British Literature-Period 4.

William J. Kuhl

Monday, September 14, 2009.

Opening of School Liturgy during Homeroom.

Distribution of text books, papers, SAT book, Fill out information papers. Homework: Please go to my home page and click the British Flag logo.Please read the assignment (Reading #1) and if you so desire, take notes on index cards. Due Thursday, 9-17-09.

Reading assignment deals with Anglo-Saxons from the Germanic areas of Europe, the Celts dispersion into Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the role of the Romans during this period.

***** Check out the rest of the week for homework assignments *****

_____________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, 9-15-09. # 1 Schedule.

Back to school night for parents.

We will watch a brief excerpt of a movie concerning as very famous British poem and discusss how it relates to you. Have you completed your reading assignment?

_______________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, 9-16-09.

No formal classes. In-Service for teachers.

________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, 9-17-09.

Short test on your reading assignment. Discussion of your reading assignment. Make sure you take notes in your copybook. **** If time permits, we will read the hand out notes entitled Beowulf. We will discuss the following items : definition of an Epic poem, role of Christianity and paganism in the poem, revenge, wergild, wyrd, role of a Mead Hall?materialism, a person's reputation and his/her success as to how it was measured, how success was gained, loyalty,responsibilities of a warrior and those of a king, symbolic meaning of the moster's lair (den), examples of Beowulf symbolizing good and Grendel being evil, the important aspects of the Anglo-Saxon religion, its dark and fatalistic qualities, the meaning and importance of a Bard and a Scop, and various literary terms that are used in Beowulf. We will also include the work's themes, motifs, and symbols.

If there is not enough time, please read the hand out notes entitled Beowulf and we will discuss these items on Friday.

________________________________________________________________________

Friday, 9-18-09.

Finish up on any of the above items that were not discussed/explained.

Please start reading the Epic Poem "Beowulf" and fill in the Chrono-Log. You will have to complete the chrono-log and hand it in on Wednesday 9/23/09.

____________________________________________________________________

Monday, 9-21-09.

We will review items/ideas that are a part of Beowulf. These items are the main ideas of the poem. A list of these items can be found in Thursday's lesson plan 9-17-09. Make sure the chrono-log is completed by Wednesday 9-23-09.

___________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday 9-22-09.

Finish up on the main ideas of Beowulf. ( see items in Thursday's plan).

_________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, 9-23-09.

There is the possibility of having a short test on the chrono-log at the beginning of class.

We will work on the chrono-log of Beowulf. We will also add a few more items on the chrono-log.

The chrono-log will be checked for a homework grade.

__________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, 9-24-09.

If we finish all material, we will watch a section of the movie Beowulf.

There will be a major test on Beowulf - Monday 9-28-09.

_______________________________________________________________________

Friday, 9-25-09.

We will analyze Beowulf notes and then watch the rest of the movie Beowulf.

____________________________________________________________________

Monday, September 28, 2009.

Major test on Beowulf today.

____________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, 9-29-09.

Introduction to creating a bibliography and an annotated bibliography. You must pick at least 6 categories from the list. The list is: Baseball, Shakespeare, Canterbury Tales, Halloween, Christmas,Titanic, Ben Franklin, Civil War, Immigration, Education.

You need to create a bibliography with at least six sources from the ten different categories listed above. Three must be real books or magazines. The other three can come from the internet. Please make sure you bring to class the papers I gave you in the beginning of the year. You will need them. I will also explain to you what makes a good source and what doesn't. This assignment must be typed, 12 font, in times-Roman style. You will also need to produce an annotated bibliography. Make sure you bring to class one of your summer reading books. Due date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2009.

__________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, 9-30-09.

Distribution of special paper entitled Tactics for the Sentence Completion Section of the PSAT /SAT we will review these tactics and the special words that you will need to know. Please make sure you bring your SAT vocabulary book to class.

Distribution of an exercise on sentence completion. Please complete this assignment for homework and we will go over it on Friday.

_____________________________________________________________________

Thursday, October 1, 2009.

No formal classes since today is the Feast of Saint Therese of the Little Flower

_____________________________________________________________________

Friday, October 2, 2009.

We will review your homework on the Sentence completion assignment.

___________________________________________________________________

Monday, October 5, 2009.

Special assignment on SAT sentence completion. Please complete for homework.

__________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, October 6, 2009.

We will review your answers on the SAT practice test.

We will read an article concerning a very old piece of English writing that involves the writer known as "Venerable Bede." This reading assignment is reading # 3. It can be found on my web page. Click on the British Flag logo.

________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday. October 7, 2009.

1. Collection of bibliography (6 entrees).

2. Collection of your annotated bibliography (one entry).

We will review your reading of the Venerable Bede ( see Tuesday, Oct. 6 for directions). Why not print the notes out and bring them to class?

We will read the poem "The Wanderer." It is a classic elegiac poem. It can be found in your text book on pages 53 to 56.

____________________________________________________________________

Thursday, October 8, 2009.

We will review the poem "The Wanderer." Please note that the poem is called "The Wanderer" because the warrior wanders aimlessly about. He has lost his lord/master, his castle, maybe his horse, and or mead hall. He has nothing left.

Test on The Venerable Bede and The Wanderer tomorrow. The test on "The Wanderer" will focus on LINES 80 to 103. See page 56 of your text book.

__________________________________________________________________

Friday October 9, 2009.

Test on The Venerable Bede and The Wanderer.

Homework: Due Monday ... In your black literature book read the top of page 79. The first line reads Another popular poetic form was the ballad, etc. Read the two paragraphs. Now turn to page 82 and 83 of your text book and read more about the Ballad. I would suggest you take notes since this is a reading assignment and I can give you a test on a reading assignment. Index cards ready?

____________________________________________________________________

Monday, October 12, 2009.

We will review your homework assignment that is listed above. Further explanations will be given. Possible test on homework reading assignment.

___________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

We will review a ballad. It is not a British ballad, but it is an American ballad. I will present it to you in the same manner that it was first presented to people. Homework assignment due Thursday. Please check back for detailed information since I need to check which ballads are in whivh books ( the green book or the black book).

______________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

No formal classes. The PSAT Test will be given to all students.

__________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, October 15, 2009.

We will work on a few old Englsih, Irish, Scottish ballads and analyze them. These ballads are in your black text book.

____________________________________________________________________

Friday, October 16, 2009.

We will finish our work on ballads today. Need to tie up any loose ends. If all is completed before this day, we will have a test on ballads. If we need to still work on ballads we will have our test on Monday, October 19th, 2009.

_________________________________________________________________________

Monday, October 19, 2009.

Test on Ballads. You will be given questions to the material that has been taught and you will be required to analyze new ballads and apply what you have leaned to them.

________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

\ Distribution of Canterbury Tales material and book. we will start our analysis on the tales today.

We will read and analyze material from the set of notes entitled Pilgrims, Saints, and Miracles. While we are doing this, you are to read the prologue to Canterbury Tales and answer the worksheet questions.

______________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

Some of you will be on a school trip to the Renaissane Fair. We will work on the worksheets concerning the Prologue to Canterbury Tales.

_________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, October 22, 2009.

We will work on the set of questions in the worksheet for Canterbury Tales.

_________________________________________________________________________

Friday, October 23, 2009.

We will work on the introduction to Canterbury Tales. ( Pilgrims, Saints, and Miracles).

________________________________________________________________________

Monday. October 26th, 2009.

You need to know the answers to these questions when you walk into class Tuesday morning. Write them out and hand them in to your teacher tomorrow. Definition. of a pigrimage, the Saint in this poem, the king discussed in your notes,definition of civil court, ecclesiastical court, conventional clothing of a pilgrim, what everyone did on the trip, best time of the year to go on a pilgrimage, give (religious reason), give the secular ( non-religious reason) why you go on a pilgrimage, definition of being cloistered, who were cloistered members of the clergy, definition of sarcasm, there are 3 major classes, name the three classes and what each one is about, who is in each class, where do people live in the cities, farms, give percentages, who are the laity, what does secular mean, who is in the secular world, definition of clerical, who is in the clerical world, who is in the ecclesiastical world, what does Canterbury Cathedral have that people took from the place, and special inscription? what is Chaucer's role in ghe pilgrimage, Chaucer tries to satirize who? the highest person in rank on the whole trip, who are regular priest, who are secular priest, how many pilgrims mentioned, how many stories told by each, total number of stories, Definition of a Frame story, official language of England and the government, language of the people, a wine-makes would be a member of what class? what class for the knight, what class for the plowman, what class would a candle maker be in, how about a Bishop, how about a serf.? .........

We will complete all material from the set of notes entitled " Pilgrims, Saints, and Miracles." Make sure you study because there will be a short test on pages 1-2-3-4. (Tomorrow). Check out the questions above.Make sure you are reading the prologue to Canterbury Tales and answering the questions in your worksheet that is entitled "Characters of Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer. All questions to be completed by Thursday. By the way, questions #26. should read: A friar is a follower of the ideas established by what great saint?

_________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009.

35 question test on pages 1-2-3-4 of "Pilgrims, Saints, and Miracles"

Are you working on your worsheets concerning the characters. There are 79 questions. They need not be answered in complete sentences. This work is due Thursday, October 28th, 2009.

______________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009.

No formal classes. Teacher In-Service-Day.

_________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, Ocotber 29, 2009.

1. Check on your major assignment of 79 questions. You will get a grade.

2. We will review the questions at a rather quick pace.

____________________________________________________________________

Friday, October 30th, 2009.

Review of worksheet questions.

_______________________________________________________________________

Monday. November 2, 2009.

1. Review and analyze the characters and lines from Canterbury Tales.

2. Test this Thursday on Canterbury Tales.

________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday. November 3, 2009.

1. Review and analyze lines and characters from Canterbury Tales.

2. Test on Canterbury Tales this Thursday.

________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday. November 4, 2009.

1. Review and analyze lines and characters from Canterbury Tales.

2. Test on Canterbury Tales this Thursday.

____________________________________________________________________

Thursday. November 5, 2009.

Test on lines and characters of Canterbury Tales.

_______________________________________________________________________

Friday. November 6, 2009.

Essay writing. How to answer a one paragraph essay will be covered. Be prepared to take notes and do some essay writing.

_________________________________________________________________________

Monday. November 9, 2009.

Same as Friday. We will work on writing the one paragraph essay.

______________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

Essay topic will be presented to you in class. We will also review the 25 Commandments of writing that were given to you in the beginning of the year.

Essay is due Tuesday, november 17th, 2009. This essay will count as a major grade.

___________________________________________________________________

Wedneday, Novemner11, 2009.

We will continue our work on The 25 Commandments of Writing.

________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, November 12, 2009.

We will work on the 25 Commandments of Writing.

Topic for your essay will be given. Due date is Tuesday, November 17th, 2009.

_____________________________________________________________________

Friday. Novemner 13, 2009.

Tie up any loose ends concerning the essay.----- Distribution of Arthurian Legend material and Medieval Romance Literature material. Introduction given.

__________________________________________________________________________

Monday, November 16, 2009.

We will review the set of notes concerning the differences between the historical and the legend of King Arthur. We will also review the set of notes describing the medieval romance. We will also review the philosophies of thetwo main writers of Arthurian literature.

Do not forget your essay tomorrow.....please attach your index card to the back of your essay.

_________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, November 17, 2009. Do not forget the money for the purchasing of The Twelfth Night.

1. Collection of your essay.

2. Finish review on notes concerning Arthur and Medieval Romances.

3. Start explanation of the Family Tree of Arthur.

Homework: please make sure you read the short story entitled Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady. This short story was given to you with other notes concerning Arthur. Please look up the following words and add them to your story papers. Define the following: abbess, scabbard, cantering, bellow, distress,steward, melancholy, grotesque, scarlet, chamber, quest.

. ______________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, November 18, 2009.

Finish explanation of the Family Tree of Arthur. If time permits. short movie on this topic.

________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, November 19, 2009.

No formal classes. 8th Grade Visitation and Registration Day/Night.

________________________________________________________________________

Friday. November 20, 2009.

Possible movie clip on Birth of Arthur.

Review and analysis of short story Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady. Plotting of the story will be done.

_____________________________________________________________________

Monday, November 23, 2009.

If you still want to purchase the Shakespeare book I can take money up to Tuesday. I was just informed of this.

When you come to class make sure you have read the story Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady. Make sure you know the vocabulary words that have been lised for you. When you read the story highlight the parts of the story that are referenced on the first page of notes entitled Arthur. For example, in your set of notes that you filled in, there is mention of people involved. You wrote nobility, royalty, not commoners. Now hightlight where this idea is presented to you in the story. Now, highlight all the references in the story that pertain to all of the notes you filled in. Every note that you completed, you should be able to find in the story. Highlight these lines.

________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, Novemner 24, 2009.

We will complete the work on Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady. We will also review the different parts of a story and how they relate to this short story. ( Exposition - Inciting Incident - Rising Action - Climax - Falling Action - Resolution or Comedy Situational Tragedy/ Personal Tragedy.)

____________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, November 25, 2009. Spirit Day at Little Flower.

Thursday, November 26, 2009. Thanksgiving Day

Friday, November 27, 2009. School Holiday.

_______________________________________________________________________

Monday November 30th. 2009.

     We will continue to analyze our story Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady.

There will be a test on the short story Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady on Wednesday.

____________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, December 1st. 2009.

We will distribute your new novel to read. It is quite short. It's entitled A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It is rather interesting that the story is not so much about Christmas as it is a social criticism about English society at that time.   I will also explain the extra credit projects to you concerning A Christmas Carol.

     Do not forget about your test on Wednesday, Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady. Make sure you know the vocabulary words that are listed for that story.

     We will finish up our work on Sir Gawain and the Loathly  Lady.

     We will also start on the educational process of Arthur by Merlin.

__________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009.

     Test on Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady.

____________________________________________________________________

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009.

         We will analyze the educational process of Arthur by Merlin.

Are you reading your novel A Christmas Carol? You will have a major essay on this piece of literature.

___________________________________________________________________

Friday, December 4, 2009.

     We will finish up on the education of Arthur.

_______________________________________________________________________

               Please click on the Logo for Projects /reading Assignments. Scroll down until you reach the asignment # 4 concerning A Christmas Carol.