Archives for October 2016

Due 11/1: Romantic Poem

October 31, 2016 By

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. For most men, it appears to me, are in a strange uncertainty about it, whether it is of the devil or of God, and have somewhat hastily concluded that it is the chief end of man here to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.” -Thoreau

1. Writing–(Due 11/2) We have read several Romantics (Blake, Byron, Wordsworth, Keats, and Browning)! Considering these poets and the above quotation (take inspiration from the themes, ideas, and social implications), you will write your very own Romantic Poem! Naturally, your poem should reflect an understanding of Romanticism. Heading:

Name
Poetry Seminar
11/2/16
#4: Romantic Poem

Due 11/1: Nausea

October 31, 2016 By

1. Nausea–Read and annotate up to p. 27. Keep in mind:

  • Suspenders 🙂
  • Time
  • “Some of These Days”
  • Card games

2. (Due 11/2) Nausea–Read and annotate up to p. 40 (Stop at Sunday) Keep in mind:

  • Adventures

3. (Due 11/2) Class Forum

4. (NOW DUE NOVEMBER 10!) EXTRA CREDIT! This is a creative VISUAL extra credit assignment.  This image or series of images should tell a story (a story that is connected to one of the themes below).  Each image should include a pithy existential narrative no more than 50 words in length (preferably closer to 30). If you think of all that we have read and discussed thus far and consider the scope of your theme, you can really get funky with this assignment!   Your visual must capture the essence of your theme!  The color of absence of color in the image is completely up to you.  All creative decisions are yours!  Just capture one of the existential themes below!  Although not necessary, feel free to connect your visual to a text read thus far in the term if you would like. The final submission will be scored based upon creative ingenuity and thematic relevance! Here you will see a sampling of past creative visuals submitted for this course.

The Individual in industrialized society
Faith and Existentialism (Anguish and Fear)
Atheistic Existentialism (Nothingness, despair, and suffering)
Authenticity and Bad Faith
Alienation and Absurdity
Personal Freedom (Individual Subjectivity)
Death and existence

Due 10/31: Browning and Romantic Poem

October 28, 2016 By

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. For most men, it appears to me, are in a strange uncertainty about it, whether it is of the devil or of God, and have somewhat hastily concluded that it is the chief end of man here to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.” -Thoreau

1. Reading–Be sure you have revisited Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn. Also, read the three poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: If Thou Must Love Me, How do I Love Thee, and A Curse for a Nation. Some of you must pay much closer attention to the poems when you print them out! Some are, believe or not, longer than one page.

2. Writing–(Due 11/2) We have read several Romantics (Blake, Byron, Wordsworth, Keats, and Browning)! Considering these poets and the above quotation (take inspiration from the themes, ideas, and social implications), you will write your very own Romantic Poem! Naturally, your poem should reflect an understanding of Romanticism. Heading:

Name
Poetry Seminar
11/2/16
#4: Romantic Poem

3. Group Presentations–The Elizabethan group presents on Nov. 7th. That group (as with all) should meet with me early next week! Again, all groups are expected to meet with me at lease once before they present.

Due 10/31: Nausea and More…

October 28, 2016 By

1. Nausea–Read and annotate through p. 18. This novel is quite challenging to wrap your head around and simply cannot be understood without understanding these concepts (among others).  So, here’s to a great intellectual challenge!!! Keep the following in mind while annotating:

“The strangest thing is that I am not at all inclined to call myself insane, I clearly see that I am not: all these changes concern objects. At least, that is what I’d like to be sure of.” (2)

“Something has happened to me, I can’t doubt it any more.” (4)

Also keep in mind that this novel chronicles Roquentin’s existential illness and his road to understanding and “recovery.”

2. The Stranger–I am collecting your copies on Monday to grade annotations. Be sure to have your copy in class.

3. EXTRA CREDIT! This is a creative VISUAL extra credit assignment.  This image or series of images should tell a story (a story that is connected to one of the themes below).  Each image should include a pithy existential narrative no more than 50 words in length (preferably closer to 30). If you think of all that we have read and discussed thus far and consider the scope of your theme, you can really get funky with this assignment!   Your visual must capture the essence of your theme!  The color of absence of color in the image is completely up to you.  All creative decisions are yours!  Just capture one of the existential themes below!  Although not necessary, feel free to connect your visual to a text read thus far in the term if you would like. The final submission will be scored based upon creative ingenuity and thematic relevance! Here you will see a sampling of past creative visuals submitted for this course. DUE NOVEMBER 14! 

The Individual in industrialized society
Faith and Existentialism (Anguish and Fear)
Atheistic Existentialism (Nothingness, despair, and suffering)
Authenticity and Bad Faith
Alienation and Absurdity
Personal Freedom (Individual Subjectivity)
Death and existence

Due 10/31: The Bell Jar Essay Prep and More…

October 28, 2016 By

With great appreciation, I thank you for sharing your confessional poems this week. 

1. The Bell Jar essay is just around the bend (First Draft due Monday, Nov. 7th), so you should begin thinking about argumentative positions on the text. I strongly encourage you to consider how the feminist lens questions can give shape to a thesis. Once we finish the essay, I will collect The Bell Jar and grade your annotations.

Keep in mind: Feminist criticism is concerned with “…the ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women” (Tyson). This school of theory looks at how aspects of our culture are inherently patriarchal (male dominated) and “…this critique strives to expose the explicit and implicit misogyny in male writing about women” (Richter 1346).

Remember, Plath illustrates economic, social, and psychological oppression of Esther (and perhaps others). Where do we see this in the novel? How does she illustrate these dynamics?

(Due 10/31) Thesis/Essay Pre-writing (I expect to see a great deal of thought put into this first formal stage of the process.)–In preparation for your essay, you must fill in the blank here: In my The Bell Jar essay I will explore Plath’s treatment of ___________. Fill in the blank with an element(s) that you would like to explore. Many of you will choose to explore her treatment of a specific theme, and that is fine, but know that you are not limited to theme here. then, develop the idea a bit. Naturally, I want you to WRITE OUT (in your binder) at least 5 quotations that are relevant to a discussion of your chosen element(s). Why did you choose this evidence? How do your quotations relate to one another? This is the first step of the process! The more thought and effort you put into this, the easier the entire process will be. Here is a sample:

IMG_6922.JPG

2. The Bell Jar closing discussion–All pairs should ensure that they have finalized their discussion question, especially the presenting pairs.

3. 1984–We are starting 1984 next week, so if you would like to purchase your own copy, please do!

4. Personal Vocab–You should be at 30 by the end of next week. A collection is coming soon. Remember, your personal vocab should not be typed.

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