Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Periods 4 and 6/7: American Literature

Answer the following questions; due Thursday.
You can read the story HERE.

A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
Part 1
1. Why is Miss Emily Grierson described as “a fallen monument”?
2. What could Miss Emily’s house represent? Comment on the narrator’s description of the house in the first and the fifth paragraphs.
3. What may the father’s portrait, as mentioned in the fifth paragraph, represent? Does the narrator mention about the portrait anywhere else in the story? If yes, in what ways could this be significant?
4. What could Miss Emily’s ticking watch symbolize? What does it tell us about Miss Emily? How does the watch contribute to our understanding of the themes of the story?
Part 2
5. Find the paragraphs in which the narrator mainly mentions about Miss Emily’s father and Miss Emily’s reaction towards her father’s death. Then examine the relationship between the daughter and the father.
Part 3
6. Part 3 opens with the following paragraph: “She was sick for a long time. When we saw her again, her hair was cut short, making her look like a girl, with a vague resemblance to those angels in colored church windows–sort of tragic and serene.” What might be the reason for the narrator’s emphasis on her looking like a girl?
7. What do we learn about the attitude of the community towards the relationship between Homer Barron and Miss Emily in Part 3?
Part 4
8. “When the town got free postal delivery, Miss Emily alone refused to let them fasten the metal numbers above her door and attach a mailbox to it. She would not listen to them.” Why not?
Part 5
9. In what way(s) could the crayon face of Miss Emily’s father be significant? Can you find a similar reference to her father in earlier sections of the story?
10. After Miss Emily’s death, what do we discover in the room “which no one had seen in forty years”? Why is the second pillow on the bed important? What does it show to us? Discuss Miss Emily’s motive for her action.

Periods 2, 3, and 12: British Literature





·        Read the transcript of the podcast HERE in order to select five facts from the transcript that best summarize the main action of the story and express understanding of its content

·        Re-read the definition of a ballad HERE in order to recall its important elements and employ those elements and techniques in an original student produced ballad

·        Write an original ballad that summarizes the action in the podcast and aligns with the following criteria:

o       Five stanzas consisting of four quatrains. 
o       The 1st and the 3rd lines should rhyme in the pattern ABAC.
o       Each stanza should include one fact from the article
o       The last line of the first 4 stanzas should repeat as the refrain. 

DUE MONDAY

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Period 4: The Minister's Black Veil

http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/mbv.html

Hornby Essay and Instructions


Here's a link to Nick Hornby's Essay,

Hornby Essay Instructions:
Today, you’re going to begin a draft of an essay that combines anecdotes, allusions, and personal observations in order to draw a conclusion about life. We’re going to use the Nick Hornby essay “Oh, My Sweet Carolina by Ryan Adams” as a model.  We will work on this essay in class, following a step by step approach.  In order to move on to the next step, what you do not complete in class must be finished for homework.
Step 1: Choose a theme
The purpose of this essay is to employ credible allusions to support a conclusion drawn on personal experience.   In order to do this, you must first brainstorm a list of moments in your life where you learned a lesson or had an epiphany.  Then, connect that experience to one of the themes discussed in Beowulf, King Arthur, Dover Beach or the Warrior Psyche article.  A list of possible themes will be provided for your consideration.
Step 2: Introduce your experience
Here’s how to structure your essay, beginning with the first paragraph:
·        In this intro paragraph, present an informal anecdote that reveals your INITIAL reaction to a personal experience.  Nick Hornby does this in his first paragraph by introducing his friend Edward and describing the interactions and outcomes of his meetings with Edward.  These interactions occurred at a time when Edward was horribly depressed. If needed, re-read the first section of the essay. 
·        Notice Hornby’s use of the colon ( : ) and of the dash ( - ).  Please employ each of these mechanical devices appropriately in your draft.
Step 3: The "But" statement
In the next section of your essay, continue your observation by making contradiction to your initial observation  - this is where you turn away from your first paragraph and reveal how the experience shifted from what you thought initially and the actuality of the situation.  This will set up your third paragraph and allow you to then explore your initial reaction on a deeper level.  Here’s how to set up the second section:
  • In this section, you transition away from your initial reaction, recorded in your 1st section by using a “But” statement to finish reporting your personal experience. DO NOT offer analysis.  Refer to Hornby’s second paragraph for further understanding. 
  • In this paragraph, you must employ a parenthetical aside to reveal additional insight to your reader. Notice Hornby’s use of a parenthetical aside – this is your “Saved by the Bell”, moment.  (Think of Zach Morris on Saved by the Bell talking to the camera)
 Step 4: Less in More: The Bold, Concise Thesis Statement
Ok, the third paragraph is crucial.  The first sentence of your third section is your thesis statement. It should be a powerful generalization; summarize what you learned from this experience in one short, concise sentence. Hornby’s thesis is the first sentence of the 3rd paragraph – model a similar one. 
  • Make sure it is BOLD, DECLARATIVE, and SUMMARIZES the main idea of your anecdote. 
  • This is your epiphany – your “Oprah light bulb moment”, so be strong but DO NOT use the first person – notice that Hornby doesn’t and the result is powerful.
Step 5: Paragraph 3, Take II
The next part of the 3rd section is the only tricky part, so pay attention: 
  • In this section, you must employ at least TWO allusions/direct citations to support your epiphany and further your anecdote’s message.  The first allusion/direct citation must connect to the main idea of the first paragraph and the second allusion must make a connection to the main idea of the second section:
Examples:
A. In the Hornby essay, the main idea of the first section is Miserable Edward = deep and meaningful Edward. The first allusion is to Ryan Adam’s album Heartbreaker and its song Oh My Sweet Carolina, which is, as Hornby states, the deep and meaningful product of misery. See how the two connect?
B. The main idea of the second paragraph is Happy Edward = boring, average Edward. The second allusion is to Adam’s album Gold, which is, Hornby states, upbeat but common and nothing special.  See the connection?

NOTE: both of your allusions must be taken from the aforementioned studied class materials.  Remember DO NOT retell the story of the outside source; instead, use it to further your thoughts.
NOTE: Hornby uses parenthetical asides in this section to add insight and more importantly, to bring down the tone a notch to make his important statement accessible to more readers – his “asides” remind the reader that he’s just a regular guy with opinions and biases.  You want to do the same.
Step 6: Wrap it Up!
In the final section of the essay, come to a conclusion about what, upon reflection, you realize about your experience by taking your epiphany a step further.  Tell the reader what you really think about your thesis topic – perhaps it’s something like what guilt can do to a person’s life, how excessive pride and ambition are actually worthy qualities, how bitterness toward others is actually the worst form of subjectivity.  Do that and then wrap up the section with your Jerry Springer “final thought”.  See Hornby’s conclusion.


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Periods 2,3, and 12: Brit Lit

For tomorrow (Friday), re-read the following sections of The Wife of Bath's Tale and be prepared to summarize each section:

      
300      "For of our parents nothing can we claim
            Save temporal things, and these may hurt and maim.
            “But everyone knows this as well as I;
310     For if gentility were implanted by
            The natural course of lineage down the line,
            Public or private, could it cease to shine
            In doing the fair work of gentle deed?
            No vice or villainy could then bear seed.

335     “Gentility is only the renown
            For bounty that your fathers handed down,
            Quite foreign to your person, not your own;
            Gentility must come from God alone.
            That we are gentle comes to us by grace
340     And by no means is it bequeathed with place.
           

                   

          “As for my poverty which you reprove,
            Almighty God Himself in whom we move,
355     Believe, and have our being, chose a life
            Of poverty, and every man or wife
            Nay, every child can see our Heavenly King
            Would never stoop to choose a shameful thing.
            No shame in poverty if the heart is gay,
360     As Seneca and all the learned say.
            He who accepts his poverty unhurt
            I’d say is rich although he lacked a shirt.
            But truly poor are they who whine and fret
            And covet what they cannot hope to get.
365     And he that, having nothing, covets not,
            Is rich, though you may think he is a sot.
            “True poverty can find a song to sing.
            Juvenal says a pleasant little thing:
            ‘The poor can dance and sing in the relief
370     Of having nothing that will tempt a thief.’
            Though it be hateful, poverty is good,
            A great incentive to a livelihood,
            And a great help to our capacity
            For wisdom, if accepted patiently.

375     "Poverty is, though wanting in estate,
            A kind of wealth that none calumniate.
            Poverty often, when the heart is lowly,
            Brings one to God and teaches what is holy,
            Gives knowledge of oneself and even lends
380     A glass by which to see one’s truest friends.
            And since it’s no offense, let me be plain;
            Do not rebuke my poverty again.

            “Lastly you taxed me, sir, with being old.
            Yet even if you never had been told
385     By ancient books, you gentlemen engage
            Yourselves in honor to respect old age.
            To call an old man ‘father’ shows good breeding,
            And this could be supported from my reading.
            “You say I’m old and fouler than a fen.
390      You need not fear to be a cuckold, then.
            Filth and old age, I’m sure you will agree,
            Are powerful wardens over chastity.
            Nevertheless, well knowing your delights,
            I shall fulfill your worldly appetites.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

HW: Periods 4 and 5/6 (American Lit)

Please finish reading Where are you going, Where have you been? by Joyce Carol Oates for tomorrow's class (Thursday).

Scroll down to where we left off, which is the paragraph beginning, "Can'tcha read it?" He opened the door very carefully, as if he were afraid it might fall off. He slid out just as carefully, planting his feet firmly on the ground, the tiny metallic world in his glasses slowing down like gelatine hardening, and in the midst of it Connie's bright green blouse. "This here is my name, to begin with, he said. ARNOLD FRIEND was written in tarlike black letters on the side, with a drawing of a round, grinning face that reminded Connie of a pumpkin, except it wore sunglasses."

Consider the following questions as you read:

  1. Consider the very complicated character of Arnold Friend. Is he simply a bad guy, or is he evil personified? Do you believe that Arnold Friend is as omniscient as he claims? Do you see any symbolism in Arnold Friend's name? (Hint: play around with the letters).
  2. Oates has gone on record to say that the allusions to fairy tales in the story are intentional.  What allusions to fairy tales can you identify?

HW for Perids 2, 3, and 12 (Brit Lit)

Please read The Wife of Bath's Tale in its entirety and be prepared to provide textual evidence to answer the following question:

According to The Wife of Bath's Tale, what is it that women REALLY want?

You can read the tale here.

Monday, November 12, 2012

The Prologue from The Canterbury Tales, Take II

Welcome back to school! Now that we have two days of class and one Common Assessment behind us, it's time to continue our pilgrimage to Canterbury.  Tomorrow - Tuesday - we will pick up where we left off back in October.  Please refer to the post dated October 25th for the homework assignment, which is due tomorrow.