#236, Mask
How well do you know your classmates?
This week, you were all bestowed a mask— a pseudonym to hide your true identity. Your peers won’t know who is underneath the mask, but will try to deduce the mystery through crumbs you leave for them. The only clues to your identity will be the ideas you write and your expression of them. How well do your peers know you?
Arthur Aron is a professor of psychology known for his work on developing and analyzing interpersonal relationships. He developed a well-known list of questions designed to strengthen relationships between individuals. Twelve of those questions follow.
12 Crumbs
1. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
2. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... “
3. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
4. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
5. What is your most terrible memory?
6. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
7. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
8. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
9. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
10. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?
11. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?
12. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
In class, you chose a crumb and posted your response beneath your mask. Now, the mystery is afoot.
To complete this Journal response, address the following:
Who is under the mask? Comment on all of your classmates’ responses with 2+ sentences with your guess as to his or her identity and analysis (content, style, values, voice). e.g., I’m pretty sure that Lúthien is Chris because…
Comment with your mask on if possible. Use Private Browsing in Safari or Incognito Mode in Chrome to get a fresh name.
Any comments confirming or denying identity will be removed.
-Brenden Lee Teacher