Week of 6/1
- Reading schedule for The Picture of Dorian Gray: (Expect reading checks/quizzes).
- Chapters 8 - 11 by Monday, 6/1. [QUIZ]
- Chapters 12 - 14 by Tuesday, 6/2.
- Chapters 15 - 17 by Wednesday, 6/3.
- Chapters 17 - 20 by Thursday, 6/4. [QUIZ]
- FINAL for Dorian Gray: Do something "for art's sake." Whatever you do make sure that it is USELESS and BEAUTIFUL (whatever that means for you) (. . . also make sure it's legal). Make an "exquisite moment," "walk down Picadilly Square with a lilly in your hand." Remember that you are the artist, and artists are better than "the herd"; the herd could never understand your art. Read the "Preface" to Dorian Gray for ideas. Please write a short paragraph describing how your art reflects aestheticism and take a picture or share your aesthetic event with the class on Friday, 6/5. Paragraph is due on Friday, 6/5.
- Author biography test on Monday, 6/8 (Matching -- don't sweat it!).
Week of 5/26
- Questions for Jane Eyre "trivia" test due Tuesday, 5/26. Test is also on Tuesday! If you are absent you will have to take a written test on Jane Eyre.
- Reading schedule for The Picture of Dorian Gray: (Expect reading checks/quizzes)
- Chapters 1 - 4 by Thursday, 5/28.
- Chapters 5 - 7 by Friday, 5/29.
- Chapters 8 - 11 by Monday, 6/1. [QUIZ]
- Chapters 12 - 14 by Tuesday, 6/2.
- Chapters 15 - 17 by Wednesday, 6/3.
- Chapters 17 - 20 by Thursday, 6/4.
- FINAL for Dorian Gray: Do something "for art's sake." Whatever you do make sure that it is USELESS and BEAUTIFUL (whatever that means for you) (. . . also make sure it's legal). Make an "exquisite momen," "walk down Picadilly Square with a lilly in your hand." Remember that you are the artist, and artists are better than the herd; the herd could never understand your art. Read the "Preface" to Dorian Gray for ideas. Share your aesthetic event with the class on Friday, 6/5.
Week of 5/18
- Choose a short poem (15 - 20 lines?) from one of the major Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Blake, Hardy (or even Cowper). Memorize it for Wednesday, 5/20. Also, make a "tarot card" (see William Blake's Romantic Tarot cards on line) for your poem in which you illustrate the main romantic idea/theme from your poem. Be sure and write the significant word somewhere on the card (e.g., "mystery"). Due Wednesday, 5/20.
- A la "trivia, trivia, trivia" test on Jane Eyre and Romanticism: Tuesday, 5/26.
- OPTIONAL ESSAY: Jane Eyre essay for extra credit (or to take the place of the "Canterbury Tales" essay -- due Wednesday, 5/27.
Week of 5/11
- Read through chapter 27 of Jane Eyre for Monday, 5/11, and be ready to contribute richly to our discussion! Read chapter 28 - 30 of Jane Eyre for Tuesday, 5/12.
- Read chapter 31 - 34 of Jane Eyre for Thursday, 5/14.
- Read chapter 35 - 38 of Jane Eyre for Friday, 5/15. FINIS!
- Choose a short poem (15 - 20 lines?) from one of the major Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Blake, Hardy (or even Cowper). Memorize it for Tuesday, 5/19. Also, make a "tarot card" (see William Blake's Romantic Tarot cards on line) for your poem in which you illustrate the main romantic idea/theme from your poem. Be sure and write the significant word somewhere on the card (e.g., "mystery").
Week of 5/4
- Read chapters 17 -20 in Jane Eyre for Tuesday, 5/5.
- Look up the following: The Evening Star; Latmos; Job 29: 14 - 15 for Wednesday, 5/6.
- Read chapters 21 - 24 for Friday, 5/8.
Week of 4/27
- Read chapters 1 - 10 in Jane Eyre for Monday, 4/27.
- Read HANDOUT on governesses for Wednesday, 4/29.
- Read chapters 11 - 13 for Thursday, 4/30.
- Read chapter 14 - 16 for Friday, 5/1.
Week of 4/20
- Read chapters 1 - 8 in Part 3 of Sense and Sensibility for Monday, 4/20.
- Read chapters 9 - 11 in Sense and Sensibility for Tuesday, 4/21.
- Read chapters 12 - 14 in Sense and Sensibility for Wednesday, 4/22.
- Test on the Regency era and Sense and Sensibility on Thursday, 4/23.
Week of 4/13
- Prepare THREE discussion questions for Part 2 for Thursday, 4/16. These questions may be genuine
- Read chapters 1 - 8 in Part 3 of Sense and Sensibility for Monday, 4/20.
Week of 3/30
- Please read "Introduction" and Chapters 1 - 10 in Sense and Sensibility for Monday, 3/30.
- Read 11 - 15 for Tuesday, 3/31.
- Read 16 - 18 for Wednesday, 4/1.
- Read to the end of Part 1 for Friday, 4/3.
- READ PART 2 DURING SPRING BREAK!!
Week of 3/23
- Please read "Introduction" and Chapters 1 - 10 in Sense and Sensibility for Monday, 3/30.
- She Stoops to Conquer performs on Tuesday, 3/24.
- School for Scandal performs on Thursday, 3/26.
Week of 3/16
- We will practice our Restoration/Comedy of Manners plays this week. Hopefully She Stoops to Conquer will be ready present on Tuesday, 3/24. School for Scandal will perform on Thursday, 3/26.
Week of 3/9
- Read the HANDOUTS: "Divine Right of Kings" & the letter to King James the 1 from the translators of the King James Bible for Monday, 3/9.
- Finish the "British Literature History Hunt" for Monday, 3/9.
- Take home essay on "The Prologue" due on Wednesday, 3/11. Please double space your final draft! Response should be approximately two pages long. CHOOSE ONE OF THE THREE PROMPTS BELOW.
- PROMPT #1: The knight, the Clerk, the Plowman, and the Parson are (perhaps) the only idealized portraits in the Prologue. The other portrayals are either obviously satirical or gently satirical. What might Chaucer be suggesting in this mixture of positive and negative depictions? Compare the "sins" of those pilgrims associated with the church with the "sins" of those pilgrims who are NOT associated with the church. Are the economic classes guilty of the same of different transgressions?
- PROMPT #2: Chaucer's pilgrims are traveling to Canterbury -- the holy shrine to Saint Thomas Beckett and a place associated with miraculous healings. Some of the pilgrims have obvious physical maladies and others don't (perhaps they need spiritual healing?). Examine the text and write an essay in which you argue what kind of healing the different pilgrims are seeking. It is certainly valid to take the position that some pilgrims are not seeking healing of any kind, but you need to be able to persuasively support your stance with evidence from the text.
- PROMPT #3: Choose a pilgrim and analyze him/her thoroughly. Look up every reference and every allusion. Explain the significance of that pilgrim's portrayal line by line and detail by detail. Leave no "word" unturned.
- ALERT! ALERT!! ALERT!!! IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO WRITE A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY, YOU MAY CHOOSE THIS CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE: Create a "modern" Canterbury Tales "Prologue" wherein you profile three modern professions that are ripe for satirizing or idealizing (e.g., the politician, the actor, the CEO). The profiles should be 25 - 30 lines each, written in verse (rhyme is optional, however), and rich in imagery and allusion just as Chaucer would create. The title of your prologue should reflect the kind of journey your pilgrims are embarking on.
Week of 3/2
- Test on the "Prologue" to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales on Wednesday, 3/4.
- Take home essay on "The Prologue" due on Wednesday, 3/11. Please double space your final draft! Response should be approximately two pages long. CHOOSE ONE OF THE THREE PROMPTS BELOW.
- PROMPT #1: The knight, the Clerk, the Plowman, and the Parson are (perhaps) the only idealized portraits in the Prologue. The other portrayals are either obviously satirical or gently satirical. What might Chaucer be suggesting in this mixture of positive and negative depictions? Compare the "sins" of those pilgrims associated with the church with the "sins" of those pilgrims who are NOT associated with the church. Are the economic classes guilty of the same of different transgressions?
- PROMPT #2: Chaucer's pilgrims are traveling to Canterbury -- the holy shrine to Saint Thomas Beckett and a place associated with miraculous healings. Some of the pilgrims have obvious physical maladies and others don't (perhaps they need spiritual healing?). Examine the text and write an essay in which you argue what kind of healing the different pilgrims are seeking. It is certainly valid to take the position that some pilgrims are not seeking healing of any kind, but you need to be able to persuasively support your stance with evidence from the text.
- PROMPT #3: Choose a pilgrim and analyze him/her thoroughly. Look up every reference and every allusion. Explain the significance of that pilgrim's portrayal line by line and detail by detail. Leave no "word" unturned.
- ALERT! ALERT!! ALERT!!! IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO WRITE A LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY, YOU MAY CHOOSE THIS CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE: Create a "modern" Canterbury Tales "Prologue" wherein you profile three modern professions that are ripe for satirizing (e.g., the politician, the actor, the T.V. evangelist). The profiles should be 15 - 20 lines each, written in verse (rhyme is optional, however), and rich in imagery and allusion just as Chaucer would do. The title of your prologue should reflect the kind of journey your pilgrims are embarking on.
- In class assignment: "British Literature History Hunt." Wednesday/Thursday in computer lab.
Week of 2/23
- Create a caricature of your pilgrim. You make draw, paint, cut & paste, etc. Just make sure to exaggerate those aspects (outward & inward) that Chaucer is satirizing! Be ready to discuss your satirical depiction and what you (AND CHAUCER) are trying to convey. Due on Monday, 2/23.
- Print a copy of Chaucer's prologue for Monday, 2/23. Choose a reputable site (e.g., college/university) from whom to print the "Prologue" text. You are responsible for reading the descriptions of all the pilgrims even though you are only talking about one of them.
Week of 2/17
- Beowulf/Medieval Romance/History of the English language test: Friday, 2/20.
- Create a caricature of your pilgrim. You make draw, paint, cut & paste, etc. Just make sure to exaggerate those aspects (outward & inward) that Chaucer is satirizing! Be ready to discuss your satirical depiction and what you (AND CHAUCER) are trying to convey. KNIGHT AND SQUIRE NEED TO BE READY on FRIDAY (for extra credit), 2/20. All other pilgrims need to be ready on Monday, 2/23.
- Print a copy of Chaucer's prologue for Monday, 2/23. Choose a reputable site (e.g., college/university) from whom to print the "Prologue" text. You are responsible for reading the descriptions of all the pilgrims even though you are only talking about one of them.
Week of 2/9
- Read through chapter 23 for Monday, 2/8.
- QUICK RESEARCH: Look up the account of King Alfred, Guthrum, and the Twelfth Night raid. Write down any parallels you see between this historical event and Beowulf. Due Monday, 2/9.
- Read chapters 24 - 32. Due Tuesday, 2/10.
- Read chapters 33 - 43 for Wednesday, 2/11.
Week of 2/2:
- Read "The Wrath of Grendel." Draw or create some kind of depiction of Grendel based on your reading. Due Tuesday, 2/3.
- Read prologue and chapters 1-4 of Beowulf. Due Wednesday, 2/4.
- Read chapters 5 - 10 of Beowulf. Due Friday, 2/6.
- Read chapters 11 - 26 (pp 45 - 82). Due Tuesday, 2/10.
- QUICK RESEARCH: Look up the account of King Alfred, Guthrum, and the Twelfth Night raid. Write down any parallels you see between this historical event and Beowulf. Due Monday, 2/9.