a quote which describes who each of these characters is.

The three chapters that I have chosen:

Characters whose names are the titles of the chapters

Who are they?

What makes them remarkable?

What quote describes each of them?

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2. Part IV: (A bit of writing required here! Only write when asked) → Part IV is called “Murambi.” Why? → Who is the main character in Part IV? → What is the purpose of Part IV? → What does the following quote (p. 164) means and whom is it applied to: “Accepting the

past was the piece he had to pay to recover his serenity and his sense of the future”? → Write the answer to the following two questions and explain what you mean:

(1) As you well know, Murambi is divided into four parts. Why 4 parts? How did Diop construct his book? You probably noticed there is symmetry between the different parts of the book: what is the purpose of this symmetry?

(2) How do you understand the end of the book? Activity #11: At home.

 Which two articles are you going to read for the next class?

 No need to download and/or to summarize them. We will be discussing them in class. Activity #12: At home.

 All French 149 students need to write 2 essay questions for your final.

 These essay questions need to: (1) Cover all or most books we have read this semester. (2) Compare & contrast these readings, or (3) Synthesize ideas in several readings.

Activity #13: At home. For extra-credit. There are two films which you might be interested in with links to on Blackboard. These links are in the folder devoted to Diop’s book. There are lots of choices among: → Three 48-minute audios featuring witnesses to the Rwandan genocide. → Three documentaries about the genocide: "Through my Eyes" and "Keepers of Memory" by

Eric Kabera and "Do Scars Ever Fade" by Paul Freedman. They are listed alphabetically in the

folder entitled “Films for Streaming”. Activity #14: At home.

 Which two articles are you going to read for the next class?

 No need to download and/or to summarize them. We will be discussing them in class.

A reminder: Do not forget the two essays on 2 different books and your 2 film critiques. You need to write your 650-700 word for each essay. Use double spaces 3-4 pages. Or if you prefer, create a semester project and write 1 essay on a book and one on a film. Check the deadlines for these on your Overall Course Reading & Assignment Schedule.