Brit Lit:

Today: Mr. Tynan reviewed the reading.

We discussed facebook, the though policy, and personal freedoms.

Mr. Tynan ran a PowerPoint lecture on us intelligence.

HW Please read all of CH 9.

World of Shakespeare:

I collected your papers today. Please see me asap if you did not pass one in.

I collected books, and passed out Hamlet.

We acted out Act 1, sc 1.

We talked about the race issues in our present world and also in Venice 400 years ago

Soph Lit

Today:

We defined symbolism. We generated a list of ten objects in the novel that might be symbols.

I gave you symbols to use on the test

We looked at what makes a good chapter title, and generated titles for 15 chapters based on quotes, songs, and suggesting/predicting events in that chapter.

HW: Please finish the book. We will review Tuesday and have a test on the novel Wed.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Mr. Tynan asked you to break into simulation and design a propaganda poster.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We took the exam for The 12th Night. Please see me if you were absent.

HW: Please have your 2-3 page paper on parody and the play ready for Monday.

Soph Lit:

Today:

We continued to talk about the lack of cover at the request of Salinger. I asked you to design a new cover for 2012:

Front cover makes you want to pick it up and read.
Back cover: Novel summary, with 5 quotes from people in class on their opinion of the book.

You worked on a worksheet on the non-standard English in the book.

Reminder: I collected your papers yesterday. Please see me if you did not finish.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Mr. Tynan used a few movie clips to help you connect with some of the underlining themes in the novel 1984.

Mr Tynan sported some new eye ware. Good look.

He went over your reading.

He gave you a poem to read and questions to answer.

You ended in simulation mode and continued work on your project.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We defined comedy. Spcifically, we looked at what makes each of you laugh and defined it. I gave notes on 6 comedic terms.

We broke into two groups and found examples in act 3/4.

HW: Please finish the play and complete the take home quiz on Act 5.

Bonus: Bring in an example from film for any of the 6 terms defined. Please have the specific scene and time.

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

I passed back all of your assignments to date and gave out your progress report grades.

We reviewed Ch 12-14.

We took a quiz on that reading.

We finished our peer review on your tone/style paper. We read some of the best in class and made comments on things that could be improved.

Final paper is due Thursday. Also, please work towards having the book finished.

HW: Read ch 15, 16,17.

Brit Lit:

Today: Mr. Tynan reviewed your reading.

You worked on newspeak in a Lord Byron poem.

You broke into simulation mode.

HW: Please read the next 2 chapters in 1984.

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

We started off talking about the lack of a cover due to Salinger's request to remove anything he could about the book.

We speculated on what a new cover might look like.

We read a statement from John Lennon's killer about the connection to the novel. We continued to look at the negative traits that Holden has and speculate if books can make people crazy.

We went to the lab and printed out your first drafts and returned to class to peer edit based on the criteria on the board.

HW: Please read 13, 14, 15. Long range: Please finish the book for Thursday. Your final copy of your Tone and Style paper is due Wed. I will schedule some time on Tuesday in a lab for those needing it.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Mr. Tynan reviewed your reading.

Showed you 2 clips from the movie A Bug's Life

Gave you a quiz on your reading from last week.

Broke you into your simulation groups.

HW: Please read CH 1-2 in Section 2 of 1984.

Word O' the Week:

Imberb: [im-burb]
A rare adj. meaning beardless.

Think:

Elephants can't jump, although every other mamal can.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We worked on your first paper: A parody comparison between She's the Man and the play The Twelfth Night. These will be due next wed.

Soph Lit

Today:

We finished the activity for You Act the Scene and presented your scene to the class.

We reviewed CH 10-11 in Catcher.

We took a quiz on your reading.

We worked on time lines charting Holden's Positive vs. Negative thoughts and presented your findings.

HW: Please read 12-13.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Mr. Tynan lectured on launguage- specifically the implications of taking passion out.

He reviewed your reading.

He broke you into your groups where you worked on rules.

HW: Please read the next 2 chapters.

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class:

We took a quiz on act 3.

We watched Sir Alec Guinness (Obi-One) in the 12th Night.

HW: Please finish act 4.

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

Journal #10: "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." Carl W. Buechner


I collected your 1st 10 entries. Please get them to me as soon as possible if you did not pass yours in.
We discussed your HW reading.

We took a quiz on your reading.

I broke you into small groups and asked you to script a specific scene.

HW: Please read Ch 10, 11, 12.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:
Mr. Tynan introduced and assigned roles in your 1984/Big Brother live role playing assignment in class.

You reviewed your reading.

HW: Please read the next 2 chapters in 1984.

Brit Lit:

1984 early draft. Cool to see an artist at work.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We started with Illyria Survivor. We had three rounds to vote off the weakest characters based on class activities.

We finished acting out act 2.

HW: Please read act 3 and expect a short quiz.

Soph Lit:

Today:

We began class with journal prompt #9:

I am afraid of....

Reminder, I will collect these after we do #10 Wed, so please have them ready to pass in.

I assigned your 1st major paper. Please see me for the assignment sheet.

We went to the computer lab for the last part of class an began writing your 1st draft.

We reviewed you hw and took a short quiz.

HW: Please read ch 7,8,9.

Brit Lit:

Today:
Mr. Tynan ran a great powerpoint lecture on some of the terms needed to understand 1984.

You broke into groups and read an article from The Economist.

You took a short quiz on your reading and discussed the book thus far.

HW: Please think about the idea of turning on your parents if the government demanded it. Would you?

Read to pg 84.

World of Shakespeare:

Today:

We took a closer look at all of the character parts in the play. As each of you have a part, I asked you to write a short poem based on what we know (or I told you) about your part.

I introduced the idea of doing a survival type class activity where we vote off different people from the island - just like the TV show. More to follow.

Last call on sonnets before mid term grades close this week. Please see me ASAP if you did not do yours, as this is a test grade.

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

Journal Prompt: Holden says that he is the most terrific liar that you ever saw in your life. It is clearly wrong to lie, but please describe a time when you used a lie for comedy and not to deceive in a bad way. Can a lie ever be meant for comedy? What are the dangers of sarcasm?

We reviewed ch 1-3.

We defined the terms: Phony, crazy and explored the limits of 1st person narration.

HW: Please read ch 4-6. We will have a quiz Tuesday.

Word of the Week:

Hofles: [hofe-liss]
An obsolete word meaning excessive, unreasonable.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Mr. Tynan covered some Irish history: Druids, Oliver Cromwell and the Irish literary Resistance.

He broke you into groups to censor some news stories to prep you for your next novel, 1984.

HW: Please read pgs 1-29.

Brit Lit:

Today Mr. Tynan ran class. Thank you for your expected attention and respect. He covered The Ballad, and looked at examples in the anthology.

He played a few examples of modern folk singers that are using a similar structure.

HW: Please bring in a ballad per Mr. Tynan's assignment. He will work with you on them Friday.

Soph Lit:

Today:

We took the exam for All My Sons.

I collected the plays.

I passed out and introduced The Catcher in the Rye.

HW: Please read ch 1-3 in Catcher.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:
We reviewed Canterbury Tales from your reading last night.

We took a quiz on your notes/reading.

I went over your project.

I offered the ability to attend Hamlet for A and B Block, March 3rd. Thanks Ms. Saint Meanie.

HW: Please look over the ballads. Please complete all three sections of your propaganda projects and have them ready to pass in Thursday.

Brit Lit:

Shakespeare posts on Facebook???

World of Shakespeare:

Today we:

Acted out parts in the play.

Began journal prompts. Reminder, we will complete 10 of these before I collect them, and they will count as a paper grade.

Prompt #1: Make a Facebook page by William Shakespeare. You of course need to suspend disbelief and imagine that he would have:
1. Used/had facebook
2. Would have had the desire tho post information about himself via a digital wall.

Soph Lit:

Today:

We finished the movie for All My Sons.

We reviewed for the test, which was moved to wed.

Please study and look at the review sheet provided.

Brit Lit:

Today:
Make Your Own Pilgrimage…..

Over the next week, we will be reading a collection of “tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer.

In class we will be looking at his style, and be looking at what a pilgrimage is, and why you would go on one. Duplicating a writer’s style is one of the hardest tasks that I will ask you to do. It will require close examination of the language and the way Chaucer tells the tale.

Part 1: The Prologue Poem In this section, you will write a poem to begin your piece. In your poem you must: Give yourself a title as a pilgrim
Write 4-6 Lines.
Emulate Chaucer

Part II: The Symbolic Representation Provide a hand drawn picture, a collage, or a brief descriptive piece which clearly gives a symbolic representation of who you are. Remember, symbols are common images, which are used to represent much larger things.

Part III: The Tale You will write about a pilgrimage that you have been on.
In your Tale, you must: Write 3 well written paragraphs
Write a tale that includes, Characters, a plot, a setting, a climax, and a conclusion
There is a clear lesson that you learn by the end of the tale.

Word O' the Week:

Bevy: [BEV-ee]
Noun. 1. A group of birds or animals.
2. A large collection.

Think:

An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain.

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

We began our review of the play for our test Tuesday. Please use the notes bellow to study:
Questions:

1. Compromise is a theme in the play. Describe the compromise that three of the characters have had to make. What is your opinion of their compromise?

2. Do you think Chris and Ann will be happy together? Give reasons for your
answer based on the play.

3. Larry does not appear in the play but is mentioned. What is his role in the play?

4. What picture do we get of the American society?

5. Why is the play called “All My Sons”? How does the title reflect the human and moral issues of the play?

6. There are two different concepts in the play; on the one hand – idealism, and on the other – practicality. Classify each of the following characters – Chris, Ann, Joe, and Kate according to the above concepts. Do they undergo any change during the course of the play?

7. How do family loyalties conflict with other kinds of responsibilities (to one’s
principles, conscience, society) in this play? Give at least TWO examples.

8. Choose ONE of the following characters:
Joe Keller / Ann Deever / Chris Keller / Kate Keller / Jim Bayliss
a. Give a description of this character. b. Choose a decision made by this character and state your opinion of it, giving reasons for your opinion.

Brit Lit:

Today:
We watched the last 5 minutes of Beowul.
I broke you into small groups and asked you to list how the full story of Beowulf follows the Hero's Quest.
We began to talk about what is next....

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class:
We reviewed to language tricks from yesterday.
We cast the play.
We began Act 1 in 12th Night.

HW: Please examples in act 1 for 3 of the language trick terms.

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

I collected your symbolism assignments that you had for HW last night.

We again reviewed what a symbol is, using your HW as examples.

We completed Act 2.

We looked at A. Miller's own words in describing the process of writing this play. We also looked at some quotes in print about what some critics have said about his place in history.

HW: Please read Act 3. We will have a quiz on acts 2 & 3 Friday.

We will also be reviewing for the test Monday on the play. Friday we will be watching a stage/film version of the plat which should help you in reviewing as well.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started class with a quiz on your notes/reading.

We finished Beowulf the movie.

HW: Your Video Game Manuals are due Friday.

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class:

I gave intro notes on 12th Night.
I passed out books.
We looked at Shakespearean insults
I detailed his special effects: Language tricks. I asked you to look for examples from act for HW

Soph Lit:

Today:
We began we journal prompt #4:
We can always take, but how often do we give? Jamiroquai

We looked at the use of light in the play.

We define Symbolism and worked on finding 10 solid examples from Act 1+2.

HW: Please draw/color a simple symbol and place the word it represents underneath it. We will be placing these around the room- so please make them look presentable.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We went over any questions around the Video game manual project.

We filled in the missing anthology gaps by watching the full story of Beowulf.

We decided as a class to finish the movie and extend the project until Friday to allow use of the real ending.

HW: Project/review notes and readings for a quiz.

World of Shakespeare:

We broke into groups of two and improved sonnet 18. Video is posted down below.

Tomorrow, we will begin our first play, The 12th Night. It is a comedy, so be ready to laugh.....

Soph Lit:

We decided to shelve the acting from class yesterday. We will try and work it into our assignment Friday.

We talked about the transition between Act 1 and II and looked further at some of the things that Miller does very successfully as a writer.

We cast and read 1/2 of Act 2.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We went to the computer lab and researched 14th c weaponry. Your Beowulf video game manuals are due Thursday. Please work on these for HW this week.

World of Shakespeare:

We continued to review and discuss your sonnets.

We each recited our memorized sonnet for the class.

We watched a part of Shakespeare in Love to give us a visual depiction of what life was like for a young struggling Shakespeare.

HW: Please pick a sonnet that another class member recited and write a response to it following:
End Rhyme pattern discussed.
14 lines.
Your best iambic pentameter.

These can be in "modern" English :-)

Due Tuesday.

Soph Lit:

Today:
We started with Journal #3: Success is never permanent and failure is never final Mike Ditka

We reviewed Act 1 and took a short quiz.

All My Sons: You Act the Scene

Directions: For this assignment, I will be breaking you into four groups. Please read the following assigned to your group. Please discuss how your group could show the scene in a short skit in front of the class. For the scene, write an abbreviated script to follow. These should not be the exact lines- rather without using the script, think of the scene and make a script that shows the most important parts.


Group #1: Keller, Jim, and Frank pgs 5-7.

Group #2: Sue, Jim, Keller, Lydia, Bert. Pgs. 9-11.

Group #3: Keller, Chris, Mother. Pgs. 13-16.

Group #4: Mother, Chris, Ann, Jim, Keller. Pgs. 19-23

Brit Lit:

Today:



We read Beowulf.

We did part 2 of the hero's quest with sounds to inspire your writing.



Video Game manuals are due wed. Please see me if you need any part explained further than the assignment sheet.

Word O' the Week:

Gride: (gryd) Verb inter. To scrape or graze against an object to make a grating sound.

Think:

The U.S. represents only 6% of the world population, but consumes 60% of resources.

Go to:

http://feelslikemonday.com/

or in itunes at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/feels-like-monday/id417522803

Our new episode, The Winter fest is now online to view. Check it out!

World of Shakespeare:

Today we reviewed your sonnet translation.

I shared 4 of my fav sonnets.

We ended the week with some acting games to help us bond a bit as a class.

Soph Lit

Today in class:
Journal Prompt #2:
Please describe a situation where you never said anything about a problem because that you knew that it would only make it worse (1 Pg)

I broke you into small groups and gave you 100 million dollars to cast All My Sons. For each list why you selected them to play the part. Please be specific.

We finished Act 1 and took quiz #2.

Feels Like Monday...

Feels Like Monday is now available as a free HD download in iTunes. Just search for the title.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We read the 1st 5 pages in Beowulf, complete with sound effects to help establish mood.

We made a failed attempt at using the computer lab to research 14th c weaponry. We will try and schedule a time early next week. Consequently, I moved your paper due date to Thursday.

We returned to class and worked on a fictional super-hero character that follows the notes that I gave you on the hero's quest. We wrote to sound effects for each part. If you were absent, please see me, as it is too difficult to describe in a sentence.

We shared these tales. Please hold onto these, as we will be returning to them next week for the next 2 parts.

Have a wonderful weekend. You may wish to start on your video game manual project.

World of Shakespeare:

The Hero's Journey: summary of the steps
This page summarizes the brief explanations from every step of the Hero's Journey.
Departure
The Call to AdventureThe call to adventure is the point in a person's life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not.
Refusal of the Call
Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances.
Supernatural Aid
Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known.
The Crossing of the First Threshold
This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.
The Belly of the WhaleThe belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. It is sometimes described as the person's lowest point, but it is actually the point when the person is between or transitioning between worlds and selves. The separation has been made, or is being made, or being fully recognized between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. The experiences that will shape the new world and self will begin shortly, or may be beginning with this experience which is often symbolized by something dark, unknown and frightening. By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to undergo a metamorphosis, to die to him or herself.
Inititation
The Road of Trials
The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes.
The Meeting with the Goddess
The meeting with the goddess represents the point in the adventure when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his or her mother. It is also known as the "hieros gamos", or sacred marriage, the union of opposites, and may take place entirely within the person. In other words, the person begins to see him or herself in a non-dualistic way. This is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely. Although Campbell symbolizes this step as a meeting with a goddess, unconditional love and /or self unification does not have to be represented by a woman.
Woman as the Temptress
At one level, this step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the Meeting with the Goddess does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. For Campbell, however, this step is about the revulsion that the usually male hero may feel about his own fleshy/earthy nature, and the subsequent attachment or projection of that revulsion to women. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey.
Atonement with the Father
In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life. In many myths and stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. This is the center point of the journey. All the previous steps have been moving in to this place, all that follow will move out from it. Although this step is most frequently symbolized by an encounter with a male entity, it does not have to be a male; just someone or thing with incredible power. For the transformation to take place, the person as he or she has been must be "killed" so that the new self can come into being. Sometime this killing is literal, and the earthly journey for that character is either over or moves into a different realm.
Apotheosis
To apotheosize is to deify. When someone dies a physical death, or dies to the self to live in spirit, he or she moves beyond the pairs of opposites to a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion and bliss. This is a god-like state; the person is in heaven and beyond all strife. A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a period of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.
The Ultimate Boon
The ultimate boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on the journey to get. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step, since in many myths the boon is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant that supplies immortality, or the holy grail.
Return
Refusal of the Return
So why, when all has been achieved, the ambrosia has been drunk, and we have conversed with the gods, why come back to normal life with all its cares and woes?
The Magic Flight
Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding. It can be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it.
Rescue from Without
Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, often times he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Or perhaps the person doesn't realize that it is time to return, that they can return, or that others need their boon.
The Crossing of the Return Threshold
The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult.
Master of the Two Worlds
In myth, this step is usually represented by a transcendental hero like Jesus or Buddha. For a human hero, it may mean achieving a balance between the material and spiritual. The person has become comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds.
Freedom to Live
Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the freedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past.

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class:

We looked hard at your sonnet selection. Each person read their sonnet to the class and we discussed the placement of your sonnet in relation to my notes.

I gave you notes on his sonnets and what they reveal about WS.

I asked you to convert your sonnet into modern day language.

We discussed the reaction to your placement of the power line somewhere in the school via sticky notes.

HW: Please continue to work on memorizing your 14 line sonnet for Friday.

Soph Lit:

Today we finished Act 1.

I broke you into groups of three and asked you to cast the play with modern actors, and explain why each was selected.

HW: Please review your notes and Act 1.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:

We defined The Hero's Quest according to Joesph Campbell. I gave you a hand-out on this- please hold onto.

I broke you into groups of 2 and asked you to find 3 movies or books that somewhat follow this. For each of these, I asked you to write down 3 examples that connect to the notes.

I assigned you video game manual project:

Brit Lit:
Beowulf:the Video Game Assignment

You work for a small indie video game company, and have just purchased the publishing right for a new video game based on the story. Please design a manual that will explain how the game is played.
You will be graded on the following rubrics:

1.) A cover that has the title and cover art. 10 points
2.) Weapons page. Detailing at least 5 weapons that you have researched from the 14th century. Please include a picture and detailed 3 sent description for each.20 Points
3.) Intro page, which summarizes the story.20 Points
4.) 10 Levels. For each, please title and give a 5-10 sentence description of the objective. 30 Points
5.) End boss picture or description, including the one weakness.20 Points.

These will be due next Wed.

Soph Lit

Today in class:

We looked at Arthur Miller's declassified FBI files.

We continued reading Act 1.

We had a quiz quiz on the play/notes thus far.

Word O' the Week:

Dun: noun/tr. verb (Dun)
1. An excellent former history teacher at Tantasqua.
2. One who makes insistent demands for payment.

Think:

Dogs sweat from the bottom of their feet.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:

We continued talking about the oral tradition. Today we defined two terms to know: Alliteration and Kenning.

We read The seafarer by the unknown poet. I then broke you into 6 groups and had you define three names that had alteration, and 3 kenning examples that they could discuss. We quickly performed these in front of the class.

HW: Please study terms from today and look over the poem for a quiz. Also, please continue to bring your big book to class for the duration of this week.

Soph Lit

Interesting article about Arthur Miller and what the government secretly reported on found here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/06/20/entertainment/main1736302.shtml

Miller with then wife...

Soph Lit:

Today in class:

We continued our notes on Arthur Miller. We began acting act one in All My Sons.

We continued to define the idea of the American Dream, and explored how it has radically changed over the last 50 years.

It has been a crazy and disruptive week. Recharge and set your focus for next week, when we will get much further into the content of the play.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:

We began our discution on the history of stories. We played a modified version of telephone pretending that you were all small villages. The story was passed around in two parts. This was to illustrate the change that happens in the oral tradition. It also led to our discusion on the written word.

I had you write a short one page story that had a unique setting, 2 characters, and the conflict of lying. Please finish these for Monday.

Meanwhile, here is the link for what Beowulf sounded like:
http://www.beowulftranslations.net/benslade.shtml

Welcome!

So you found it....welcome. This is my class blog set up to help pass information onto you about things that we are doing in class. It is a great resource should you miss school or need a reminder about what we covered in class.

I do my best to update it daily, so please check back if it is not yet updated.

Meanwhile, please feel free to poke around old posts to get a feeling for the things that we may do in this class.

I am looking forward to working with you.

Q6

In the News...

All Classes:

Please prepare for your final exam. All classes have been given review packs to study from. Good luck!

Soph Lit

Questions from the 5 pieces of Literature we read:
Night
George Orwell’s Animal Farm
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies


POETRY/ Lit. Terms:

Allusion –
Iambic Pentameter –
Sonnet -
Rhyming Couplets –
Metaphor –
Simile –


READING COMPREHENSION:

Protagonist
Antagonist
Theme
Plot
Setting
Climax
Characterization
Point of View – (1st person, 3rd person, Omniscient)
Symbolism
Allegory
Satire

Shakespeare:

Reversed Word
Reversed Thought
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Alliteration