All classes:
Definition:
Allusion: a reference an author makes to people, places, and events from history or literature outside his or her own work.
Added "There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic and situational" to the definition of irony.
There will be a vocabulary quiz by the end of the week. Students will have to define the words and provide examples.
Breakdown by Grade
10R
Handout:
"Suggestions for Analyzing Fiction:"
Title of work
Author name
I. The “Big Four”
a. Characters (both major and minor)
b. Theme (central message or insight into life)
c. Plot (general summary, subplots)
d. Setting (time, place, and circumstances of events)
II. Plot Breakdown
a. Motivating factor (an ambition or objective which leads to conflict)
b. Conflict (struggle between opposing forces – man vs. nature, youth vs. old age)
c. Complication (circumstances that make the major character’s struggle more difficult)
d. Suspense (feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events)
e. Climax (turning point of highest action at which the conflicting forces win or lose)
f. Dénouement (last event of resolution)
III. Analytical Elements
a. Point of view (author’s manner of telling the story – 1st or 3rd person)
b. Special techniques of author (imagery, symbolism, irony)
The outline was applied to the story, "The Last Unicorns:"
Title: “The Last Unicorns”
Author: Edward Hoch
I. The “Big Four”
A. Characters: Shem, bearded man, Noah
B. Theme: saving the unicorns
C. Plot: Shem tries to buy unicorns. Bearded Man says no. Shem tries to steal them. BM stops him. Shem tells Noah, can’t save unicorns.
D. Setting: Long ago, green fertile valley, farm, raining
II. Plot Breakdown
A. Motivation: Save the unicorns
B. Conflict: BM won’t give them up`````
C. Complication: SAA
D. Suspense: Why does Shem want the unicorns?
E. Climax: Shem trying to steal the unicorns
F. Dénouement: Shem talking to Noah
III. Analytical Elements
A. POV: Third Person
B. Techniques: allusion to the story of Noah in The Bible
The author of the next story, Ray Bradbury, was introduced.
11R
Read about Puritans, Pilgrims and the Great Awakening as historical context for passage by Jonathan Edwards. Discussed impact on American culture.
12R
Handed out historical context outline for the course. Reread and discussed "The Seafarer." Discussion centered around the impact of Christian thought on the Anglo-Saxon outlook, which had been primarily centered on fatalism. HW: Analyzing Literature number 1&2 of hand out.
