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 ? ! --

Eng. 2 - Quarterly Assessment - Jan. 2013

The House on Mango Street

Sophomore Class - Video Project

You will be reenacting one of the vignettes &

each person in the group must play a role in the performance.

This will be your Quarterly Assessment Exam!!!

The following are prohibited

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Moving vehicles

Requirements

• 5-10 minutes in length
• Groups of 4-6 students
• Video must be put on YouTube with signed permission slips from ALL parents/guardians

 You may not select the following vignettes to reenact

• "Louie, His Cousin & His Other Cousin”
• “Red Clown”

Due Date:  Monday, January, 14^th

Symbolism in The Crucible

Symbolism in The Crucible

 

The Doll: The doll found on Elizabeth Proctor's shelf is a traditional symbol of voodoo and witchcraft. In The Crucible, the doll (as well as Rebecca Nurse) symbolizes the transformation of good to evil: dolls, in a normal society, represent childhood innocence and bring happiness. In Salem, dolls represent evil. This extends to the Puritan government and church, both being entrusted to protect its citizens, yet both doing the opposite.

The Stones: Giles Corey refuses to make an official plea in court. In order to persuade him to make a plea, officials of the court stack concrete stones on him and eventually crush him. The stones symbolize the weight of Salem's sins that are crushing the good in its society.

Elizabeth Proctor's Pregnancy: Elizabeth's execution is stalled on account of her pregnancy. This represents hope that the future may be different.

The Boiling Cauldron: The controversy begins with Salem girls running wild through the forest around a cauldron of boiling water. This cauldron symbolizes the wildness of the girls, or more specifically, their repressed sexual desire bubbling over.

John Proctor's Leaving the Courtroom: This occurs in the movie. After Proctor is accused of witchcraft, he runs into a small pond and with arms spread shouts, "God is dead." Proctor is in water, symbolic of baptism, and his arms are spread, symbolic of the Biblical Christ on the cross. Proctor sacrifices himself for the good of Salem and to honor those saints (Rebecca and Martha) who refuse to lie.

The Witch Trials: In addition to the similarities between McCarthyism and The Crucible already discussed, the trials symbolize the effect of intolerance, extremism, and hatred.

The Forest: Puritans believed that the forest was the devil's dominion. They failed to recognize, however, that Salem's evil and destruction came from within. The forest, therefore symbolizes the evil present in all humans.

The House on Mango Street - Ch. 16-21

16 - "And Some More"

• Eskimos have thirty different names for snow - read Esperanza in a book.
• There aren't thirty different kinds of snow, Lucy says - just two: clean and dirty.
• Clouds have ten different names, said Esperanza.  Such as: Cumulus an Nimbus.
• Fight erupts between Esperanza and Rachel.  Dialogue between them:  "Looks like your fat face.  Whose fat face? Esperanza's fat face, that's who.  Looks like Esperanza's ugly face when she comes to school in the morning.  Who you calling ugly, ugly?  Not you.  Your mama, that's who."

17 - "The Family of Little Feet"

• Family that was little - arms, hands, height, and feel all little.
• Esperanza and the girls get a bag of shoes from the "family of little feet".
• Rachel learns to walk in high heels.
• We walk to the corner store and the men can't take their eyes off of us (Lucy, Rachel, and Esperanza).
• "We must be Christmas."
• Mr. Benny at the corner grocery puts down his cigar and asks, "Your mother know you got shoes like that?" 
• Mr. Benny tells them to take the shoes off because: "Them are dangerous, he says."
• Bum talks to Rachel and she tells him her name.
• He wants a kiss from her and will pay a $1 for it.
• When they get home they hide the shoes and when Lucy's mom finds them, she throws them away.

18 - "A Rice Sandwich"

• Kids with keys around their neck go to the canteen to eat (their mothers aren't home or home is too far for them to go for lunch).
• Esperanza asks her mom to write a note to the principal because she wants to eat in the canteen.
• Esperanza's siblings want to eat home, but she wants to eat at the canteen.
• After three days of begging Esperanza's mom agrees to bag her lunch.
• She will go to school with a rice sandwich.
• There is a letter for the Sister Superior saying Esperanza lives too far and is very skinny - the mother hopes "to God she does not faint" ~ signed Mrs. E. Cordero
• The nun knew she actually didn't live far.
• Esperanza cries.
• Canteen wasn't special and everyone watched as she cried and "ate my sandwich, the bread already greasy and the rice cold."

19 - "Chanclas"

• Mama buys Esperanza new clothes - socks, slip, and a dress, but she forgets the shoes.  Everything new, but has to wear old saddle shoes she wears to school.
• 6:30 and her little cousin's baptism is over.
• Uncle Nacho is coming in his car to bring us to Precious Blood Church because that's where the baptism party is.
• Mama dances, laughs, and dances.  All of a sudden she is sick - I think too many tamales, but Uncle Nacho says too many drinks (shows this by tilting his thumb to his lips).
• Esperanza doesn't dance because of her shoes.  Her feet keep "growing bigger and bigger."
• Uncle Nacho says she is the pretties girl there and so Esperanza, although at first doesn't want to, does dance with him.
• As she dances, she forgets about her shoes.
• At the end, everyone claps for Esperanza and Uncle Nacho and Mrs. Cordero is proud of her daughter.

20 - "Hips"

• They are playing jump rope.
• Discussion about signs of maturity.
• One day you wake up and they are there - hips!
• They're good for holding a baby as you cook.
• You need them to dance, says Lucy.
• Nenny believes if you don't get them, then you'll turn into a man.
• Hips are scientific, Esperanza says repeating what Alicia already told me - it's the bones that let you know which skeleton was a man's and which a woman's.
• Hips just open - one day you might decide to have kids.
• But don't have too many kids or your behind will spread.
• You have to practice to walk with hips.

21 - "The First Job"

• Esperanza wanted a job.
• She went to the social security office the month before to get her number.
• She needed money because Catholic high school was expensive.
• Aunt Lala found a job for Esperanza - Peter Pan Photo finishers on North Broadway.
• Aunt Lala said Esperanza was one year older than she really was and she would start the next day.
• In her job, she wore white gloves.
• She needed to match prints with their negatives - a real easy job.
• During lunch, she ate in the washroom because she was scared to eat in the company lunchroom.
• During break, she went to the coatroom because there was a bench there.
• Shifts must have been changing because some people punched in.
• An older Oriental man said hello and was friendly to Esperanza.
• He asked if I knew what day it was - it was his birthday and he asked her for a birthday kiss.
• She was going to kiss him on the cheek to be nice, but he grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her hard on the mouth and didn't let go.

The Gatsby Gatsby Assignment - Due Monday!!!

This assignment must be typed.  It is a test grade - due on Monday, November 19, 2012


Part A.  Select five characters and describe them, include their best and worse qualities.

Part B.  Select five symbols and explain them.

Part C. For each chapter choose one meaningful quote, then describe its significance in the novel.


If your assignment is turned in late, you will lose 10% for each day it is late! 

English 3 - Extra Credit

The Great Gatsby

You must hand in a typed product, as well as present your findings to the class.
DUE:  Monday, October 22nd.

• List chronologically significant events in Gatsby's life, such as his connection with Meyer Wolfshiem, Dan Cody's influence, the list in the Hopalong Cassidy book, promotion to major, the end of his lawn parties, tea at Nick's house, meeting Tom and Daisy at the Plaza Hotel, leaving St. Olaf's College, driving with Nick, having lunch with Meyer and Nick, receiving a medal from Montenegro, and swimming alone in early September.

• Make a list of scenes from the novel which express contrasting attitudes toward honestly, friendship, optimism, self-esteem, loss, responsibility, fidelity, wealth, prestige, dependence, and compromise.  Next to each, indicate what you think is the author's personal philosophy.

• Mr. Gatz refers to James J. Hill, an actual historical figure who built a fortune through railroads, mining, and banking.  He was one of a group of forceful businessmen in the late 1800s and early 1900s who were often accused of exploiting the public and using unscrupulous methods, but who achieved enormous wealth.  Write a biographical sketch on one of the following "robber barons":

1. John D. Rockefeller
2. Jay Gould
3. Edward Harriman
4. James Fisk

• Write an essay dealing with the 1920s and describing the elements of the contemporary mode of life which are reflected in the novel.

• Read a biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald and note any influences of the life he lived and the society he observed that are included in The Great Gatsby.

English 3 - Summer Reading Extra Credit

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Write a letter to the author consisting of the following:

1. 2-3 sentence introduction to the letter to establish purpose, set tone, develop interest.
2. Discussion of your favorite character: identify him/her; when do we first meet this character? What is likable?
3. Discussion of the most memorable part: what events lead up to this part?  Why is this part one to remember?
4. Discussion of what you learned about human beings, their behavior, their motives and reactions.
5. Overall review of the book: what is likeable?  What is not likeable?
6. Suggestions of what you would do differently to improve the events, the ending, the characters.
7. Analysis of why this book is so famous.
8. 2-3 sentence conclusion to criticize or praise the author, thank him or scold him for creating this to read.

Paragraphs should be fully developed with a topic sentence and 4-5 sentences discussing the topic.

Work must be typed using 12 pt. font and double spacing.  Minimum 500 words is expected.  Once you are done, hand in a printed copy and also e-mail it to me as an attachment or a copy and paste.

Due Date:  Monday, October 29, 2012

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 for yourself

· Breaking free from conformity

· A strong sense of nature

"The Raven"

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/edgar_allan_poe/poems/18848

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

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Individualism vs. Collectivism

The principal political issue in Anthem - and in society at large - is the issue of individualism vs. collectivism.  The society depicted in Anthem is a collectivist society.  "Collectivism," Ayn Rand wrote, "means the subjugation of the individual to the group - whether to a race, class, or state does not matter."  In such a society, the individual is owned by the group; he has no right to a private existence, which means no right to lead his own life, pursue his own happiness, or use his own property.  The individual exists only as part of the group, and his worth is determined by his service to the group.

The alternative to collectivism is individualism, the view advocated by Ayn Rand.  "Individualism," she wrote, "regards man - every man - as an independent, sovereign entity who possesses an inalienable right to his own life, a right derived from his nature as a rational being."  Individualism does not mean that one can do whatever he feels like doing; it means that every man is an individual and has the same rights.

Power Point Presentations

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Slide #1 - Introduction

Slides #2-6 - Each slide must contain the following:

• A person that you have influneced or who has influenced you
• A picture of that person
• The lesson that you have learned through your experience with that person

Slide #7 - How important are you in this world?

Slide #8 - What have you learned about yourself through this introspection?

Prezi Presentation - English 2 H

http://prezi.com/cclfql_i4rno/using-prezi/

Webquest

Assignment 1: The Scottsboro Boys Trial Webquest

Search the Internet to find the answers to the following questions:

-What was the trial about?

-Who was on trial?  Why?  When did the trial occur?

-Why were the "boys" accused?

-What happened during the trial?  Did they get a fair trial/were they adequately represented?

-What are the facts of the case?

-What was the outcome of the trial?  Were there any appeals?  What was learned after the trial?

-How did this trial affect America?  

-What was the verdict?  How did America respond?  Explain.

Website Suggestions

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm

Click on the timeline once you reach this site.

http://pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/peopleevents/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/sfeature/sf_lynching.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/SG/SG5.html?tqskip1=1&tqtime=1103

http://www.users.bigpond.com/burnside/scottsboro.htm

Provides good description of trial

http://www.courttv.com/archive/greatesttrials/scottsboro/trials.html

Assignment 2: The Great Depression Photography

Visit the following website and browse the pictures:

http://history1900s.about.com/od/photographs/tp/greatdepressionpictures.htm

Choose one photograph and describe what the picture is illustrating, how it relates to what you already know about the Great Depression, and relate it to something current.