Brit Lit:

A Block:  Journal Prompt:  Please use your notes on the hero's quest and describe in detail how the movie/full story of Beowulf follows it.  You may make a list, just be sure to describe each in detail.  Please aim for 10 of the 12.

We watched the animated version of Beowulf.

C Block:  Demonstrating what we have been talking about with the oral tradition, I told my ghost story from when I was teacher in Ireland. 

HW:  Please make sure you have finished Beowulf for Monday.

Brit Lit:

Yesterday (Wed.):  Journal Prompt:  Please convert the Ballad that you brought in into a story.  Use new language to tell the story- not the lyrics.                  1/2 Page

We started the Ballad of You assignment where to interviewed a member of class and then wrote a detailed ballad about their life and who they are.

We read Sir Partick Spens (set to a phat drum beat)
We read Get Up and Bar the Door (Blues version)

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Write from the point of view of an animal?  Your story can be about anything, just make sure that it is told from the perspective of an animal.   1/2 page

We finished the Ballad of You assignment.  Today we completed our interview, described the things they carry, and wrote a 25-30 line ballad.

We used the raven puppet and did the Twa Corbies. 

I played Bob Dylan, Johhny Cash and a random old guy performing Barbara Allan.

C Block Supplemental learning:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/poetry/seamus-heaney/

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  If you could pick 3 super hero type powers, what would you pick and why?  How would you use each of your powers?                       1 page

We finished the final draft of your paper and passed them in.

C Block:  We played three strikes and you quiz.  We avoided a quiz on your reading and won the night of for Beowulf.

HW:  Please take your ballad and convert it to a similar Anglo-Saxon style.  Please see pg 71 for a model.  For each line, please break two separate ideas using a caesura, or pause in the middle.  Try to limit each part to no more than 4 syllables.  You will need to take out and rewrite the story in your ballad to make this work.  Please include at least one new kenning.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Please describe what you did over vacation.  1/2 page

We defined Kennings, alliteration.

C Block found 5 kenning examples from Beowulf, and two examples of alliteration.

We did a peer edit on your first draft. 

We went over transitional words and phrases and we worked these into your draft.

HW:  Find a Ballad- a song that tells a story.

C Block:  Read to pg 133.  Expect a quiz.

Brit Lit:

Today:

D Block:
 Journal Prompt:  Revenge can indeed be sweet.  Like Grendel's Mom, please describe a time when you got revenge.  Was is sweet?  If you could do it again, would you?  Why?      1 page

We reviewed pgs 50-100.  Per our deal, no vacation HW.

We finished and passed in your first draft.  Final is due Tuesday after vacation.

A+B Block:  We finished our 1st draft and passed it in.  Final is due Tuesday after break.


Have a great vacation!  Be safe and make good choices.  See you on the flip side.

Brit Lit:

Today we wrote the first draft of your paper.  A few general reminders:

1st draft is due Friday.  It does not need to be perfect.  We will be working on revising these the Monday that we get back.

The requirement is 4-5 pages.  Please make sure you cover 10 of the 12 stages that we went over.  For each, begin by defining the stage, followed by how your movie specifically connects.

Final copy due Tuesday after vacation.

D Block HW:  Please read to pg 100 for tonight.

Brit. Lit.:

Yesterday (Tuesday)
We used the time to work on the outline for your paper.

Today: 
We went over specifics on how to write this paper.  I answered any questions and offered help.  Most of the class was spent in the computer lab writing your first draft.  First draft is due Friday at the end of class.

Brit Lit.:

Today
Journal Prompt #3:
Please describe in detail your greatest fear. Have you ever tried to face it?  Why or why not?  If you have, please describe it.  If you have not, please explain why.        1/2 page

I assigned your paper:

The Hero’s Quest

Over the last week, we have looked at the classical definition of a hero.  Specifically, we discussed the research and findings of Joseph Campbell.  He believed that mythology was our one single truth as humans, and these stories connected us all in a very deep and spiritual way.

 

In a 4-5 page typed paper, please take a popular movie, play, or novel, and examine how it fits Campbell’s classical definition.  Please use the sheet that I gave you on this.  You may pick any hero that you feel fits this mold, however, here are some suggestions that would work well:  Pinocchio, The Wizard of Oz, Fight Club, Batman Begins, Dumbo, Star Wars (1^st 3), the Matrix, The Lion King, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, The Twilight Series, The Lord of the Rings Series, The Narnia Movies, Alice in Wonderland.

 

Your paper needs to have a clear thesis (a statement that clearly states what you will prove) and you must use solid examples in your body to back up your thesis.

 

We reviewed your reading HW.

 

We used the stages of the Hero's Quest and you made an original skit in small groups.  We performed these in class.

Brit LIt:

Today:

We started with
 Journal Prompt #2:  Please consider fear.  What makes you scared?  Please describe a moment when you were scared for fun.                                                                                             1/2 page

We finished the Finding Joe Doc.

D Block:  Hear Seamus reading Beowulf:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beowulf%20reading%20seamus&qs=n&form=QBVR&pq=beowulf%20reading%20seamus&sc=0-19&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&mid=015A67F9975654BB205C015A67F9975654BB205C    

A+ B Block Finish Beowulf in your anthology.

We continued talking about The Hero's Quest.

D Block: Here is what I was referencing in class today.  Please check it out if you are a fan:
http://www.tolkienbeowulf.com/           

Brit Lit.

Today:

We watched the first part of the documentary on J. Campbell- Finding Joe.
This can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YjpNMYCEN8

A/B Block- Please read pgs 23-27 in your Anthology.
C Block- Please read the introduction pages to Beowulf.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started with
journal prompt #1:  What in your opinion makes a person a hero?  Who are yours?  Who do you consider modern hero and why?  Please end with describing a time that you were heroic?                                                                             1 page

We took a quiz on your reading.

We began our look at the Hero's Quest.

HW:  Please watch a movie that you feel might follow these steps (most action movies do.)  Suggestions:

Rocky, Finding Nemo, Dumbo, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Happy Gilmore, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Jaws.

Brit Lit

Today:

We looked at the origin of stories.

We defined and discussed the oral tradition.

Telephone: I passed around a fictional story about Mr. Lucas and we retold it across the class.  We agreed that stories lose detail and change if not written down.

I gave you 20 minutes to write a creation story.  Must be 1 page and include:
Explain the seasons, day/night, life/death, right/wrong, how the world came to be.

We read The Seafarer and looked at how pagan and Christian beliefs merged.  We also defined it as a Lyric poem.

HW:  Please read pgs 2-14.  We will have a 5 question quiz on Friday- Start strong!

Brit Lit:

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I look forward to working with you all this year!  Have fun in the blizzard!