Read Ayn Rand's introduction and Part I of The Fountainhead (through page 200). Post answers to the following questions over the break.
1. Explain in detail the reasons for Howard Roark's expulsion from the Stanton Institute of Technology. The Dean states that Roark has "a determined little group of defenders" among the faculty, while other professors "felt it their duty" to vote for his expulsion. Why do the faculty members on each side evaluate Roark and his work so differently?
2. Peter Keating graduates as valedictorian frm the Stanton Institute of Technology. Does this mean that he is an outstanding architecture student? By what methods did he get such high grades? What does this say regarding his moral character?
3. Roark gains employment with Henry Cameron. Cameron, though a genius, is a commercial failure. Why has society rejected his work? Why does Roark nevertheless revere him? What qualities do Roark and Cameron share in common? What is the fundamental difference between them and Francon and Keating?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1. When we were introduced to Roark at the begining of the novel, we find out that he is expelled from Stanton studying architecture. The Dean wants to expell him, but his professors defend him, yet, Roark takes it and leaves. We do not know exactly why. It could be becuase of his personality: If one person says the to the other about his work that he doesnt like, he leaves (which becomes true throughout the book). He was also expelled becuase he follows only his work and no other traditon, like the school. The school saw him as "dangerous" (I did) and he showed that through his work becuase he is orginal and follows no rules.
ReplyDelete2. Roark works from his originallity. He does not follow the rules becuase they dont make "art" or "architecture". Architect comes from the person, not by following the rules. He takes risks and wins. He thinks that he is outstanding and doesnt care what others think becuase its HIS work and no one else is like HIS.
3. Roark and Keating are classmates, and rivals. Right after graduation they both work for different prestigeous comapanies, hoping that one of them will reach the top first by competing in a competition for Gail Wynand. Roark works for Henry Cameron, a very well known architect of the city but was recently rejected by society becuase he demanded too much from them (appreciation for his work). Roark admires him becuase he is like him himself; original, "drawing outside the lines", taking risks.
1. The main principle that Howard Roark was expelled was because he did not follow rules on his assignment. Whether it was because it was not what the teachers wanted through their opinions or the set instructions itself,is questionable. The reason though, that he failed was because his ideas were totally different from the teachers. His thoughts of what was a great architecture was more modernistic. He was ready for change from the Reinassaince and other famous structural forms of the past. These are things that the instructers did not want to change. He refused to comply with that too. The reason that a small group of people were for Roark was because they were apt for this type of architecture. The others though, were the ones afraid of change. They were astounded at what Roark drew.
ReplyDelete2. It could go both ways. He could be a great architecture student just by talent or he could have worked hard to reach his goal. As the book described it, Peter Keating was a good architecture student because he worked hard to reach his goal and made it. His main method was to study and work really hard. Not only that, he also had motivation of competition. He wanted to beat out Shlinker. It says a couple of things about his moral character. It shows that he is competitive yet a hard worker. As it is previewed throughout parts of the book, Keating is a competitor. He gets his friend fired, then discetfully tricks Francon to think Stengel deceived him. And this was all to get to that higher position
3. Society has rejected his work because they are similar to the factor the teachers expelled Roark for. They do not like the change. It is the Reinssance and Gothic stages that they all want to stick to. He reveres him because they both have similar ideas on how architecture structures should be. They both are for change into the modernistic style. The qualities that they share in common is that they are both stubborn and will only listen to their own ideas (but eventually started to). Also their styles are similar. The difference is that Francon and Keating draw architecture on how their clients want and not what they want. They are stuck on the old, present style. Cameron and Roark progress on what they want to draw and not really what the clients want. That is why Francon and Keating are more respectable than Cameron and Roark.
1. Howard Roark had an attitude towards the subject of architectural design. Every project he was given he did it in the incredible daring manner. He did not want to learn Rennaissance, Italian, Gothic, or other ancient ideas. Some faculty members admired his modern ideas and believed he would go far. Other members were angry because he did not do waht he was told and did not appreciate their classes. He wanted to do his projects in his modern way, when the project asked for ancient works.
ReplyDelete2. No, Peter Keating was not an outstanding architecture student. He sucked up to his teachers, learned it their way, copied old styles, and did not think his own way. This shows much about his moral character. He is willing to use and manipulate people to get ahead in his career. For example, he used a connection to remove Stengel from head designer. He wanted to get ahead in hsi job at Francon and Heyer so he gave Stengel an offer and took his job. He was willing to cheat, lie, and deceive in order to achieve greatness which he did not deserve.
3. Society rejected Cameron's work because his visions were modern. Society wanted Renaissance works, Gothic, and other past styles in their architectural buildings. Society was used to old styles and did not want anything new or modern. Roark reveres Cameron because he stands up for what he believes in and only commissions modern works. Roark and Cameron have in common their love of architecture and their modern ideas. They do not compromise and because of their daring ideas, they do not get many commissions. They differ from Francon and Keating. Francon and Keating let clients tell them how to design their architecture. They cheat their way to the top. Francon does not do any work, but puts his name on the designs. They compromise their ideas to get the commissions and earn money.