Fifth Business Seminars Schedule
Day 1: Wed., Dec. 4
Section One: “Mrs. Dempster”
1. Dreams and the Subconscious: Explain Jung’s view of the significance of
dreams. Suggest some common dream symbols, and do an analysis of a
dream.
2. Hobos in 20th Century Ontario: Describe the life of a hobo, including
signs, slang, jungles and travel. Address the attitudes of others toward
them.
Day 2: Thurs., Dec. 5
Section Two: “I Am Born Again”
3. The Quest: Explain carefully the pattern of the quest story. Show clear
examples from literature and media, including the Greek hero quest.
Explain the relationship between the quest and pilgrimage, and use some
examples of pilgrimage to illustrate.
4. War Stories and Soldiers’ Experiences: Supply some true stories of First
World War soldiers who fought in the battles mentioned in the book
(Willie dies at St. Eloi; Dunny is wounded at Passchendaele)
Day 3: Fri., Dec. 6
5. Nursing During the First World War: Examine the lives of nurses during
the war, the state of nursing and hospitals generally at the time, the state
of field medicine, and the effects of the war on the lot of women
generally.
6. Romance During the Wars: Describe the “war bride” phenomenon, and
produce a collection of stories, post cards, correspondence and songs that
capture the reality of loving in a time of war.
7. Canadian Forces honours and awards: Give the class a sense of the
various honours given by the Armed Forces, especially those given during
the First World War, including criteria, description and protocol.
Day 4: Mon., Dec. 9
 INDEPENDENT STUDY ESSAY DUE
 NO PRESENTATIONS
Day 5: Tues., Dec. 10
Section Three: “My Fool Saint”
8. Conversions and Atheism: Investigate the role of inner city missions, and
especially harbour missions, in the first half of the 20th century. Try to
provide a flavour of what such places were like (and are like). Also,
define the philosophic stance of atheism.
9. Circuses: Provide a brief history of circuses, some examples of famous
circuses and what made them so, some types of circus acts, and then
investigate the lifestyle of the circus performer, particularly in the first half
of the 20th century. See if you can find a historical basis for the cliché,
“running away to join the circus.”
Day 6: Wed. Dec. 11
Section Four: “Gyges and King Candaules”
10. The Monarchy, Edward the Prince of Wales, and the Abdication: Provide
an overview of the monarchs during the period of the novel, and examine
Canadian attitudes toward the monarchy in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Tell
the story of the abdication, and discuss its effects on the Commonwealth.
11. Saints, Miracles and Hagiography: Describe the history and role of the
Bollandists, and what is involved in the canonization of a saint.
Investigate the lives of St. Uncumber and St. Dunstan, and perhaps a few
other saints around the Elmira area, and why their names are evoked for
the institutions that have chosen them (St. Aidan, St. Teresa of Avila,
etc.). Suggest why belief in saints and miracles has persisted.
Day 7: Thurs. Dec 12
Section Five: “Liesl”
12. Religious Shrines: Tell the story behind the shrine at Guadalupe, and, in
the interest of Canadian content, Ste. Anne de Beaupre. Provide a
background history of religious shrines, and suggest how they have
survived through the rationalism of the last two centuries.
13. Magic, Illusions and Oracles: Provide the class with a brief history of
magic shows, highlighting the role of a few of the magicians named in
Part 2 of this section. Explain what an oracle is, and the significance of
the Oracle of Delphi. Do a magic trick.
Day 8: Fri. Dec. 13
Section Six: “The Soiree of Illusions”
14. Hypnosis: Summarize the history of hypnosis, and theories about how it
works. Describe how it is used, and what dangers it poses.
15. Repressed Memory and the Shadow: Explain to the class what repressed
memory is, and how it fits into the psychological theories of Jung.
Describe recovered memory therapy, and tell a story or two of famous
trials where it came into play.
Day 9: Mon., Dec. 16
Section Six cont’d. & wrap-up
16. Gothic Literature: Summarize the elements of gothic literature, and
provide some famous examples. Then suggest to what extent you thin
the Fifth Business fits in that category.