Friday, June 24, 2011

Before Commencement

The miracle is not to fly in the air, not to walk
on water, but to walk on the earth. (Chinese Proverb)












PIED BEAUTY  by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Glory be to God for dappled things -
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced--fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
  


My Parting Advice:
Appreciate the diverse beauty of what you behold 
in life.  Make wise decisions and be kind.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Some Concluding Images

See you on Monday. Please remember to bring in all the textbooks you were given:
Hamlet
Frankenstein
Sophocles' Theban Trilogy
King Lear
The Odyssey
Beowulf
Macbeth
(Susan, please remember to bring in my copy of Natsume Soseki's Botchan.)


INSIGHT (inquiry)


IMITATION (preservation)

FATE (destiny)

CONFORMITY (ignorance)
                                                    
DEFIANCE (vs. Zeus) & ENLIGHTENMENT
 
VOLITION (free will)

  CELESTIAL POWER & NATURE 

Thursday, June 2, 2011

THE TRIAL TO DETERMINE GUILT

  The Trial

  The Judges
Katherine Paulino
Maurice Dunn
The Prosecuting Attorneys
Yenifer Mezquita
Jamila Coppedge
The Defense Attorneys
Victor Juarez
Brandon Chan
Macbeth
Raymond Camacho
Sergio Hernandez              
Lady Macbeth
Brittany Rodriguez
Alyssa Hall
The Three Witches
Susan Martinez
Kenia Reyes
Stefanie Zapata
Banquo
Kenny Barojas
Katherine Suazo
The Doctor
Malthen Cabrera
Jeanette Bourdierd
Malcolm
Chandanie Christna
Mcduff
Amy Leung
The Jury
Remaining classmates


TRIAL PROCEDURE:
The Judges Instruct The Jury With
                     The Charges Against the Accused
The Accused: Macbeth
                      Lady Macbeth
                      The Three Witches

Prosecuting Attorneys make their opening comments to the jury.
Defense Attorneys make their opening comments to the jury.

In prescribed order the Accused and Witnesses take the Witness Stand:
      Alternately the prosecution and then the defense question those placed on the 
           witness stand.   
        They are asked many questions. .
      They answer many questions.
      Their answers are recorded as part of the court record.

Physical Evidence is presented and entered as evidence in the trial record.

Judges may have testimony stricken (removed) from the trial record, and instruct the jurors to disregard testimony he or she regards as here say, prejudicial, or irrelevant to the case.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

MACBETH ESSAY QUESTION

1. What misgivings does Macbeth have and why? Note where they appear, by Act, scene, and line number(s)?
2. Why is Fleance's presence on stage so important in the play in Act II, i?
3. How does Banquo, in lines 15-20, 24-26, 33, 36-39, intensify the dramatic action of Act II,i?  (These are on page 51.)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

The Virtuous Macbeth (Act I)

Post what you have found in Act I that reflects admirably on Macbeth's character.
Include who says the words, as well as the page and line number(s) on which they appear.
You may wish to go to youtube, and watch the interview with the porter.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

MACBETH Act I, v, vi, vii

Below:  John Singer Sargent's
LADY  MACBETH
 
Who is this woman?
Why does she say what she does in her soliloquy?
Why does she speak to her husband the way she does?
What does she think are Macbeth's vulnerabilities?
Discuss this woman's affect upon her husband.
Why does Macbeth refuse to do what his wife asks?
Why does he change his mind and commit himself to her planned regicide?
How have the Weird Sisters influenced Macbeth's decision?

Sunday, May 15, 2011

MACBETH Act I, iii, iv

Macbeth: Speak, if you can. What are you?
Witches:  All hail, Macbeth!
(click on for larger image)


















   
    I, iii
      Explain what has annoyed the first witch? 
How does she get her revenge?
With what mythological women might the three “weird sisters” be   
  compared? (Note that the Anglo-Saxon word, “wyrd,” meant “fate.”) 
Explain the significance of Macbeth’s first line in the play.
Compare this line with the witches’ second last line in scene one.
What three titles do the witches apply to Macbeth?

Glamis Castle
 
Ruins of the Ancient Inverness Castle
According to Banquo, what is Macbeth’s reaction to these titles?      
Why does Banquo request something from the weird sisters?
What is a “paradox”?  Explain the paradoxical answers which the witches
What else does Macbeth ask the witches?  Why does he ask this?
Why does Macbeth remind Banquo that his children shall be Kings?   
What news does Ross bring Macbeth?  Name two things. 
What is indicated about Banquo’s opinion of the second part of Ross’  
   news, by his words, “What, can the devil speak true?”
Why was the first Thane of Cawdor stripped of his tile
What does Banquo suggest about the nature of the witches’ prophecies?
Paraphrase Macbeth’s aside speech, which begins, “Two truths are told”
    and ends, “…chance may crown me/ without my stir.”
Identify the line which shows Macbeth may have previously thought of
    being King?
Explain the book imagery in Macbeth’s second last speech in the scene.
What excuse does Macbeth provide for his inattention to the other men?
   I, iv
     What concerns Duncan at the beginning of the scene? Why?
     What did the Thane of Cawdor do before he died?
     Paraphrase Duncan’s comment, “There’s no art…face.”
     What does Duncan mean by “More… can pay”?
     How does Macbeth respond to Duncan’s gratitude? 
     Explain the imagery in Duncan’s next speech (to Macbeth).
     What important announcement does Duncan make about Malcolm?  Why
    is this of concern to Macbeth? 
     Why is Duncan going to Inverness?
     Why does Macbeth say he will go there at once?
     Contrast Macbeth’s attitude toward the third prophecy at the end of    
          Scene 4 with his attitude at the end of Scene 3.

    



Tuesday, May 10, 2011

MACBETH Act I, i , ii

Act I, i
1. When does the power of a witch increase? Why?
2. When do the three witches plan to meet again?
3. With whom and where will this meeting take place?
4. Why does Shakespeare employ verbal opposites in this scene?
5. How is the natural order of things treated in the witches' incantations?
6. What mood do the witches, what they say, and the and thunder and  lightning establish at the outset of the play?   
7. Why do you think this scene is so short?
Act I, ii
1. What do we learn from the bloody captain?
2. Who is Macdonwald and what has he done?
3. What has been done to him, and by whom?
4. What do we learn from Ross and Angus?
5. Name the rebel, the traitor, and the foreign king causing King Duncan problems. 
6. How does King Duncan reward Macbeth for his services to the crown? (What are these services?)
7. What words (almost epithets) are used to describe Macbeth?
8. Why do you think there is such extensive conversation about Macbeth before he appears on stage?
9. Why is Duncan himself not involved in the fighting?

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON THE EXAM

Get to bed early
Get to school by 7:00 AM and go to room 440
Conserve your energy for Part Two of the Exam
Keep track of time
Read and follow the instructions
Mark up the Exam Booklet as you read it
Pay attention to the literary devices you are told to comment on
Have confidence in your thoughts
Make citations from the texts to support your thoughts
Write about what you understand in detail
Keep you pen moving and write like an angel

A VERY DIFFERENT TIGER in the poetic tradition

         The Tygre
               William Blake 1794
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
             
In what distant deeps or skies                         5
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?

                
And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?             10
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet? 

        
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp                 15
Dare its deadly terrors clasp? 

                        
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?       20


Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?               


              

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" CONNOTATION

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers  by Adrienne Rich

Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

How is the poem structured? (stanzas 1,2, and 3) What happens in each?
Why is the personae of Aunt Jennifer's neice used as a voice?
Which words have pregnant meanings beyond the text?
How are we made to understand the relationship between Aunt Jennifer and her husband?
What do these tigers represent?
What is this poem's subtext?
Why is both the object Aunt Jennifer created as well as Aunt Jennifer the sunject of this poem.
Why is the poem entitled "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers?
How do the the rhyme scheme and other poetic devices such as alliteration contribute to the poems' effectiveness?



Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A.P. English Literature and Composition Examination

This test is on Thursday, May 5th at 7:30AM in room 440. Bring several sharpened #2 pencils, and two blue or black ink pens.

All A.P.Examinations

For all A.P.Exams
If you do not show up for an A.P. Exam, you will have to pay the school a $13.00 money order, for the exam you signed up for, but did not take. This will have to be paid as a money order made out to B.R.E.C. The $13.00 money order must be brought in the day after the exam is offered.  Please know that you may take the exam without having the exam grade transmitted to a college. A.P. Examination results are confidential. It is you who decide to which college, if any, your exam grade is sent.
                                                                                                From the B.R.E.C. A.P. Test Administrator

2011 A.P. Exam schedule
Exam Dates:
The 2011 AP Exams will be administered over two weeks in May: May 2 through 6 and May 9 through 13. Coordinators are responsible for notifying students when and where to report for the exams. Early testing or testing at times other than those published by the College Board is not permitted under any circumstances.

Week 1
Morning 8 a.m.
Afternoon 12 noon
Monday,
May 2
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Psychology
Tuesday,
May 3
Computer Science A
Spanish Language
Art History
Wednesday,
May 4
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chinese Language and Culture
Thursday,
May 5
English Literature and Composition
Japanese Language and Culture
Latin: Vergil
Friday,
May 6
German Language
United States History
European History
Studio Art—last day for Coordinators to submit digital portfolios (by 8 p.m. EDT) and to gather 2-D Design and Drawing students for the physical portfolio assembly
Teachers should have forwarded students' completed digital portfolios to Coordinators before this date.



Week 2
Morning 8 a.m.
Afternoon 12 noon
Afternoon 2 p.m.
Monday,
May 9
Biology
Music Theory
Physics B
Physics C: Mechanics
Physics C:
Electricity and Magnetism
Tuesday,
May 10
United States Government and Politics
Comparative Government and Politics
French Language
Wednesday,
May 11
English Language and Composition
Statistics
Thursday,
May 12
Macroeconomics
World History
Microeconomics
Friday,
May 13
Human Geography
Spanish Literature


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

A.P. English Literature and Composition Examination



Sample Questions & Scoring Guidelines
The AP English Literature and Composition Exam is three hours long and consists of two sections. In Section I, students are given one hour to answer 55 multiple-choice questions; in
Section II, they must answer three free-response questions within two hours.
The multiple-choice questions test students' ability to read analytically prose and poetry from several periods. The free-response questions require students to write critical essays on literary texts.
You can find additional free-response questions and scoring guidelines on AP Central, along with grade distributions and examples of actual students' responses and commentary that explains why the responses received the scores they did.
Multiple-Choice Questions
For sample multiple-choice questions, refer to the Course Description.
AP English Course Description (.pdf/2.3M)
Requires Adobe Reader (latest version recommended).
Free-Response Questions
Scoring Guidelines

GO ONLINE TO PRACTICE FOR THE TEST