Shakespeare:

Today:

We started with the prompt from yesterday.  Please see post.

We watched the Mel Gibson ver of the play within a play in Hamlet.

We broke into small groups and were tasked with showing act 1+2.....backwards.....in 32 seconds....

Brit Lit:

Today:

We went to the computer lab to finish work on your Sir Gawain project.  Reminder:  These are due Tuesday.

Shakespeare:

Today:

We looked at the Mel Gibson version and I asked you to look for the many differences.

I passed back past quizzes.

Brit Lit:

Today:  We went to the 2nd floor lab to work on your Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Video Game project.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal:  What did you think of seeing the play/working with the actors?  Share your opinion.  H=1pg, CPA=1/2

We used costumes and acted out the first Hamlet crazy scene: act 2 sc2.

Brit Lit.:

Today:

Journal:  Please consider the point of view of the Green Knight.  Please write a one pg account of the story from his POV.

We watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74glI1lg1CQ

HW:  We will be working on your video game manual Thursday.  Please have your outline, assignment sheet and notes.  These are due March 7.

Shakespeare:

Yesterday:
We were treated to a live performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream

Today:
Two of the cast came and ran acting exercises with us that allowed deeper understanding of Shakespeare and his words.

Brit. Lit.

Yesterday:

We finished a Knight's Tale.

We took notes and learned about Medieval Romance

HW:  Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Today:

Journal #11:  Please describe a promise that was broken in your life.  Why was it broken?  1/2 pg

I passed back journals #1-10.  These were graded on effort.  If you di not get one back, I did not receive it. Please see me ASAP if it has not be passed in.

I assigned our next project:

Assignment: You work for a small indie video game company, and have just purchased the publishing rights 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 of your game and cover art for the game.

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.  These need to be in your own words.
20 Points

3.) Intro page, which summarizes the entire story.  250 words min.
20 Points

4.) 10 Levels. For each, please do the following:

Create a title for the level

Give a 5-10 sentence description of the objective of the level.

30 Points

5.) End boss

Include a detailed picture or description, including the one weakness that allows you to destroy the boss and win the game.
20 Points.

We used the ipads to research 14th c weapons.  These will be used in your video game.

Due Date:  March 7th.

Shakespeare:

We recited our To Be, or Not to Be lines.

This was a test grade, so if you were not ready to go, please make sure that you use vacation to learn them.  You new deducted -10 for each day not ready.

HW:  Have a great vacation!

Brit Lit:

Today:

I collected your Make Your Own Pilgrimage assignment

I collected journals #1-10

We watched A Knight's Tale.

HW:  Have a wonderful, HW free break!

Shakespeare:

Today:

I collected journals #1-10

We acted act 2 sc 1-2.

I defined 6 not 5 terms. :-)

I broke you into groups and tasked you to find an example of each term.

We watched a 3 min clip of Yoda demonstrating reserve thoughts and sent.

HW:  Lines due Friday.  This is a test grade.  Make it count!

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took a quiz on your reading.

We went to the lib to finish your Pilgrimage assignment.  Specifically, we finished your prologue poem and typed your pilgrimage tale.  I asked you to staple all three parts and submit at the end of class.  For those needing more time, I will accept these Friday as well.

Shakespeare:

We started with a quiz on the information covered in Act 1

We reviewed act 1

We finished act 1 in class.

We looked at what David Tennet (Dr.Who) did to get ready to play Hamlet (video)

Brit Lit:

Today:  A Block finished presenting their examples of direct and indirect characterization.  We took a quiz on this information.

HW:  Please read Pardoner's Tale on pg 115.  I smell a quiz on this reading Thursday.....

We began the next assignment:

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.

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal:  Please write a 1/2 pg diary entry from Hamlet's Mom.  Please explore her thoughts on the recent events.

I reviewed the acting challenge for your lines (extra credit)

Midsummer performance moved to Feb 27th B Block

We acted out act 1 sc 2-3.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal:  Please describe a time in detail that you went to visit a person, a place, or a thing that held special importance.      1/2 pg.

Characterization.  We defined and looked at Direct and indirect.  We used a scene in Mean Girls to show examples of both.

I introduced the Canterbury Tales.  In small groups, you were each given two characters and asked to answer questions based on direct and indirect characterizations.  On a large post it sheet, you were tasked with listing these and explaining your findings to the class.

We will present these Wed. followed by an open notebook quiz.

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep,

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;

To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub:

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause—there's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life.

Shakespeare:

Today:

I gave you 14 lines to memorize by next Friday.

Journal:  Please convert the 14 lines to modern English.

We watched a few of the famous versions.  We also watched a few humorous ones.

In small groups of 2-3, I tasked you with converting the lines into one of the following:  Cowboy, Mobb boss, Superman, firefighter, or your fav. fictional character.

Lines are due next Friday.  This is a test grade- so make sure that you don't wait till the last minute.

Brit Lit:

We listed to the Johnny Cash song: Ballad of a Teenage Queen.

Journal:  Listen to the cash ballad.  From HER point of view, please describe the events in the ballad.  Please also consider 5 years after......                                 1 page

With the aid of my raven puppet, we read the Twa Corbies, and Get Up and Bar the Door.

We looked at modern examples of folk versions of the ballad Barbara Allen.

Do ballads still work today?