Literature 7-8
You will be reading "The Coyotes" ( begins on p. 370) and responding in complete sentences. First we will do some pre-reading activities. 1. What do you know about coyotes already? Or what impressions do you have of them? Have you ever encountered any?
Now read the introduction 2. What book is this selection taken from? 3. What is meant by a "quest"? 4. What was the object of the author's quest? 5. Where does this story take place? 6. A Wrinkle in Time is also a quest--for what?
Watch a video about this location here. 7. What nickname is sometimes given to it? 8. Give 3 details about how hot it gets. 9. Look at the scene from the salt flats. Describe it briefly. 10. How much rain does it receive annually? 11. Do an online search--how much rain does the Pittsburgh area receive each year? 12. Name 4 kinds of animals that live in this environment. 13. According to the video, what enables these animals to survive here?
Now read the selection. 14. After you have finished, do a written activity of your choice that will show me that you have read the selection carefully and that you have understood what you read.
Finally, read "About the Author" on p. 372. 15. Write 5 notable things about him.
Due no later than noon on Monday, April 27.
American Literature
The introduction to modern American literature that you have been working on sets the stage for our studies for the rest of the year, including our next unit on modern poetry. If there is one central idea in the introduction, it is that the modern era makes a decided break with the past in terms of history, technology, thought, and of course, literature. Your notes will have many examples of this.
But at the same time, it is possible to overstate the case. In fact we have seen a number of authors who, well before the watershed events of the 20th century, were already challenging and altering received traditions in a number of ways. Let's think about that together. Please respond in complete sentences.
Starting with fiction, a number of writers broke with the past in some way. One of those was Edgar Allan Poe. Although his stories are traditional enough in structure, their content was unusual for the time. Poe presents a world in which Christianity pushed into the background, perverted, or entirely absent. 1. Explain briefly, using one of his short stories as an example. The Scarlet Letter is also traditional in form, though Hawthorne does take great interest in the psychology of the characters. However, the novel can be read (and has been read) as a sharp criticism America's Christian heritage. 2. Briefly explain.
Moby Dick, if it can rightly be called a novel at all, has a radically different form from other novels of the time. 3. Briefly explain. It is unusual in content also. Like The Scarlet Letter, it can be read as criticism of Christian beliefs and values. 4. Briefly explain.
The Red Badge of Courage is not radical in form, though like earlier writers Crane is very interested in individual psychology. Crane espoused a radically anti-Christian approach to literature known as Naturalism. 5. What does this term mean? We see evidence of this in his poetry as well as his fiction. 6. If this novel is in fact an example of Naturalism, what is the point that the author is making about Henry Fleming in his particular circumstances?
It is not only in fiction that we see radical developments in literature before the 20th century; we see a similar phenomenon in poetry. The poetry of Poe is an early example. Its form is fairly traditional, but the content seems very distant from the world of Christian belief. 7. Explain briefly, using one of his poems as an example. Of course, Emily Dickinson is much more radical in terms of form. 8. Briefly explain.
Walt Whitman's social views were not much in step with his times. 9. Briefly explain. The form of his poetry was also in many ways ahead of his time. 10. Briefly explain. Stephen Crane's poetry was unusual in both form and content. 11. Write out "A man said to the Universe."
Now reflect on this essay that you have just read. 12. What is the main point? 13. What are the two main headings? 14. Ask a question if you have one.
British Literature
Finish the assignment on the Shakespeare videos. See previous post.
I am planning to host a Zoom session with this class next week. Details will follow, but it will be a requirement for all who have finished the book and responded. If you have not finished the book by then, you will not be allowed to attend. If you choose not to attend, you will regret it. Besides, why would you not want to hang out with me and your classmates? My intention is to host of a discussion The Power and the Glory. I will be asking you for questions that you still may have and your observations about the novel. Come prepared. Expect that it will be during normal school hours and take about an hour.
C.S. Lewis
Review your chapter impressions and my responses to them. What are some questions that you asked that you received helpful answers to? What are some replies that you received that you benefited from and that others might benefit from? Write these up in an email and send it to me and to everyone else in the class. (They should all be available on FACTS SIS, the school's electronic platform, which you all have access to.) We will discuss the structure and meaning of the book after we have had a chance to reflect on the individual chapters this way. Sophomores, respond by noon on Monday; juniors, noon on Tuesday; seniors, noon on Wednesday.
Luke and Acts
Respond in complete sentences. Read everything, not just the questions. 1. In 16:10 the author begins to use the pronoun "we." So what? 2. What general direction have Paul and his companions been traveling to this point? 3. They come now to the region of Macedonia, the home of Alexander the Great. Who was he? Read Acts 16:11-15. 4. They will spend some time in Philippi. How does Luke introduce this city? 5. It is Paul's normal practice to go to the local synagogue to begin his preaching. At this stage, Jews, the OT people of God, are the primary target for the preaching of the gospel. They know the OT, which Paul and the other preachers often appeal to in explaining who Jesus is and what he did. 6. Why did Paul usually begin preaching at a synagogue? 7. He didn't do that here. There were many people who thought of themselves as Romans, including retired Roman soldiers. But there weren't many Jews, and so there wasn't a synagogue. According to Jewish tradition, ten adult Jewish males need to be present for a synagogue meeting to take place. 8. Why wasn't there a synagogue in a major city like Philippi? 9. There was, however, a place of prayer. Where was it? 10. Make an educated guess about why this would be a good place to meet to pray. 11. Water has a role in Christian worship. What is it? 12. What group of people was already gathered there to pray? 13. Why is that important? 14. Lydia is there. She's not from Philippi. She's from a city in Asia. Which one? 15. She's a businesswoman. What does she do? 16. According to Luke, how was she able to respond to Paul's message? 17. What happened then? 18. How did she show kindness to Paul and his companions?
Poets and Prophets
No assignment unless you owe me work. In that case, get your work done. You know who you are.
French assignments will be emailed to you.
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