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Lesson 1 (from Pp. 13-28)

Objective

Pp. 13-28

Chinaski is the poet-narrator in all the poems, beginning with "1813-1883," which discusses his writing habits in Los Angeles while a storm rages. In "Red Mercedes" Chinaski is angry when a man in a nice car cuts him off when he enters the race track. This prompts him to pound on the man's door, after which the driver's girlfriend passes him a gun. In "Working It Out," Chinaski scoffs at the idiocy he sees in the world. This lesson will examine Chinaski as a narrator and character in the poems.

Lesson

1) Class Discussion: Why is it significant that Bukowski introduces Chinaski as a writer working during a raging storm? What literary elements are used in this case? What effect does this introduction have on the reader and why?

2) Journal Entry: Chinaski is a character who gets angry easily. His road rage causes him to...

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