Monday, October 4, 2010

Ah, autumn--the best season of the year, IMHO. It's just now starting to feel cooler in the mornings and evenings (although it was plenty warm at the BHS rummage sale this morning) and the faintest hint of optimism is curling through the leaves. I love autumn, and think it is no small coincidence that the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley immortalized it as "the dirge of the dying year" in his "Ode to the West Wind," in which he described the winds of autumn as capable of engendering creativity.

So let's get to it!

Gifted English II: Your HW this weekend was to create one sentence using at least five of the Word of the Day words; we will share them, then finish the last short bit of Antigone (period one) before moving on to Ovid (period two). You will not need your textbook this week. Our Author of the Day today is Nathaniel Hawthorne, and our new word is transmogrify.

Classwork: Transition from ancient Greek drama to Roman poetry with Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Homework: Enrichment opportunity with literary terms, due tomorrow for extra credit (see handout) and Antigone questions due tomorrow by 3 p.m.

APees: We finished Act I last week, so let's take a little quiz on Act I and see how much we recall from this introductory foray into MacStuff. Once we're done, we'll self-score and make the transition into Act II.

Classwork: Quiz, and explication de texte of Macb in class with discussion intertwined.

Homework: Content vocabulary for Act II.

Lesson Schedule: September 20-September 24

My, how time flies.

Here is the tentative schedule for next week, for planning purposes. If my family situation nosedives, I might have to make some changes, but for now this looks like The Deal.

APees:

Monday, September 20: Review for Oedipus Rex test tomorrow; go over multiple choice passages from the practice session you did Friday.

Tuesday, September 21: Oedipus Rex test; work on rough draft for in-class review tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 22: In-class review of ORex focus paper. (NOTE: 3rd period: I had intended to make this due on Thursday, but I was informed after your class last week that Guidance wanted to see you Thursday after all. If you can have it ready today, great. If not, I can look at it during the Writing Center for you Thursday during either lunch shift.)

Thursday, September 23: Guidance visit for transcripts, corrections, and senior graduation check.

Friday, September 24: Introduction to Shakespearean tragedy!

Gifted English II

Monday, September 20: Author of the Day: JG Ballard; Word of the Day: alacrity

I had asked you to read and answer the questions for Scene II and Ode II of Antigone on Friday; today, we are starting with Scene III--now with more metaphors! HW tonight: Define vocabulary words 81-100 and read a chapter in The Count of Monte Cristo.

Tuesday, September 21: Author of the Day: David Foster Wallace. Word of the Day; myriad. Scene IV and Ode IV of Antigone; reminder about reading day tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 22: Second Reading Day for The Count of Monte Cristo! Ten points for reading--be sure to bring your book!

Thursday, September 23: Author of the Day: Emily Dickinson. Word of the Day: perambulate. Antigone, Scene V and Exodos.

Friday, September 24: Vocabulary Quiz #5; concluding thoughts on Antigone; due date assigned for Antigone questions; prep for Antigone test.

Lesson Schedule: September 13, 2010-September 17, 2010

A couple of notes:

1. APees: I am still trying to bump up our senior Guidance visit date, to ameliorate any woe as you prepare for college. If I can't, please order your unofficial transcript and go over it with a fine-tooth comb for errors and inconsistencies. This is very, very important.

2. All classes need their textbooks (or, seniors, your paperback of ORex) until further notice. Every day. No locker passes. EVERY DAY.

3. Seventh period: We need to have a chat. I am very unhappy with about half of you, and the other half is going to hurt the erring half if the whole class goes on a seating chart. Settle down, and now. Today was hot, yes, but the slippery slope towards immature behavior started Tuesday. I'm glad you're all friends, but we have serious work to do and we need to get to it.

The briskness of business out of the way, here is our tentative learning schedule for the upcoming week:

GIFTED ENGLISH II (Periods 1 and 2)

Monday, 9/13/2010 Pass back an enormous amount of graded work from the basket, after which our Author of the Day is Isaac Asimov and our Word of the Day is "ameliorate." We will be having an A of D quiz this week, and you are allowed to use YOUR notes. YOUR notes, not anyone else's, and I don't have any since I do this stuff out of my head. After we do this, we will continue to work on Antigone, Scene 1 and Ode 1, and answer the questions on the guide I gave you last Friday. HW tonight: Define your vocabulary words #61-80; I may not be able to review as thoroughly this week.

Tuesday, 9/14/2010 Our Author today is Harper Lee, and our word is "insouciant." Before we launch headlong into ancient Greece, we need to do a short activity of PSAT preparation. The PSAT is a very important test you will be taking in exactly one month, and it's the single best way we can tell where you need to focus your efforts. You are already signed up to take it on the second Wednesday in October during your morning classes (it's excused) and the cost to sophomores is covered by College Board, as far as current information indicates. Antigone discussion/reading. HW: Bring Count of Monte Cristo with you tomorrow for in-class reading, and a beverage with a cap or lid on it. (No spills in 313!)

Wednesday, 9/15/2010: No Author today; today is the first of three scheduled in-class reading days for The Count of Monte Cristo, which is otherwise an OUTSIDE reading task. I have a character list for each of you and some suggestions on pre-reading, then it's off to the races. The success of the first two reading days will predict how comfortable the last one will be. . . HW: A short handout about commas.

Thursday, 9/16/2010: Author of the Day is Shel Silverstein, and the word of the day is "per se." (I am sick of people spelling it persay.) Then. . .dun dun dun. . .Author of the Day quiz. Then. . .I will answer ten questions about this week's vocab list. Then. . .Antigone! HW: Study for vocab quiz.

Friday, 9/17/2010: Author of the Day is Leo Tolstoy, and word of the day is "egregious." We will have a few minutes to study for our quiz, then we will take the fourth vocab test. Afterwards, we will dive back into Antigone. Your HW this weekend is to continue reading CMC since there will be a progress check next week.

AP Lit and Comp

Monday, 9/13/2010 We initiated a double-entry form of reading on Friday; I'd like everyone to select one quote or line from the play thus far and write it in a universal diagram on the board to initiate discussion. Then, we'll go more linear and take a good look at the in-order questions I gave you Thursday to ensure that everyone understands what's going on with this play. Focus papers go back today, and you have a week to resubmit if you are so inclined.

Tuesday, 9/14/2010 Our focal point today is Jocasta, who is possibly the tragic epicenter of the play and not her son-husband. Her attitude towards omens and the gods is suspect in this time period and we need to see why Sophocles may have created her in this skeptical vein. Also, we will move forward with the double-entry analysis and continue gathering evidence from the play.

Wednesday, 9/15/2010 Switching gears entirely, with popcorn. Last week, we created a timed writing in 30 minutes on a topic from a previous AP exam. Today, you will have a chance to redo that assignment as a revision--for a grade. You may change topics if you like (some of the TWs felt a little rambly, like you couldn't settle on a position in that short a time period) or you may clean up the draft you've already composed. Whatever you turn in at the end of the period gets graded on the 1-9 scale, but I'll try to be nice.

Thursday, 9/16/2010 Back to Oedipus Rex. Today, I have a critical piece by Frederick Glaysher on Sophocles and the "plague of modernity." It's worth reading for several reasons, not the least of which is that responding to this article is Topic #2 for your second focus paper of the year, which I am also assigning today. It is due next Thursday, September 23, 2010.

Friday, 9/17/2010 Oedipus wrap-up (as far as narrative and literary elements go, that is) and finishing the discussion questions in-class. Our next text will be Macbeth by Shakespeare, but it won't be until the end of next week as we have other business to attend to first.

Be well, everyone!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Today's Homecoming Dress-up Occasion is: WHATEVER!!! It's really called My Favorite. . . which has led me to believe that some children will dress up as their favorite serial killer or some such, while others will take the more sedate road and dress up as a favorite cartoon character or Harry Potter-esque thing. One girl offered to dress like me, and I hope she was kidding. What, a long dress and a cardigan? With a piece of glitter stuck to the side of your nose? Hmmmm.

(She's very sweet, though.)

So dress up tomorrow as your favorite Whatever, but stay in dress code and there will be much rejoicing.

Because. . .

Today is TEST DAY in 313! Bring a pencil and the necessary caffeine (for you, not for me--I plan to be super-prepared tomorrow.)

Gifted English II: Antigone test, which won't take all period (I hope) and will allow us time to launch into Icarus and Friends.

APeeps: Mactest. This will take some people all period; when you are finished, I invite you to read Eliot's "Preludes" and get ready for a bumpy ride.

Love to all!

Friday, October 9, 2009

There might be a fire drill today during fifth period. Plan accordingly. I will be toting my SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY sign, so if we get separated in the fray find the sign.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Elizabeth Barrett Browning, after which we are doing a grammar activity based on yesterday's chat in class. The Antigone test is Tuesday, and I will review you extensively on Monday in class. If we have time today, I'd like to read "Daedalus and Icarus" by Ovid in preparation for a mini-unit on language.

AP Literature and Composition: MacReview for the Mactest on Tuesday, followed by a Frost poem that is ideologically connected to the MacPlay. Guaranteed to leave you depressed. Fifth period, a thousand apologies--we will be deconstructing said poem on the practice field in the hot sun, in order to ensure Fire Safety.

NOTE: Thanks to all who came to the Project X-Mas meeting after school on Thursday; it was awesome.

NOTE NOTE: Poetry reading after school today from 2:30-4:00 in room 315. Please consider attending!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Project X-Mas meeting after school today! Room 313, from 2:15ish-2:45ish. I am feeling ish.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Sylvia Plath, who isn't depressing at all. (Actually, break out the Kleenex.) Afterwards--Antigone review for the amazing Antigone test we are taking tomorrow, and a grammar activity that will blow your mind. Or not.

APees: Bring a pen or pencil, and don't hate. The Mactest does have to be postponed until next week due to fire-related activities that might manifest themselves, say, Friday fifth period, so today we are Macwriting. Yup--you heard it here first. MacDoIt.

Regarding PTSA Parent Night: Thank you so much to all of the parents and students who came and braved my overheated classroom and partook of melted chocolate candies and had to listen to me babble far too quickly about issues far too important to be thus babbled about. (Diagram that sentence if you dare!) It was lovely meeting all of you, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach your children. I know this is cheesy (cue wailing violins and orchestra music) but I believe that teaching is a mission and even though I use humor as frequently as possible to convey my message, I do have a message and I want these young people to become independent, thoughtful life-long learners. I really believe that they can accomplish anything given the right push and the necessary tools, and I thank all of you for allowing me the privilege of borrowing them for a few hours each week. (End rant; no applause, really; it's all good.)

Love to all!!!! Go read something!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tonight is PTSA Parent Night. You are welcome to attend with your parents. Please don't forget to bring home the form you received today in either first period or your English class (mine) that lists your schedule and has a helpful map of the school for your parents to navigate. And hopefully it won't rain this time!

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Shel Silverstein, after which we have a vocabulary quiz for the final list of literary terms. We will be transitioning into SAT/ACT vocabulary words forthwith, but we needed to start with 120 literary terms so that you have the necessary diction for literary analysis this year. After the quiz, I will distribute the take-home Antigone essay test and go over the expectations for it. We will have an in-class objective test on the same play on Thursday, complete with clip art and festive multiple choice questions, but the take-home is your opportunity to express yourself in written form. THE TAKE-HOME TEST MUST BE POSTED ON TURNITIN.COM SO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ACCOUNT YET (AFTER ALL THIS TIME--OY) SEE ME ASAP.

APees: MacScavenger Hunt, followed by more Macgoodness. And if you thought you escaped the necessity of a Macpaper, well. . .

Here is my favorite, favorite speech from the entire play. A dear friend of mine e-mailed it to me last week as inspiration, and I was struck again by how eternally evocative these few words are, even today:

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Macbeth, Act V, scene v.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Today is bi-week, which means that there is no football game on the schedule. Regardless, it's still ORANGE AND WHITE DAY which means that according to Ms. McMillen, you can leave third period one minute early for lunch if you are wearing our school colors.

(I will be wearing what I normally wear, thus manifesting my school spirit radiantly from the inside while clad in black on the outside. It's my oeuvre.)

That said: There is a horrible rumor going around about Senior Skip Day being tomorrow. It's awfully early in the school year to start these shenanigans, people, and you already have two three-day weekends on the calendar in the humble month of October. So let this be known: If you are absent tomorrow, and it turns into an EXCUSED absence (college visit, dental work, major existential crisis pre-approved by a parental unit, illness, slight case of death, robot attack, intervention from neighboring countries) then I might let you make up the awesome quiz I am planning for tomorrow. If not, you lose out. If you are there--regardless of period you choose to attend--you will receive full credit for a quiz that gloriously asks you mundane questions like "What are you wearing?" and "What room are you in, right now?" COME TO SCHOOL. IT WILL SERVE YOU WELL. SKIPPING CLASS IS SUCH A FRESHMAN BEHAVIOR. BE A ROLE MODEL.

Announcements!!!

1. Guidance is working assiduously to fix the transcript problems; I assure you it is not them, but a glitch that might be affecting more than just BHS. Please try to be patient, and if you feel that you are going to lose your temper, come to my room and have a peppermint. Peppermints are known to improve moods instantly (or at least mitigate halitosis.)

2. POETRY READING AFTER SCHOOL TOMORROW in my room, hosted by Covert and Hilley. Totally optional, but totally worth it. I forgot to advertise it because, honestly, I forgot that October 2 was this week. Bring a beverage; the enlightenment is free of charge. We plan to start around 2:30 and close a little after 4:00.

3. College Essay Workshop went very well, but some of you are still in denial. COME SEE ME ASAP if you need help. I care. I am paid very little to care a lot. Feel the love, people. :-)

Gifted English II: Due to lack of organization on the part of your instructor, you have no vocab quiz today. Woot! So we will review the words from 101-120, then try to finish Antigone. I also want to share some samples from Wednesday's timed writing--some of your essays were hilarious and/or insightful.

APees: MacStuff. What will happen to Lady MacDuff and Egg McDuffin? Will Malcolm turn out to be a liar or a jerk, hiding in England and eating scones and crumpets? Will Macbeth get his just desserts? Will the witches break into song again? WHAT WILL HAPPEN? OMG!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I am not here today; please be kind to your substitute. I have to tend to some family matters today but I do plan to return tomorrow.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is William Wordsworth; copy the notes off the board and I will fill in with anecdotes tomorrow. When you are finished, the substitute will distribute the Author of the Day quiz and you may use your notebook to answer the questions. Once that is complete, I expect each of you to work on your Antigone questions THROUGH Scene Five. These will be due one day after we complete the play--perhaps as early as Friday. Also, please work on your vocabulary list from 101-120.

NOTE TO SOPHYS: Reading Day for Count of Monte Cristo has to be rescheduled for Thursday due to FCAT Writes! practice tomorrow. I apologize for any inconvenience, but the FCAT cannot be denied. We have a prompt given to us from the district that we have to use. Please help me in this regard: ultimately, it will help you. You want to graduate! You don't want to remediate as a junior or senior! You want success! Yeah, you do!!! And I promise that reading day on Thursday will epitomize magnificence.

APees: MacQuiz, Act III--admire the awesome clip art. This is very much a Who/What/When/Where kind of quiz, so if you read as I asked you to you should be sound as a pound. When you are finished, you may work on defining the MacContent Vocabulary for your personal edification, or you may work through the MacQuestions, or if you annoy the substitute, you will find yourself on the business end of a MacTimed Writing. (BTW--I never get tired of using "Mac" as a prefix. It MacRocks. So there. Or MacThere.)

PLEASE be good. I am not nice when I am disappointed by student behavior, but you are such super-nice young people that I anticipate a good report upon my return.

September 28, 2009

Note:  From sunset last night to sunset tonight, Judaism commemorates Yom Kippur.  If you need to be out of school today for religious observance, please see me for your make-up work upon your return, and I hope you have a good Day of Atonement.

Gifted English II:  Author of the Day is Percy Bysshe Shelley.  Reminder that the Author of the Day Quiz, which is open notes, but not open book, open friend, or open teacher, is tomorrow.  Bring a pencil or pen.  We will be progressing quickly through Antigone today, and there might be a need for a post-it quiz.  Just saying.

APees:  This past weekend, I asked you to read the critical essay "On the Knocking at the Gate" by Thomas de Quincey, 19th century scholar.  Today we need to discuss that piece with respect to Macbeth, Acts I and II.  You will need to read the rest of Act III independently, but we will begin it today in class. There might be a writing prompt tomorrow related to Macstuff.  Just saying.  

Friday, September 25, 2009

Dear Students,

I don't have this officially, but apparently we won't be distributing progress reports tomorrow in the traditional format. Your parental units will be encouraged to log in to ProgressBook and view your averages there. We are still working on the nuances of this new system, but I'm sure I'll have info to send home regarding this shift.

ALSO--I have letters to distribute to the sophomores about the PSAT, which is coming up in mid-October. Each of you is already signed up to take this test, at no cost to you. This test is the single-best indicator we have for preparedness for multiple AP courses next year, and will help you prep for the National Merit Scholars competition.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Margery Kempe, after which we have an awesome vocabulary quiz for words 81-100. Then: More Antigone, Scene 4!

APees: After a brief but scintillating quizlet on Macbeth, Acts I and II--har har--we are going to launch full-on into Act II, scene iii--the Porter sequence.

HW this weekend: Gifted English II--finish reading Antigone; APees--read the essay by Thomas de Quincey called "On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth" that I am distributing tomorrow.

Regarding NHS: Please consider your timing when asking me to sign your form or give you service hours. I'm always glad to help, but some of you are having trouble sensing the tone. If I am surrounded by students seeking help with college essays, or am assiduously working on something in the Writing Center, flinging yourself to the head of the line and demanding something Right Now is not the way to fly. Sense the tone, people. And learn to recognize when an eye-roll is aimed at you.

That said, I am glad to help. I know these forms are due next Friday. If you need help, come see me--but be nice about it!!!

Much love to all. Really!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

NOTE: If you are interested in joining the Thanksgiving Paris trip (seniors only) you have to let me know TODAY. My tour guide can only hold on to his extra hotel rooms through the end of this week and he needs to know if you are coming. See me if you have any questions.

The Ireland trip still has a few spots open, but they are rapidly disappearing. Again, see me if you have any questions. This is my last year to travel with students--at least for a long while!

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is George Gordon, Lord Byron. We need to work rapidly through Antigone today, although from this point on the questions are your responsibility.

AP Literature and Composition: MacStuff!!! Act I, scene vii and Act II.

HOMEWORK: Sophys--study for tomorrow's vocab quiz. APees--keep up with MacQuestions.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Today is Ms. Skinner's birthday! Be sure to say Happy Birthday to her if you are in her AP Gov or American Government Honors class.

Gifted English II: Now that benchmark testing is behind us (whew) we can get back to Business As Usual. Author of the Day is Michael Crichton, followed by a quick review of some examples related to this week's literary vocabulary, followed by Antigone. BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK.

AP Lit and Comp: Yesterday, we read Macbeth, Act I, scenes i-iii. We need to finish looking at the questions before we go into scenes iv-vii. I plan to read Act I and II in class with you, then assign Act III for your own reading one evening. We need to do Act IV scene i together in class, and I'd like to conclude the play together as well (Act V, scenes iii-vii) but the rest will be independent. We have other Mactivities (get it? haha) to do that will help us reinforce our learning, as well. This play ROCKS. Thanks to all who dramatically read on Tuesday--you are all awesome.

Homework: Sophys: Keep up with the Antigone questions, and study your vocabulary. APees: Please, please, please work on your college essays and applications, and keep up with the Macquestions.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Welcome to Autumn! (And Ms. Skinner's birthday. . .)

Today is the fall solstice, so we are officially out of summer, even though the temperatures would indicate otherwise. Here in Florida it is still unbearably hot at times, and we don't really don't note the passing of seasons like our northern counterparts. But fall is still fall, a time that has always felt incredibly optimistic to me, since I measure my life in academic calendars and not January-December ones.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Michael Crichton, the highest-paid author in America. He passed away last spring from cancer but during his life contributed extensively to popular culture, most notably through his creation of the television series E.R. After our A of D, we will turn our attention back to Antigone and a syntax analysis related to it.

APees: You need your copy of the Macplay today, and we are jumping right in to Act I. Prepare to be amazed by Shakespeare's vision.

Monday, September 21, 2009

First, my condolences to the BHS Varsity football team. Winter Park is smirking tonight. Just remember that it isn't who wins or loses--it's whomever has the most fun! Right? ::shakes head, hears grumbling, knows this isn't helping::

Many thanks to Stephen C. for making Pirate Pancakes for fifth period on Friday, and to Kristy G. for helping serve them. You guys are awesome! This was a great Pirate Day and I hope everyone had a fun time with the stickers and piratey-ness.

Lessons for Today:

Gifted English II:

Author of the Day: John Keats, Romantic poet and tragic figure. Keats died at 25 after diagnosing his own tuberculosis, and I've always wondered what he could have produced had his life not been so cruelly cut off. His work is mind-blowingly good, from "To a Nightingale" to "Ode on a Grecian Urn."

HW: Define 81-100 on your vocabulary list, and be sure to keep up with the Antigone questions. Also, remember that CMC is due October 23.

Classwork: We need to get caught up with Antigone, Scenes 1 and 2. Come in with your textbook BEFORE the bell rings.

AP Literature:

Mrs. Pearson will be coming to all of the classes today to discuss your futures and distribute your SAIR forms. Please be sure to check those forms very carefully to ensure that A) any FLVS credits are posted, B) your service hours and updated, and C) your test scores have been accurately reported.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Yes, it looks like we've missed a day here, but honestly, what would be the point of listing assignments for a day in which all of my beloved sophys spent the whole morning taking PSAT, and then my equally-beloved APees had 20-minute long class sessions? At least I got to read my pop-up book of Coleridge to the seniors. That was fun.

On to Thursday!

Sophys: Brief deconstruction of the PSAT experience, followed by Author of the Day presentations from Josh, Morgan, and the regularly scheduled peeps for today. We need to finish reviewing Antigone and deciding what to do about the Antigone test--today or tomorrow? It's super-short (33 little questions) but we need to do it. Reminder of CMC peer edit experience tomorrow.

HOMEWORK FOR TENTH GRADE: Count of Monte Cristo Rough Draft. NOTE TO TENTH GRADE: I still need to schedule some make-up work for a handful of you. See me ASAP, please. Kthnxbye. (See? I can speak AOL.)

APees: Cartoon Day, in one view; Introduction to Hamlet Day, in another. There will be some bad art, some Lion King analogies, and a lot of lecture. Please come prepared to NOT interrupt me for once. I love you guys--especially some of you gregarious types--but please lay off the espresso. For serious. Notes on Hamlet to follow in an upcoming post.



HOMEWORK FOR APees: Act I, scene i--read, understood, analyzed. It's short so make it so. NOTE TO APees: Several of you are missing work due to absences. Please see me ASAP to schedule the love. Grades are due next Friday for this quarter, people, after which NO work will be accepted nor resubmissions evaluated.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I've just been informed that I have a meeting before first period and another meeting immediately after seventh--both mandatory, my favorite word--so I won't be able to conference with anyone about college essays unless you can give up A lunch. Yay for meetings!

Sophys: Review PSAT vocabulary; review CMC for tomorrow's fun test, review Antigone for the take-home essay test, review PSAT strategies (hey--are you seeing a theme here? Lots of REVIEW.)

APees: MacFinalization in preparation for an eventual Mactest. I'm thinking Friday.

Apropos of Nothing: Project Runway Finale, part I is tonight! Just saying.

Primary Text Supplement for AP Lit:

AP Literature and Composition
Literary Criticism of the Macplay by A.C. Bradley
(from his series of 17 lectures on the play, presented in 1935)

4. SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH

. . .From this murky background stand out the two great terrible figures, which dwarf all the remaining characters of the drama. Both are sublime, and both inspire, far more than the other tragic heroes, the feeling of awe. They are never detached in imagination from the atmosphere, which surrounds them and adds to their grandeur and terror. It is, as it were, continued into their souls. For within them is all that we felt without the darkness of night, lit with the flame of tempest and the hues of blood, and haunted by wild and direful shapes, 'murdering ministers,' spirits of remorse, and maddening visions of peace lost and judgment to come. The way to be untrue to Shakespeare here, as always, is to relax the tension of imagination, to conventionalize, to conceive Macbeth, for example, as a half-hearted cowardly criminal, and Lady Macbeth as a whole-hearted fiend.
These two characters are fired by one and the same passion of ambition; and to a considerable
extent they are alike. The disposition of each is high, proud, and commanding. They are born to
rule if not to reign. They are peremptory or contemptuous to their inferiors. They are not children
of light, like Brutus and Hamlet; they are of the world. We observe in them no love of country, and no interest in the welfare of anyone outside their family. Their habitual thoughts and aims are, and, we imagine, long have been, all of station and power. And though in both there is something, and in one much, of what is higher honour, conscience, humanity they do not live consciously in the light of these things or speak their language. Not that they are egoists, like lago; or, if they are egoists, theirs is an egoisme a deux. They have no separate ambitions. They support and love one another. They suffer together. And if, as time goes on, they drift a little apart, they are not vulgar souls, to be alienated and recriminate when they experience the fruitlessness of their ambition. They remain to the end tragic, even grand.

Definition: egoisme a deux: 1. "Selfishness of two" or "double selfishness"; a satirical description of love, variously and dubiously attributed sometimes to the French medieval writer of romances, Antoine de la Sale (circa 1385-circa 1460), to the 18th century philosophe, Antoine de Lassalle, and to the Swiss-French belle-lettrist, Madame de Staël (1766-1817): "L'amour est un égoïsme à deux," which translates as: "Love is a selfishness of two."

2. A situation in which two people are in love with each other but lack brotherly love for others.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

I'm not here today--so be nice to your substitute, Coach K's wife! And if you're not nice to her, you'll have to run laps. I'm having an X-ray done and I guarantee I'll be cranky when I return, so I don't want to return to a bad sub report. BEHAVE.

Comments have been disabled until further notice on this blog due to song lyrics, bizarre political comments, and grammatical errors being posted here. Not that I disapprove entirely, and I want ya'll to be creative (yes, that was a ya'll) but this blog serves more of a professional purpose. Assignments, updates, and information, oh my.

You can still e-mail me the inner workings of your mind at jennifer.hilley@ocps.net if you must.

Today:

Sophys:

1. PSAT Vocabulary List, with definitions!
2. An awesome brain puzzle to get your thinking in high gear!
3. A quick Antigone quiz!
4. A grammar assignment!!!

APees:

1. Macbeth Scavenger Hunt
2. Finish the Macpacket
3. If time--proofreading activity using Macbeth for content

I do see the discrepancy; why don't the seniors get exclamation points? here: Go, Class of 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, October 6, 2008

We have no game this week; I know some of you are relieved. Football season is a lot of fun, but it's a tremendous responsibility for all involved, and giving up each Friday night can be tiring (especially if you have the SAT or ACT the next morning!)

The Writing Center will be open on Tuesday and Thursday this week, both lunch shifts. I will tallying the first round of service hours at the end of this month, so be sure to sign in each shift if you are a consultant.

Sophys: Return Lit Mastery Test scantrons and finish Antigone today (ideally.) Bring your question packet with you. Friendly reminder: Count of Monte Cristo is due Thursday. Some of you are already finished--others are close. Read, people. READ.

APees: Focus paper is due Tuesday, midnight. See me today if you have questions; ther is a teeny chance that I won't be on campus tomorrow. You need to bring a hard copy AND your peer review sheet Wednesday in addition to uploading it to www.turnitin.com. Today is class: Act V, content vocabulary, and further analysis of all things Scottish.

Word of the Day: perturbation: (Noun) a disturbance of motion, course, arrangement, or state of equilibrium; taken from the astronomic terminology but often applied to one's mental state.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Today is Orange and White Day as we prepare to take on West Orange. Good luck, Braves and Bravettes, Chiefs and Chieftesses!

Today is also Friday!

Thus. . .

Sophys: Literary Terms Mastery Test (bring a pencil) and Antigone, the Conclusion.

APees: Peer review for MacFocus Paper (bring a pen) and a teeny quiz on Act IV (use the same pen.) Your homework this weekend is to read Act V and prepare to ACT. We hav swords and soundtracks and some tinfoil for "armor," so. . .

(Note regarding Act V: It's almost entirely denouement. This play has been one gigantic build-up to an inevitable conclusion, but you might be surprised by how everything neatly works out. As I mentioned in class, the parallelism in this play amazes me--symbols are repeated, paradoxical predictions have neat solutions, and apparitions take on more than merely hallucinatory imagery. Shakespeare's best puzzle!)