English 11
This week we will continue our journey into American Literature à la fin du siècle. Literature in this period is known as literature of the transition. The movement is from realism to modernism.
Even though only twenty years may have separated them, the transformation from realism/naturalism to modernism was a long one in terms of how much society had changed. Literary naturalism invited writers to examine human beings objectively, as a "scientist studies nature." The rapid change in American society and America's relation with the rest of the world left America in disarray. After the first World War, American society was divided and left without definition. This called for a new age of literary expression to control and document the "isolationist fears", "corruption", and "disenchantment" caused by the war. Authors looked to explain their generation and to respond to the "social and moral confusions" The World War broke down America's fundamental institutions by dehumanizing the people that provided their strong foundations. War diminished the individual identity and the society as a whole. The human personality was "dwarfed" as much by the "...dehumanizing magnitude of modern events..." as by natural laws that controlled man to their own destiny. A writer associated with naturalism include Jack London (1876-1916), who often explored the Darwinian contiguity between humans and animals and how the otherwise buried animalistic survival instinct surfaces in extreme circumstances. This is exemplified in THE SEA-WOLF (1904), but is frequently a theme in London's Klondike stories, and distinctions between human and animal behavior were often blurred in his writing, as in THE CALL OF THE WILD (1903) and WHITE FANG (1906).
We will read "critically" 2 of Mark Twain's short stories and Jack London's "To Build A Fire." What we are looking for in our critical readings are the elements of literature the author uses to construct a text in the realistic style and the naturalist style. We will continue to work in the grammar workbook as well. This week we will begin to work with SAT vocabulary. You can go to http://quizlet.com/2545047/vocabulary-plus-49-flash-cards/ to practice the vocabulary. I will test you on the vocabulary on September 20th or 21st.
English AP please read the blog for English 11. We we follow this plan in American literature. We will begin our master classes "writing lessons from Great Authors" this week with Lesson 1: Purpose, Lesson 2: Thesis/Antithesis.
Additionally, you will also be responsible for the SAT vocab words found on the link above. We will do a prepped free response timed writing. You will have a test over rhetorical devices handout this week. This is the link to the page online just in case - http://www.miracosta.edu/home/dperales/newrhetorical%20strategies.htm
English 12
Yeah! We are beginning our study of British Literature. Brief history of English: http://www.anglik.net/anglosaxonmap.html Use this website to review. this link is to review The Anglo-Saxon period- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/
Beowulf is an important work because it is the oldest English manuscript (dating back to the eighth century) and has given historians insight into the old Germanic way of life. A single manuscript, handwritten in the eleventh century by two scribes, has survived and is preserved today in the British Museum in London, England. The author is thought to have been a poet who lived in the vicinity of Northumbria (one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England). Beowulf is much the most important poem in Old English and it is the first major poem in a European vernacular language. But, apart from this pre-eminence in its period, the poem is remarkable for its sustained grandeur of tone and for the brilliance of its style, both in its rather baroque diction and in the association of the elements of its plot. Well you might argue SO WHAT? Well, Beowulf is basically the story of good versus evil that has been repeated again and again throughout the history of man. One important aspect of the story is the fact that Grendel attacks not only the men, but also their way of life. The mead-hall is central to their society. By abandoning it, they are abandoning their tales of battles, feasts, and boasting of future glory. Beowulf comes to purge the evil from the hall and restore Hrothgar and his men to their (and his) way of life. Throughout the story, Beowulf,s words and actions show us what is important in his society. The scop (storyteller) also goes into great detail about the Danes, and Geats, way of life as warriors. Yesterday we mourned the nation's tragedy of September 11th . If you can place the battle between good and evil that Beowulf demonstrates into this context you might see that Grendel can be equated with any force that despises man's enjoyment of the "good life." Ask yourself this question: What forces are trying to destroy what we consider to be the "good life?" Who are our modern heroes? Many considered those who sought to rescue American citizens from the Twin Towers heroes. Can you equate those victims with Hrothgar's men? How many people followed in the footsteps of the Epic hero after 9/11?
If we think about the ensuing battle after 9/11 we can see the characteristics of the epic and its hero. The hero is of national importance and goes to protect his people, the setting is broad in scope, the action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage. These can relate to our nation's rescue workers or our military or perhaps even "the regular guy" on the street. The hero's journey involves steps that we could trace through many events of modern life: the call to adventure, the refusal of the call, the meeting with the mentor, tests and challenges the hero faces...These are all in the handout that I gave to on our last class meeting. You will need to know these steps and apply them to the text of Beowulf.
The story of a hero who challenges or encounters fate and has to respond (particularly outside the community, physically or psychologically) can force us to confront some basic truths about life and about how what we like to believe rests on some fundamental assumptions. That can happen (and often does happen) even if the vision of fate which the hero has to deal with is quite strange to us. For the basic questions about life which a fatalistic vision of life raises transcend the particular details of that vision.
Myth and Legend
This week we will complete the epic story of Odysseus. We will also read the Tragedy, Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Oedipus was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. He fulfilled a prophecy that said he would kill his father and marry his mother, and thus brought disaster on his city and family. This legend has been retold in many versions, and was used by Sigmund Freud to name the Oedipus complex. I think this is a compelling text that is essential to your post-secondary work. The theme that Oedipus deals with is FATE versus FREE WILL. Here is a link to a fantastic lecture discussing this theme: http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/introser/oedipus.htm The lecture is given by Ian Johnston of Malaspina University-College. Please be sure to read this lecture as it will provide insights into how literature and particularly Myths helps us negotiate the human experience. Last week I asked you to think about the "monsters" of the myths. Now I am asking you to consider the monster Oedipus faces. see you in class.
French I/II
Test over chapter 1 on Thursday. We will begin chapter 2 on Tuesday. Since we were introduced in chapter 1 to Paris here is a link to a cool video-24 hours in Paris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfDv5TTJ3Bc I really enjoyed this little trip !!! The hotel you enter is Le Meurice. Did you know this was taken over as headquarters for the Third Reich (Nazis) during the occupation of Paris. In this hotel the decision was made to disobey Hilter;s order to BURN PARIS TO THE GROUND. There is a book written about this incident, Is Paris Burning? and a movie by the same name. I am very grateful that this beautiful city was spared for all us to enjoy. Bon Voyage mes eleves! sorry about the accents, I can't figure out how to put them in!
Hey guys, here are the new links that you asked me to put up for you. These are holiday celebrations in France. I am putting them here since we are going to be studying French Holidays in Chapter 2! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJo-oVpUk6o&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbamPy6XBk&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1fNtyiC6NE&p=ADA53474032DF665&playnext=1&index=32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwAnG8k1bC4&feature=fvw
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