I Do Apologize.

Well, friends, I have to tell you... you can look at this whole blog debacle this semester in one of two ways. You can either view it as an example of the fact that even adults sometimes just plain mess up, or you can view it as a life lesson that sometimes, you take on more than you can handle and when you do, you just have to choose to let some things go. Since I love learning, I choose to see it as the second. The blog died this semester. For that, I apologize. Maybe you can take another of my classes and we can blog in that class? :)

However, while we are apologizing, the thing that does not require an apology is this semester with this class! I have had, honestly, the BEST semester with you guys. I tend to have a little bit of an effusive personality and sometimes I like to use hyperbole (look it up!) :), but I am being completely plain in this. You all have been an absolute JOY. I have felt so incredibly blessed throughout this entire crazy, stressful semester. I have had all great classes, but you all were just such a refuge for me. It was so... comfortable, I guess... to come in to fourth period with you guys. You showed enthusiasm for learning, respect for me, kindness for each other, and passion for life. (That, by the way, is an example of grammatical parallelism. Just so you know.) I have soooo enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. You have made teaching the true pleasure that I genuinely view it as being. Thank you so much, and nothing would make me happier than to see any one of your names on my rolls in the future, whether it be Holocaust Literature or English IV AP. I hope you all have an incredible summer, and I can't wait to hear your names in the next two years at Cleveland as you accomplish much and wow more teachers. Love you!!!

Mrs. Davis

Opening of "Troy"

Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?" These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?

The Iliad

We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?

Try Your Hand...

Iliad Game Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.

Week of February 8

I am really sorry that, due to the snow day, our Inferno unit got a little off-kilter. However, I bet you were soooo glad to have the day off, huh? :) For that reason, this week will be a little crammed so that we can try to catch up. We'll get it worked out, though.

Monday, 2/8
Inferno Catch-up
Illiad Intro, notes

Tuesday, 2/9
Books 1-10, notes

Wednesday, 2/10
Books 11-15, notes
"Love" activity

Thursday, 2/11
OFF!!!
(Parent conferences 12-7)

Friday, 2/12
OFF!!!

Week of February 1

Well, guys, what with the unexpected snow, we missed hearing the rest of the cantos presented. I did not have time to revise my sub plans, so I just told the sub to have you all go ahead and take the test, doing the best you can, and I will sort it all out later. We will also finish the cantos when I get back, as well as watch the clips from "What Dreams May Come". I think it will help you visualize it. I hope you all have a wonderful, productive week!

Monday, 2/1
Define Unit 2
Inferno Test
Inferno Seminar

Tuesday, 2/2
Watch "Camelot", questions
Arthurian legends notes
Get codes
Read for homework

Wednesday, 2/3
Watch "First Knight", filling out chart

Thursday, 2/4
Finish "First Knight"

Friday, 2/5
Vocab quiz
??? (I forgot) :)

The Power of Writing

We talked about this a little bit in class, but you have now read some pieces of The Inferno. What do you think about the power Dante had as a writer to create this fictional hell and place people in it from his contemporary culture? Do you think it was ethically correct for him to do this? Would you enjoy a chance to have this sort of power in writing? What are your thoughts on this text?

Dante's World

http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/utopia/index2.html For further reference on your cantos, check out this link from the university of Texas. This is not intended as a replacement for your reading, however.

Link to Inferno resource

Here is the link I showed you in class. It might be very helpful in obtaining your information. :)

Week of January 25

I seriously had such a great time during the All Quiet unit with you guys! Your discussions were wonderful, the seminar went well... I have SUCH a good feeling about this semester! This week, we will start The Inferno. I am interested to see your reactions to it. It's a book I love to teach sophomores because the reactions are so varied.

Monday, 1/25
Inferno notes, intro, activity

Tuesday, 1/26
Work in pairs on cantos

Wednesday, 1/27
Work in pairs on cantos

Thursday, 1/28
Present cantos

Friday, 1/29
Present cantos
DUE: Journals

"Memphis Belle"

We have/will talk in class about comparisons and contrasts between "Memphis Belle" and All Quiet. One line from the movie was "Those that I fight I do not hate, those I guard I do not love." (It was from the poem he read.) What are your feelings about that quote? Are there other things you want to say or point out about the movie? INFERNO MONDAY!!! This picture is of the historical people who flew this mission, not from the movie.

Week of January 19

Well, I told you we would fly!  :)  This week will end our first unit, the All Quiet unit.  I hope you all enjoyed the book and I am so looking forward to a wonderful seminar with you on Wednesday!  

Tuesday, 1/19

Define Unit 1

Symbolism activity in groups

Wednesday, 1/20

All Quiet Seminar

Compare/contrast paper

Thursday, 1/21

"Memphis Belle"

Friday, 1/22

"Memphis Belle"

Vocab Quiz 1

The Man He Killed

Below is the text for another of my favorite poems. This one speaks to the theme of people being enemies because of a word of command, instead of personal conflicts. Respond to this poem and relate it to both the book as well as any other war literature or movies. The Man He Killed ~Thomas Hardy "Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have sat us down to wet Right many a nipperkin! "But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him and he at me, And killed him in his place. "I shot him dead because – Because he was my foe, Just so – my foe of course he was; That's clear enough; although "He thought he'd 'list perhaps, Off-hand like – just as I – Was out of work – had sold his traps – No other reason why. "Yes; quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down You'd treat if met where any bar is, Or help to half-a-crown."

Poetry Response

Read the poem below by Wilfred Owen. Respond to it in some way and then make a connection between this poem and All Quiet. DULCE ET DECORUM EST by Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori. 8 October 1917 - March, 1918 If you liked this poem, search out other WWI poetry. Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brook are all good places to start. Poetry from this era is very interesting and realistic.

The War We Forgot

Newsweek article

Click on the link above to read an article from the February 18, 2008, edition of Newsweek.  What are your thoughts?

Week of January 11

We are ready, set, and GOING!!!  This week will begin our first unit, All Quiet on the Western Front.  I hope you love it as much as I do, but I will try not to have my feelings hurt if you don't.  :)

Monday, 1/11

WWI Notes

Prepping to Read Questions

Read chapters 1-3

DUE:  Parent letter

Tuesday, 1/12

1-3 Quiz

Discuss 1-3

Character activity

Read 4-6

Wednesday, 1/13

4-6 Quiz

Discuss 4-6

Read 7-9

Thursday, 1/14

7-9 Quiz

Discuss 7-9

Read 10-12

Friday, 1/15

10-12 Quiz

History Quiz 

Discuss 10-12

DUE:  Journals

Welcome to the Spring '10 Group!

Welcome, welcome to my new batch of English II Honors students!  I am very much looking forward to this semester with you.  I really and truly love this class and this curriculum and I just can't wait to share some of my favorites (and the work of some truly great writers!) with you!  Two days into  it, and you all seem like some really nice, bright people.  :)

We will have to get a new picture up on that header soon of you all, and ditch those other yahoo's.  :)