2023-24 American Literature

 We will finish chapter 5 today and work on dialectical journals.

 We are going to look at chapter 5 today of The Great Gatsby after the vocabulary quiz.   

 I have CPR training at the fire department at 2:30, so we will move the vocabulary quiz to Monday. Today you need to work on dialectical journals and study vocabulary.  

 Today, we will review vocabulary, finish chapter 4 and work on dialectical journals.

 You should spend the first 15-20 minutes working on dialectical journals and share what you have with me. We will then look at chapter 4. Remember you have a vocabulary quiz on Friday. My notes from Chapter 3 Gatsby's Party Nick Carraway is invited to his party, but he claims to be one of the few.  People at Gatsby's party's at "according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks."  A chauffeur in a "uniform of robin's egg blue" (is this important?) brings Nick the invitation. Gilda Gray - Follies (allusion -Ziegfield Follies).  Lots of mentions of automobiles in this chapter. Nick quickly runs into Jordan Baker at the party.  Jordan is with a younger man who is still in college (there is a reason for this - he is "a persistent undergraduate given to violent innuendo").  Nick and Jordan sit with a few girls who share some gossip: 1) One rip her dress at a former party and Gatsby sent her a new one worth $26...

 Please finish reading chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby and work on your dialectical journals.

 Today we are going to continue to discuss chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby , work on dialectical journals and begin chapter 3. You have a vocabulary quiz next week. Chapter 2 Settings: Valley of Ashes and New York City Valley of Ashes is both an allusion (to T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land – a poem that refers back to World War I, and turns London into a city of the dead, spiritually dead) and a symbol.   The Valley of Ashes is were “dreams” die and the spiritually dead live.   In the Valley of Ashes another symbol resides: The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg.   A symbol to eyes of God (though God is dead).   In the Valley of Ashes live George and Myrtle Wilson. George Wilson is a sick, anemic man.   He is of the working class and he has failed in life.   He owns a poor little gas station.   He hopes – or dreams – of buying Tom’s car so that he can sell it for a profit and move west.   As one point in this chapter, Myrtle “smile...

 Today we are going to look at chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby  

 Finish reading chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby and work on dialectical journals. There is an audio book below if you want to read along with it.

 Today we are going to be looking at Modernism and the novel: THE GREAT GATSBY. THE GREAT GATSBY Learning Goal: Demonstrate knowledge of early-twentieth century foundational works of American Literature by relating a text to the historical time period and discussing the distinct features of Modernism found in the text. Meaning you will write an analysis essay.   Essential Questions: What is Modern?  Can ideals survive Catastrophe?  How can people honor their Heritage?  What drives Human Behavior? Texts: "The Love Song Of J. Afred Prufrock", poetry by Langston Hughes, "How it feels to be Colored Me", "Chicago", "The Death of the Hired Man", "A Worn Path", The Great Gatsby and "Hills Like White Elephants"   Tomorrow: Read the overview of "The Harlem Renaissance and Modernism" and outline the effects of WWI, the Jazz Age, and the Great Depression on writers of the time.   The Great Gatsby    The Them...

    Today we are going to look at the "The Narrative of Frederick Douglas" (page 558). Do study questions 1-3, 5-7, on page 570.  

   Today we are going to read Emily Dickinson (page 546).  You will be required to choose one of the poems we read in class and write a paragraph about what you believe the poem means (please reference the poem in your writing). You will also do questions 1-4 on page 556.  

  Today we are going to look at Walt Whitman (page 530).  Homework: questions 1-4, 6 on page 541.  

    Today, we will read Abraham Lincoln.  He is a question from a previous exam: 4) Discuss Lincoln's purpose in "The Gettysburg Address" and his "Second Inaugural Address".  Give a summary of the "Emancipation Proclamation" and how its form reinforces it idea. So as we read today you need to figure out Lincoln's purpose in his two speeches, "The Gettysburg Address" and his "Second Inaugural Address" and write these purposes out with examples from that text on your blog.  (Each of these should be a paragraph).  Example - Abraham Lincoln's purpose in "The Gettysburg Address" is to......  This can be scene by his.... and ....  He uses these examples to reinforce the idea that ..... Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address  "The Gettysburg Address" and "The Emancipation Proclamation" can be found on pages 584-590.