“In the Ruins” Discussion Board

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/09/12/in-the-ruins-2

Each question should be 150-200 words

1. What do you think is Lemann’s attitude toward New Orleans?  Does it shift in the essay?  In thinking about your response, consider how “New Orleans” might mean different things–the physical place, the people, or the idea of a city/community, for example.

2. In the second paragraph and again in the eighth paragraph, Lemann refers to how literary works have presented the history of New Orleans, and particularly to disasters that have struck the area.  How does the inclusion of literary evidence affect readers of this essay?  Why do you think that Lemann includes these examples?  Explain your thoughts.

3. Compare the thoughts Lemann has about New Orleans in his essay, and compare those thoughts and the presentation of that city to what you have seen of the valley of ashes so far in The Great Gatsby.  If you have begun Chapter 7 of the novel, you may choose to include mention of things you see in that chapter, but you should also have enough to say just based on what you have seen of the valley so far in the book as well (Chapters 1-6).  How are the two places similar?  Different? What do you think Lemann would think of the valley of ashes if he saw it?