Thursday, March 31, 2011. 1. Pass back Vocabulary Lesson 3 (-suffix "ment"). Study for quiz tomorrow 4/1 Shakespeare film-clip quiz. Use notes. Read The Tragedy of Othello, Act I, Scene 1-part of 2.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011. 1. Pop Quiz on Intro to Shakespeare film clip notes. Grade in class. 2. View film clip on Introduction to The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice. Complete notes in packet. REMINDER: BRING VOCABULARY LESSON 22 TOMORROW.

Tuesday, March 29 Take notes on handout. Bring tomorrow to continue background on play Othello. 1. View film clip on Introduction to Shakespeare. If you missed this film, go to the Bellaire library datebase United Streaming and type Shakespeare. 2. Take notes on handout. Please ask for handout if you were absent today.

Monday, March 28, 2011 I Had Seen Castles TEST If you were absent today, you need to come make up this test, which consists of scantron and essay. Be sure you bring your study guide packet and notes.

Friday, March 25, 2011.

1. Vocabulary Quiz 21 XXI.

2. Complete I Had Seen Castles study guide packet. Review for test.

I Had Seen Castles test: Monday, 3/28

Thursday, March 24, 2011.

1. Benchmark: "My Losing Season."

2. Check Vocabulary Lesson 21. Quiz tomorrow.

2. Work on I Had Seen Castles packet.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011.

1. I Had Seen Castles Pop Quiz 3

2. Work on packet.

3. Bring Vocabulary Lesson 21 + Definitions and sentences tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011.

1. Completed reading of I Had Seen Castles pp 82-97. Discussed effects of WWII on soldiers fighting the battles.

2. Worked on I Had Seen Castles Reading Guide packet.

Monday, March 21, 2011.


Recap I Had Seen Castles. Read p. 72-82.


Take notes on symbolism in I Had Seen Castles:

1) Explain motif of "birds flying" and symbolism of birds, castle, sheep, and empty room.

2) Explain symbolism and connection of first chapter empty room p. 4 to passage on pg. 76.

3) Explain TONE and attitude in novel.

Notes:

Motif: a recurring image, idea, or theme in a work of literature, film, etc.

Symbol: a symbol represents something larger/greater than itself.

Symbols in I Had Seen Castles:

Castle: symbol of John's childhood

pg. 25-26 The castle is a gift from father as a young child. He plays with it until he outgrows it and then sees it in the basement during his teen years growing up. John is growing up; he no longer plays with the toy castle, but he is still a growing teen.pg. 70-71: John sees a real castle far off in the distance. John becomes a grown man with childhood a great distance away.

sheep: soldiers, innocent and naive; following the government's instructions, they waited for the farmer (the government) to take them home, but many were killed in war (sheep lay bloody, half alive) like many of the soldiers, who died almost immediately after beginning to fight, alone and afraid.


Birds: symbolize freedom; the birds recur throughout the novel, first on pages 4, 59, and 70.

Empty room: symbolizes the trauma of war. See page 4 and page 76.



TONE IN I HAD SEEN CASTLES

TONE IS SERIOUS, SOMETIMES BITTER AND SARCASTIC.

JUXTAPOSITION* OF IMAGES, SCENES & EVENTS THAT ARE OPPOSITES:

*placed side by side to create contrast.



1) HAPPY SOLDIERS VS. DIRTY, BLOODY SOLDIERS



2) SHEEP IN BEAUTIFUL SUNNY MEADOW WITH FLOWERS

VS.

SLAUGHTERED, BLOODIED SHEEP WITH BOWELS SPILLED OVER THE

MEADOW FLOWERS.


3) PEOPLE DANCING & LIVING THE GOOD LIFE IN THE U.S.A. VS.

AN INJURED SOLDIER IN EUROPE “SEARCHING FOR HIS ARMS.”


IS THE VOICE PRO-WAR OR ANTI-WAR??

Friday, March 11, 2011.


1. Vocabulary Quiz XX (20)

2. Work on I Had Seen Castles packet.

Have a great spring break!!!

Thursday, March 10, 2011.

1. Check Vocabulary Lesson XX (20), sentences and definitions.

2. I Had Seen Castles Pop Quiz 2 pp. 33-67

REMINDER: Study for Vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011.
(Tuesday we had a guest speaker: Author Ashley Hope Perez)

1. I Had Seen Castles Pop Quiz 1; check for grade.

2. Read I Had Seen Castles pp. 59-71 Discuss symbols: birds, (motif) castle, and sheep.

Bring Voc. Lesson 20 to check in class. Quiz: Friday, 3/11

Monday, March 7, 2011.

1. Review vocabulary words:
squalor (n)
reprieved (v)
stupor (n)
voracious (adj)
dismay (n)
nonchalant (adj)
wryly (adv)
exploitation (n)
stoic (adj)
miser (n)
permeate (v)
pacifist (n)

2. Read I Had Seen Castles pp. 33-55

3. Reminder: Complete Vocabulary Lesson 20. Bring Thursday. Quiz Friday 3/11

Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

1. Passed out graded work to place in portfolio. Place all graded TAKS essays in folder.

2. Introduce I Had Seen Castles. Read pp. 1-16

REMINDER: V0cabulary Quiz Lesson 19 tomorrow. Review words.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

ELA TAKS TEST. 17 minute classes.

Brain teaser: "The Picture"

Reminder: Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 19: Thursday, March 3.