Symbolism in Their Eyes Were Watching God...

The mule scene in Their Eyes Were Watching God is rather well-known. We have begun to discuss what we think mules symbolize in class but in your writing tonight, I want you to examine in depth the scene from Chapter 6. How does Hurston personify the mule? Why does she do this?  Why is this scene significant? What is Hurston trying to achieve with this scene? Write a brief response and use evidence to support your thinking.

"To be or not to be..."

Tonight you will read the most famous soliloquy in Hamlet. As you read, I want you to contemplate why this soliloquy is so famous? What is Hamlet addressing in this soliloquy and why does it resonate with people today?

Below you will find a few different versions of this soliloquy being performed. How might you perform this soliloquy?

Hamlet

Welcome back!

Tonight for homework, I want you to contemplate the role of the Ghost in Act 1 of Hamlet. What is his purpose? Is it for good?  What do you think about the story the Ghost tells Hamlet? Why do you think the Ghost asks Hamlet to "Remember me?" What expectations does this line place on Hamlet?

Please use the comment section below to respond.

A good site for literary devices

Literary Devices

Thinking about Kate Chopin's The Storm

In class today, we discussed Kate Chopin's The Storm. I love this short story not only because it so clearly articulates the feminist lens, but also because of her ability to depict womanhood in such concise and evocative language. Her writing reflected her belief that freedom was much more a matter of spirit and character than physical confinements.

Lines like, "The growl of the thunder was distant and passing. The rain beat softly upon the shingles, inviting them to drowsiness and sleep. But they dared not yield" (Chopin, 145), paint a deeply profound allegorical image of the two characters' passion for each other and for life.

Your essays ask you to describe a time you rebelled and my hope is that you will take a few pointers from Chopin this week!

Letters of Note

Here is the link I discussed in class that should help you with your first writing assignment!

Letters of Note


Below is one of my favorite letters from one of the great American letter writers, Benjamin Franklin.


Transcript

Philada. July 5. 1775

Mr. Strahan

You are a Member of Parliament, and one of that Majority which has doomed my Country to Destruction. You have begun to burn our Towns and murder our People. — Look upon your hands! They are stained with the Blood of your Relations! — You and I were long Friends:— You are now my Enemy, — and

I am,

Yours.

B. Franklin

(Source: http://www.lettersofnote.com/search?q=+benjamin+franklin)

Welcome to English III

Welcome to English III! 
Our focus this year will be to navigate the ins and outs of American Literature. As we explore the many great writers of America, we will also strive to improve our own writing. Please view this page of my blog as a resource for you in this class as well as a place for me to share some of my own ideas on what we are reading and writing about as well. 

In this class, we will create our own blogs which we will use to creatively examine the readings we do this year. Unlike your weekly essays (which will mainly be analytical), these blogs are for you to respond not only to our readings, but to each other as well. I will post weekly discussion questions or creative assignments to help you get started, but you are welcome to offer up your own thoughts or interpretations on the reading. You may also choose to respond to each other's ideas as well. 

We will spend one of our first classes creating your blog so don't despair if you have no idea about where to begin! If you wish to get started on your own, just go to the site www.blogger.com and follow the steps to get started. Once you have set up your blog, please email me a link to you blog so that I may share it with your classmates. 

You are expected to write at least one response per week (10 weeks = 10 responses) on the texts we are reading in class. Responses should be at least 250 words in length and should have correct spelling as well as grammar. I will be grading your responses on a ten point scale, with a 10 being outstanding and 0 meaning you wrote nothing that week.  

View your blog as your personal journal/ reflection space, so be creative! I look forward to reading your responses.