Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism– a philosophical movement that occurred in the middle of the 19^th century (the 1800s) which influenced a great deal of writing of that time period.

 

Characteristics of Transcendentalism

·Simplicity of life

·A need to live in solitude

·A lack of necessity of material items

·A need to follow your own rules

·More focus on the inner self

·Relying solely on yourself and having the ability to think foryourself

·Breaking free from conformity

·A strong sense of nature

Gothicism

Characteristics of the Gothic Story

Setting is medieval - a caste or dungeon

The mood is of mystery or suspense

Metaphors of fear, horror, dread (ex. thunder, footsteps, creaks, bells, fog, etc.)

Omens,visions, or haunting dreams are mentioned

Supernatural, evil, or violent events occur

"Mad" characters

Merciless villains

The Inquisition is mentioned (and their method or torture)

Myths or legends are mentioned

Romanticism - English 3

What comes to your mind when you hear the word Romanticism?

Information about Romanticism:

• This refers to a time in American Literature between 1770 and 1860

• What else is going on in American during this time period?

Civil War

Revolutionary War

Forced migration of Native Americans

Influx of immigration

Industrial Revolution

Global Trade

Propaganda

Common Sense

 The American Frontier promised opportunity for expansion, growth, freedom.

 There is an increased spirit of optimism invoked by the promise of new discovery.

 Immigration brought new cultures and perspectives.

 Growth of industry.

 There is an increased need to become more spiritual.

• Some famous “romantic” writers include Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathanial Hawthorne, Emily Dickinson, Herman Melville…just to name a few.

• There are several characteristics that mark a “romantic” piece of literature. They are:

1. Emotion

2. Individualism

3. Revolutionary

4. Love of nature and solitude

5. Full of fantasy and/or introspection

6. Subjective perception

7. Right-brained (more creative and emotional than logical and analytical)

8. Strong sense of nationalism

9. Provides an outcast or savage character

10. Mysterious settings

11. Focus on the supernatural

• The Romantic period in American literature brings about the basis for two important literary movements … Gothicism and Transcendentalism.

Julius Caesar - Quotes

"Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
  He thinks too much, such men are dangerous."

"Speak, hands for me!"

"Beware the ides of March."

"Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
  Not hew him as a carcass for the hounds."

"O pardon me, though bleeding piece of earth,
  That I am meek and gentle with these butchers."

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
  I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him."

"Our reasons are so full of good regard
  that were you the son of Caesar you should be satisfied."

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
  But in ourselves, that we are underlings."

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
  The valiant never taste of death but once."

"None that I know will be;
  much that I fear may chance."

"Caesar, now be still;
  I killed not thee with half so good a will."

"When Caesar says 'Do this,' it is performed."

"So call the field to rest, and let's away,
  To part the glories of this happy day."

"Et tu, Brute? - Then fall Caesar."

"He doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus..."

"This was the noblest Roman of them all..."

"To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi."

"It is expected I should know no secrets
  That appertain to you?  Am I your self"

"As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
  as he was fortunate, I rejoiced at it,
  as he was valiant, I honor him;
  but, as he was ambitious, I slew him."

"I am constant as the Northern star."

What is the "Catcher in the Rye"?

The “Catcher in the Rye”

As the source of the book’s title, this symbol merits close inspection. It first appears in Chapter 16, when a kid Holden admires for walking in the street rather than on the sidewalk is singing the Robert Burns song “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.” In Chapter 22, when Phoebe asks Holden what he wants to do with his life, he replies with his image, from the song, of a “catcher in the rye.” Holden imagines a field of rye perched high on a cliff, full of children romping and playing. He says he would like to protect the children from falling off the edge of the cliff by “catching”them if they were on the verge of tumbling over. As Phoebe points out, Holden has misheard the lyric. He thinks the line is “If a body catch a body comin’ through the rye,” but the actual lyric is “If a body meet a body, coming through the rye.”
The song “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye” asks if it is wrong for two people to have a romantic encounter out in the fields, away from the public eye, even if they don’t plan to have a commitment to one another. It is highly ironic that the word “meet” refers to an encounter that leads to recreational sex, because the word that Holden substitutes—“catch”—takes on the exact opposite meaning in his mind. Holden wants to catch children before they fall out of innocence into knowledge of the adult world, including knowledge of sex.

Similarities between McCarthyism & The Crucible

Understanding symbolism in The Crucible means understanding the similarities between McCarthyism and The Crucible.

McCarthyism: In the 1940s and 1950s Americans feared the encroachment of Communism. The Soviet Union was growing in power and the threat of a nuclear holocaust was on the forefront of American minds. Eastern Europe had become a conglomerate of Communist satellite nations. Throw in China and Americans began to feel they were surrounded by a Communist threat. Paranoia ensued.
The Crucible: Salem established itself as a religious community in the midst of evil. Salemites considered the forest the domain of the devil. Salem was surrounded by forest. Paranoia ensued.

McCarthyism: Joseph McCarthy, U.S. Senator, made unsubstantiated claims that more than 200 "card carrying" members of the Communist party had infiltrated the United States government. He had no proof.
The Crucible: Delusional girls make unsubstantiated claims about the existence of witches in Salem. They have no proof.

 McCarthyism: McCarthy's unsubstantiated claims ruined lives and led to increased hostility.
The Crucible: The girls unsubstantiated claims ruin lives and lead to increased hostility in Salem.

McCarthyism: Those who were accused were assumed guilty, put on trial, and expected to divulge the names of other Communist sympathizers. Failure to do so led to sanctions.
The Crucible: Those who are accused are assumed guilty, put on trial, expected to confess, and expected to accuse others of being witches. Failure to do so leads to death.

McCarthyism: The media were not willing to stand up to Senator McCarthy for fear of being accused of being a Communist.
The Crucible: Townspeople are not willing to stand up to the court for fear of being accused of being a witch.

McCarthyism: Arthur Miller was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee and subsequently blacklisted.
The Crucible: Arthur Miller wrote it.

English 2 Honors - 2nd Quarterly Assessment

English 2 Honors – 2^nd Quarterly Assessment

 

Part A. - due on 1/14 - Paper - hard copy & Turn it In 

 Power Point - e-mailed to maria.debowska@lodi.k12.nj.us

Part B. - due on 1/14 - handed in during 9th period

Part C. - due on 1/21 - hard copy & Turn it In

 

Part A.  Author Study

Research the background (of the assigned author from the list below) and share with the class the author’s experiences which prepared him/her for writing (the book/play we studied). 

Typed paper – 15 points.  Power Point Presentation (10 slides with pictures) – 20 points.

Ayn Rand

George Orwell

Aldous Huxley

Tennessee Williams

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

William Shakespeare

 

Part B. The Glass Menagerie

Design a poster ad for a forthcoming production of The Glass Menagerie.  15 points.

 

Part C.  “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

Write an original ballad – 15 verses (60 lines).  50 Points.

• Perhaps the oldest form of poetry
• A form of entertainment
• Short story told in rhyming verse, with measured beats in each line
• Character:  hero/commoner
• Theme:  Supernatural/Mystical, Tragedy, Love (unrequited, unfulfilled), Physical courage,    Violence, History
• Setting:  time, place
• Rhyme scheme:  a b c b
• Rhythm:  best 8-6-8-6 * has to read well *
• Capitalize every first letter in each line (even if it is not a new sentence)
• Punctuate – commas to pause & periods to end statements, also use ? ! --