WOS:

Today we took the exam on Taming of the Shrew. 

On Monday we will assign parts and responsibilities for our final and most ambitious project: A modern HS version of the play written filmed, edited, and acted by you.

Have a good weekend....

Brit Lit:

Today:

I asked you to find a good ghost story and bring it in for class today.  I put on creepy music and we read these around the mock campfire.  We looked at the collection of tales read and came up with characteristics of what makes a good scary story.  Why do we enjoy being scared?

We revisited Shelly and again looked at her essay on why she wrote Frankenstein.  We began watch a sequel that many consider to be a better film than the original: The Bride of Frankenstein.

This will lead us to our next project: write your own ghost story....

Till then, have a great weekend.  Go Bruins!

WOS:

Today:
We finished 10 Things I Hate About You and looked at ways that you may choose to modernize the story as a class for your final project.  We will begin generating ideas for a modern script next week.

We discussed Act 4, and took a quiz on your reading as well as the terms that I gave you earlier.

We looked at the relationships and continued to examine love in a sexist play.

HW:  Please finish the play.  There will be a test this Friday.

Brit Lit:

We had a work day on your Victorian Novel paper.  Due to MCAS, the due date has been moved to this Friday.

I will be after school today if anyone needs extra help.

Brit Lit:

B Block:
Journal Prompt:  Fear.  Describe the scariest moment in your life.  Did you ever overcome this fear?   1 page

We looked at the characteristics of ghost stories.

We watch a episode of Ghost Stories Caught on Video. 

We read the intro to the Dicken's Ghost story, The Signalman.

A Block
We had work day #2 for your Victorian Novel paper.

WOS:

We watched 10 Things that I Hate About You.

We took a quiz on act 3.

HW:  Please read act 4.

We will have a test on the play this Thursday.

Brit Lit:

We started our Victorian fiction paper assignment. 

You have 4 prompts to pick from.  These are due at the end of class Wed.  You will have 3 class days to work on/write these.  Please continue to use your time wisely. 

1. Compare and contrast the the theme of love in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre

Throughout the novels 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte and 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte countless comparisons can be made. The two novels explore love, how this powerful emotion is able to overcome countless obstacles.

In a well written 5 paragraph essay, please compare and contrast the theme of love in the two novels.

2. Sequel
Imagine 10 years after either novel. Please write a 3 page sequel that is written in 1st person, and follows the outline that we discussed for a Victorian Novel.

3. Class Issues
Think about the role that social class plays in Jane Eyre. What social classes are represented in the novel? To what extent is each class depicted?

Are all the classes given equal representation? How do the classes shown in the novels relate to the classes that realistically existed in the time and place where the novel(s) take place? Please consider two important questions: how does the author feel about the different social classes, and how can you tell the author's opinion? Write a paper that explores the way that social class and class issues affect the characters and plot of your novel.

4. Positive/Negative Characters
In the novels Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, some of the characters are given positive, sympathetic portrayals. Others have negative, perhaps even villainous portrayals. Still others may begin with negative qualities and gradually become more and more positive. Rarely does an author rely on the reader's personal sense of morality to determine which characters are positive and which are negative.

Instead, there are details, actions, and characteristics that help define who is "good" and who is "bad." It's easy to know the difference in old westerns—goodguys wear white hats; bad guys wear black hats. But even then, there are other details that help you know what it going on, details that even help you construct hierarchies (e.g., slightly bad to fully evil). Think about your novel. How does the author indicate which characters are positive and which are negative? In your essay, explain how you can tell the difference.

Due Wed.

WOS:

Today:

Cast the Play:  Pick the 10 leads and cast them with modern players.  For each, please make sure that you list why specifically you selected them.  These can be fictitious.

The Dating Game:  Shrew Style
Cast one person as Biannca/Katherine
Three as: Lucentio, Hortensio and Gremio
One host.

We put these together a performed these in front of class.

We began act 3. 

HW:  Please finish act 3 for HW.  We will be finishing the play for this Wed.

WOS:

Today:
3nd Annual Shakespeare Olympic Games

To be held on the first unexpectedly crazy-warm school day…

Events:

1. Superior Spring Sonnet. Find a quiet spot outside to sit and write a sonnet that draws inspiration from the fabulous weather that we are having.

Must include the following that we have discussed:

Iambic Pentameter with marked stressed and unstressed syllables

14 Lines

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG with end lines marked

Last two lines answer a question, or is used as a “power chord”


2. Pinky Sword Fight. Imagine that your pinky finger is a four foot, 45 lbs. sword. But together a group sword fight that shows both the weight and size of your sword in an epic battle from any play that we have read.



3. Epic Line battle. FIGHT! Race to your line, read it with power and emotion and pass it to the next student. Repeat. First group to the finish line reading all lines wins the round.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We defined Gothic Lit:

1. Castle
2. Atmosphere of mystery and suspense
3.  Supernatural or unexplained events
4.  Virgin type in need of rescue
4. Dark mysterious man
5.  Secret rooms

Journal #30:  I played for you 20 creepy sound effects and asked you to use them in creating an original short story, that had 5 of the 6 Gothic terms.

We read in origin of Shelly's Frankenstein and discussed the origin of thoughts- especially when people do these from scratch.

WOS

Today:

We watched the Kiss Me Petruchio documentary.  This was filmed in Central Park in the 80's.  It is always helpful to see talented people doing Shakespeare.

We broke into a class group and I tasked you with showing act 2.  This groups grade counted as your quiz today.

HW:  Please read act 3.  Friday we will be going outside for the 3rd annual Shakespeare Olympics!  Dress for outside activities. and be ready to have fun!

WOS

Today:

We started class going over all of the parts in the play.  I gave you a review sheet to assist you.

We looked at sexist stereotypes via a 1955 Good housekeeping article.  We then compared this to a similar piece of advice on picking a wife from Shakespeare's time.

I broke you into groups and asked you to create a character sketch for each.

I then asked you to place each of these "characters" into a brief sketch showing their traits, making them as comical as possible. 

We took a quiz on Act 1

HW:  Please read/finish act 2.

Brit Lit:

We read Wuthering Heights and answered questions 1-3 on pg 920.

We continued to look for and define a Victorian Novel.

WOS:

We looked again at what makes Shakespeare so special- the language...

We defined:

Antithesis
Repetition
Alliteration
Hyperbole

I broke you into groups of 3-4 and assigned you one of the following:
Gossip column
horoscope
sports report
weather
movie review
For sale ad

I tasked you with making a skit that demonstrated all 4 terms.

We finished Act 1

We broke back into your groups and I asked you to find examples of the same 4 terms in act 1.

HW:  Please review the new terms and act 1.  Expect a quiz on Wed.

WOS:

We discussed your reading from HW and looked at other movies and stories that start with an outside story.

I played you an example of The Taming of the Shrew modern HS version.  We will be doing this project after we finish the play in the next 2 weeks.

We finished watching the last Tempest project presentation.  I will have those grades Tuesday

We acted out act 1 with one person reading the lines, and another acting out the emotions of the scene.  We will try this again when we get a bit further in the play.

HW- None- enjoy the weekend.

Brit Lit:

We finished Jane Eyre, and began Wuthering Heights.

Journal Prompt:

Please explain what is the cause of the noise/fear coming from the room on the top floor?  Please write from Jane's perspective, in 1st person.

12th Night Music Project