According to "Beware of Ruins," what is Hope's theory of memory? Do you agree with it? If not, where are its weaknesses?

Discuss the color white in the context of death (don't forget Moby Dick!). Research cultures that employ white as the color of death. Can you make any generalizations about cultures that use white and those that use black?

Discuss why the future and the present—as well as the past—might also be full of "treacherous charm."

Do research on death masks. Find out for what purposes they were used and how they were made.