September 11, 2019

On September 11, 2001, I was a junior in high school when the Twin Towers fell. You weren't born, and you don't remember a life without being on high-alert at an airport. The world certainly hasn't been the same, and I sincerely hope that you don't ever have to experience the same tragedy that my generation did.

A reminder: your poem is due tomorrow by 11:59PM.

Period 1 and 2:
We read a large chunk of Beowulf today (pages 27-45) and caught up on dialectal journal entries (you should have around six at this point).

Here are some guiding questions to think about from today's reading:

1. What is Beowulf’s debt to Hrothgar? (27)
2. How does Beowulf learn about Grendel? (29)
3. Discuss a line that indicates Beowulf’s dedication to defeating Grendel.
4. What is the point of Ecglaf’s “story”?
5. How does Beowulf contradict this?
6. Describe Wealhtheow.
7. Comitatus: In Anglo-Saxon literature, comitatus is a term used to describe a mutually beneficial relationship between noblemen and landholders. (45)

Period 3 and 4:

If you are absent, we read an excerpt (chapter 12, "Is it a Symbol?") from How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. 

 

As we read we determined: what is the main idea of this chapter? What supporting details does the author give to help us understand how to work with symbolism? You should have annotated: lines or details that would help you better understand how to interpret a text and applied your thinking/learning to your present reading of The Alchemist.

Once we finished reading, on three separate notecards: 1. A line that stands out to you for whatever reason from the reading, 2. A thought you have about how this could potentially help you become a better reader, and 3. An interpretation of a possible symbol (thus far) in The Alchemist.

Period 6:

Reading: Yesterday, you got a chance to read "Us and Them" and we discussed some questions about the end of the story in class. 

Today you get to work with a partner to answer very similar questions in writing. 

You are working together. 

The Form:

You will fill out ONE form with BOTH your names on it. 

One partner should open the memoir. (If you don't have a copy of it ask for help.)

The other partner should open the form.