Death of a Salesman Reader's Blogs- Acts 1 & 2

Post your reader's response to Death of a Salesman here. Label each- Act 1 blog is due on Wednesday, April 23rd, and Act 2 Blog will be due on Friday, April 25th. As you read, consider and comment on some of the following key ideas, themes, motifs, and symbols: The American Dream, abandonment, inadequacy, ignorance, pride, self-awareness, illusion vs. reality, betrayal, garden, moon and stars, woods and the jungle, mythic figures, the American West, dreams leading to denial, diamonds, women's stockings, and the rubber hose. You may choose to analyze one or more of these ideas, make predictions, ask questions, or include your own ideas/thoughts as you read.

Post your poem here!

Ahhh, poetry is in the air, and the Dalai Lama is in Ann Arbor (or he will be on April 20th!). Consider the prompts below and write a poem of at least 8 lines and post here by Monday, March 31st. We will submit some poems (with your permission) to a writing contest sponsored by Washtenaw Local Schools. All the prompts deal with themes found in the Dalai Lama's work: peace, compassion, caring for the environment, and kindness. You may use these prompts or feel free to explore one or more of these themes in your own way. Students will be selected to read their poems to the Dalai Lama himself on April 20th in Ann Arbor and will receive free admittance to his discussion as well.

1. Personification Poem
Write a free-verse poem in which you personify a concept, such as Peace, Compassion, Sustainability (Caring for the Environment) or Kindness. First, describe the notion as a physical entity that has form, moves and, acts. Then have this entity do something, affecting your world in some specific way.

2. House Poem
Write a free-verse poem in which you discover and explore the great house of Peace, Sustainability, Harmony or Kindness. Describe the house from the outside and the inside. You may choose to make something happen between you and the resident of this house.

3. Landscape Poem
Write a free-verse poem that describes the country know far and wide as Peace or as Harmony, or as Sustainability or as Kindness. Describe the landscape from an airplane window view. Describe it from the on-the-ground view. Have the place change you in some way.

4. Transformation Poem
Write a free-verse poem in which the world as you know it becomes transformed by Peace, Kindness, Sustainability or Harmony. Describe what happens in the international world, the world around you and in your own personal life.

Gatsby Journals

Post your journals for Ch.1-3, 4-6, & 7-9 here using the following guidelines:

1. Title entries with the chapter numbers. (ex: Chapter 1-3 Journal)
2. Write a five sentence summary of main events from the chapters.
3. For each journal, choose a different character to focus on.
a. Name the character.
b. Choose a quote that you think best represents the character.
c. Describe his/her best and worst qualities.
d. In a paragraph describe the character's role in the novel.
4. For each journal, choose one meaningful quote, and then describe its significance in the novel.
5. For each journal, note at least two sightings of one or more of the following symbols: the color green, the color white, silver and gold, the ash heap, the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg, Gatsby's career/Nick's career, Gatsby's library of uncut books/Nick's unread books, Dan Cody, East Vs. West Egg, rain in chapter five, heat in chapter seven, Wolfsheim's cufflinks, faded timetable (showing names of Gatsby's guests), Gatsby's cars/clothes.

Chapter 5- End: What's up with the smash up?

Post your responses to the final chapters of Ethan Frome here. So, the inevitable question: what did you think of the ending? Did you see some kind of ironic justice in the conclusion or feel sympathy for the plight of Ethan Frome? How is the theme of passion vs. responsibility developed? What internal and external conflicts does Ethan face? Were there other alternatives to the sled ride of death? What has happened to Mattie and Zeena at the end (physically and mentally)? What role reversals did you observe? Why did these occur? How does this ending revise the fairy tale? What statement does Wharton make about life in general (and especially life for women) during this time period? Were you more surprised by this ending or Of Mice and Men? What novel from this year gets your vote for Most Shocking Ending? What is the main theme/message of the novel? What are readers to take away from the book? (Besides to avoid large trees when sledding.) As always, feel free to respond to any of the above questions or include your own insights, questions for the class, and interpretations.

Ethan Frome, Prologue- Ch.4: Brrr! It's Cold Outside (and Inside...)

Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome was published in 1911, though set in rural New England in the 1880s. Wharton wrote the novel after living in the hill-region near Bekshire for ten years and observing the "aspect, dialect, and mental and moral attitude of the hill people." (From Wharton's discussion in A Backward Glance) Some scholars have proposed that significant parts of the plot and themes are taken from Wharton's life, but we'll save those for later to aviod spoiling the rest of the book.

As you've noticed by now, the novel contains a frame story, presented in the prologue (and to return in the epilogue), while the inner story is told through a flashback. In the frame, or the novel's present time, Ethan Frome is 52, while in the flashback he is 28. The inner story is told in third person limited, emphasizing Ethan's point of view.

Some possible ideas to explore: How is this novel fit into the genre of fairytale? How does it revise this genre? What do you make of the following symbols: Wintry landscape, sledding, the cat? What is the tone? What are your reactions, predictions, and interpretations at this time?

Ch.3-6 Of Mice and Men: What would you have done?

So as not to give anything away, I'll be as vague as possible. I really hope that no one told you how it ends...After you finish the novel, respond to the ending. Was it the right thing to do? What would you have done? Were there other alternatives? Why do you think it happens this way? What is Steinbeck's message? Hmmm. I know that we'll have lots to talk about on Monday. A fulmination may erupt in response to the controversial conclusion. Complete a log/blog for Monday's discussion, then we'll take the test on Tuesday. There's a trial sort of thing that we'll start on Monday. I'd tell you more, but it will ruin the ending if you're not there yet.

Of Mice and Men: Chapters 1-3

First, just a bit of background about the novel. Since Steinbeck is considered to be one of America's best Naturalist writers, we should probably briefly cover some characteristics of Naturalism.

*Although our 5th period class is highly poetic, Naturalism is not. The prose focuses less on imagery and more on explanations and details. While some of the novel includes metaphors and similes (especially at the beginnings of some chapters), most of the novel is free of poetic devices.

*Explores sociological conditions in a mostly objective manner (instead of focusing on the beauty of the language)

*Explores conflicts between the social classes, especially the exploitation of workers by those in power. Watch for examples of exploitation on the ranch as well as illustration of larger social issues happening in the 1930s within the novel.

*Creates stories in which the reader is an observor in the story. Many characters strive for the American Dream.

*Focuses on an occupation or trade. In the case in Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck's story also documents the lives of migrant workers in the 1930s.

As far as the genre is concerned, Of Mice and Men is written as a play-novel, or a mixture of both. Each of the six chapters is an extended episode- the action takes place in one scene and begins with a description of that scene. Characters also exit and enter with what seems like stage directions. Also, you've probably noticed the large amount of dialogue.

For your reader's blog, mention at least three key events that have struck you so far. Do you notice any possible foreshadowing? Steinbeck is a master of this! Also, what kinds of animal imagery is associated with Lennie? Crooks? (If you read chapter 4 already.) Why does Steinbeck describe these characters in animal terms? What's the effect and purpose? Other than that, please include your thoughts, ideas, interpretations so far. Raise questions to the class if you'd like as well.