Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Today, we finished reading Act One of The Merchant of Venice. I then gave you questions to answer. I have pasted these below. The students had class time to answer them and then were expected to complete them for homework.
Study Questions -- Act 1

Answer each question thoroughly. Write down act, scene, and line references to note where you find textual evidence of your answers.

1. What does Bassanio want from Antonio? Why?
2. What is Antonio’s financial situation? What is Bassanio’s financial situation?
3. What does Antonio tell Bassanio in response to his request? How will Antonio help Bassanio?
4. In what way does Antonio’s comment at Act 1, Scene 1, lines 184-186 seem to contradict his comments at Act 1, Scene 1, lines 42-46? How might you account for this apparent contradiction?
5. What is the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio like? How do you know?
6. What kind of personality does Gratiano have? How do you know?
7. What is the main point behind Portia’s comments at Act 1, Scene 2, lines 12-17?
8. What is the “lottery” that Portia’s father has devised for her future & decreed in his will?
9. Explain what Portia specifically thinks of each of these suitors and how you know it:
a. the Prince from Naples (Neopolitan)

b. Count Palatine

c. the French Lord

d. the English Baron

e. the Scottish Lord

f. the young German
11. What does Portia say about the newly-arriving prince from Morocco? What are the possible meanings of Act 1, Scene 2, lines 129-131?
12. What does Bassanio ask of Shylock, specifically?
13. What is the idea behind Shylock’s comments at Act 1, Scene 3, lines 33-37? Why does he say this?
14. Why doesn’t Shylock like Antonio? What harm does Antonio cause Shylock? (HINT: look in more than one place in the text)
15. What is Antonio’s point in Act 1, Scene 3, lines 99-101?
16. What does Antonio think of Shylock? How do you know?
17. What “deal” does Shylock make with Antonio? Why does Antonio agree to it?

19. In this act, find examples of the following literary devices/techniques:
a. simile

b. metaphor

c. hyperbole

d. mythological allusion

e. historical allusion

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Today, we discussed and marked the comma exercise from last week. We then read The Merchant of Venice up to about halfway through Act I, Scene 3 (page 41: about halfway down). If you were not here, be sure to read up to this pont.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Today, I assigned roles and then we read Act One, Scenes One and part of Scene Two of The Merchant of Venice. If you weren't here, we read up to halfway through page 27. You need to have this read for tomorrow if you want to stay caught up. If you are confused, be sure to read the summary pages at the beginning of each scene as they tell you what happens in that scene in language that is easier to understand.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Today, we were sidetracked by a discussion about comma usage. Some time ago, I gave you a booklet covering how to use various types of punctuation. I then had given you a comma exercise to complete. As a class, it was poorly done. We discussed what a simple sentence was (one that has a noun, a verb and makes sense, as well as has proper punctuation). This is also called an independent clause. We then discussed what a sentence fragment is (one that lacks either a noun or a verb so it doesn't make sense by itself). This is also called a dependent clause.
I then gave them the following exercises to do. What they had to do was put commas in the sentences where they are needed and then tell me the rule which applies underneath (from that punctuation handout). If you were not here, I still expect these to be completed for Monday.

English Commas Exercise Two

INSTRUCTIONS: Using the rules given to you, add commas where they are needed in the following sentences. Then, in the space given, tell me which rule applies.

1. Linda and Nancy sent out invitations planned the menu decorated the house and waited for their guests.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

2. “Well” Debbie sighed “the parade is over.”

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

3. “I haven’t memorized that poem yet” said Joe.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

4. Polly asked “Do you know Steven Haines?”

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

5. Please write letters to Mrs. Rogers Dr. Young and Mr. Lundell.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

6. Well there is only one day of vacation left.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

7. Carrie entered the room sat down and began to speak.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

8. The campers noticed several things: first the moss on the trees; second the damp dirt; and third the broken twigs.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

9. “The engine failed” noted the mechanic “due to poor maintenance.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

10. The man on the porch is Mr. Oldani a carpenter.

Rule: _______________________________________________________________

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Today, we finished with the introduction to The Merchant of Venice. I then went over the Dramatis Personae with you (the list of characters). For tomorrow, using this list (which is in the book on page 5) and the powerpoint slide handout given to you, you will be quizzed to see if you can identify the following characters:

Prince of Morocco
Prince of Arragon
Antonio
Bassinio
Gratiano
Lorenzo
Shylock
Launcelot Gobbo
Portia
Nerissa
Jessica

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Today, we further introduced ourselves to the play The Merchant of Venice. We discussed slides 6 and 7 and learned some things about the differences between Christians at the time of this play, and Jews at the time of this play. I also explained usury and venture trading. If you were not here, you need to look these up. If you were not here, also ask me for a copy of the slide sheet.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Today, we discussed iambic pentameter and then I started a discussion about The Merchant of Venice (Powerpoint). Keep in mind that you are writing a quiz on Shakespearean terms tomorrow.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Today, I introduced the Shakespeare unit. I discussed the following:

1. Why Read Shakespeare?

2. The history of Shakespeare and London… to a point

Terms you need to know for… Wednesday

If you were not here, look online to research the first two. The terms you need to know are listed below.

Shakespeare: Terms to Know

You are to study these terms for a quiz on Wednesday. You will need to know EXACTLY what they mean.

Here are some expressions that appear frequently in Shakespeare but are not in use today:

· Prithee – please
· By my troth (rhymes with “oath”) – truly; upon my word
· I trow (rhymes with “how”) – I trust; or I think
· Coz (rhymes with “buzz”) – cousin, relative
· Marry – really? Or, really!; an expression used in reply to a question (suggests surprise or indignation)
· Anon – soon, or right away
· Bootless – useless
· Fie – exclamation expressing disgust or outrage (an “F” word in its day)
· Sirrah – sir; but also may imply anger or contempt (talking down to)
· For the nonce – for the time being
· Ay – yes
· A’ - he

Elizabethan language also contains many old verb forms that we no longer use:

· Thou art – you are
· Thou dost – you do
· Thou know’st – you know
· Thou see’st – you see
· Thou did’st – you did
· He hath – he has
· He doth – he does
· He durst – he dares
· Methinks – I think
· Woul’t – would you


Often letters are omitted in words for the sake of the sound of the line of poetry:

· Ne’er - never
· O’er – over
· O’ – of
· I’ – in
· ‘t – it
· Ta’en – taken
· E’en – even

Obsolete words (those out of general use):
· Favour – meaning approval
· Owe – to possess
· Gouts – drops
· Clept – named
· Cling – wither

Archaic words (those which are old-fashioned):

· An – if
· Moe – more
· Sooth – truth
· Quoth – said
· Afeard - afraid

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Today, you had an assembly, so there was no class.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Today, you were given a handout on punctuation. It specifically explains how to use commas, semicolons, colons, dashes, hyphens, possessives, question marks, and quotation marks. You were to read it actively and then come to me for questions (these questions are on comma usage). These are due today (or by class tomorrow if you are struggling).

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Today, students wrote their Modern Drama Multiple choice unit exam.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Today, you wrote your in-class essay for the modern drama unit. Tomorrow you will write your comprehension exam for this unit (M.C.).

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Today, we discussed the planning you need to do when you are outlining an in-class essay. You have your second essay on A Thousand Clowns on Monday. YOu then have your modern drama unit exam on Tuesday.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Today, we discussed the questions for A Thousand Clowns. I also stressed the importance of layout (students had their own papers to mark in order to see what they need to improve). Specifically, we talked about properly doing headers, titles, page numbers, numbers for questions, spacing, and flipping questions fully into answers.

Tuesday, NOvember 8, 2011

Today, we read the last of the play A Thousand Clowns. We discussed the ways in which Murray conformed and the possible outcomes of his action to do so. I then handed out questions for you to answer for Act III. These are due tomorrow.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Today, we read up to near the end of Act III of A Thousand Clowns. If you were not here, you are to read up the top of page 111 (stop after Nick brings out his ukulele).

Friday, November 4, 2011

Today, we finished reading Act Two of A Thousand Clowns. I then handed out the questions and allowed class time to answer them. I am pasting them here for those who were absent. they are due on Monday.


A Thousand Clowns: Act 2 Questions

1. When Albert comes back to tell Murray about the Welfare Board's decision, he reveals a great deal about his true character in a long speech. What do we learn about Albert which we didn't know before? Provided evidence.

2. Murray keeps making jokes about the people in charge of the Chuckles show. Underneath the jokes, however, he is trying to express his thoughts about the world of children: What are some of Murray's thoughts? Provide evidence.

3. To satirize means to ridicule individuals, ideas, customs, or situations in order to achieve humour and/or to achieve change. When Murray says, “'I've been attacked by the Ladies Home Journal! ", what is he satirizing? Identify three other points of satire in the play, and explain briefly what is being satirized by each.

4. "Maybe you're wonderfully independent, Murray, or maybe, maybe you're the most extraordinarily selfish person I've ever met." In your opinion, which view of Murray is the right one? Why? Provide evidence.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Today, we read most of Act II of A Thousand Clowns (stopped at the top of page 93). We will finish Act II tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Today, you answered six questions about Act I of A Thousand Clowns. These are due for tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Today, we discussed what is meant by the terms "objective" and "subjective". We then read the rest of Act One of A Thousand Clowns. I then instructed the students to locate 10 allusions in Act One and then look up what they actually refer to and write this down. We then discussed the allusions and realized there are probably as many as 20. I then showed examples of writing which was not proofed before it was handed in. I stressed that taking this final step can reduce embarrassment later on.