extra credit blog

THIS BLOG IS FOR EXTRA CREDIT ONLY
DUE NO LATER THAN 8AM THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2012

Explain to me in great length and detail how you are going to work harder next semester (in English class and in school overall) to become a better student before you graduate high school and to leave a real legacy at First Academy. Is the legacy you're leaving here one that is truly worth looking up to, or are you just doing what you can to get by until May 25?

ROUGH DRAFT DUE TOMORROW

ROUGH DRAFT DUE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY)--

BRING 2 TYPED COPIES OF ROUGH DRAFT TO CLASS!

on motivation

We're at the end of the first semester of your last year of high school (crazy!). 
As you're pushing through the last couple weeks of the fall semester, 
I want you to consider what motivates you. 
What incentives can you give yourself to excel in the following weeks? 
What attitude adjustments and paradigm shifts do you need? 
What is going to propel you forward to success despite busyness, senioritis, and the overall need for a break? 
Furthermore, how are you going to motivate others to create a better environment for your class (and teachers) as a whole?

This thoughtful blog is due no later than 8am, Wednesday November 28.

homework reminder

Remember over the weekend:

Bring your poetry rough draft (15-20 lines) on Monday
You'll have your first reading check for your free read novels

extra credit blog

If you respond to this blog, I'll give you a blog pass for a future blog.

What did you do to further the kingdom of God today?

Respond to this by 8am Wednesday November 7.

Free Read

Post your "free read" novel choice here by 8pm Monday, October 29.


P.S. Your Beowulf projects (PERFECT and CREATIVE and USING THE EXTRA TIME...) are due Monday November 5, no exceptions.

Poetry: on grammar

Post your poem from in class today! Post it in the correct format. Next to each line, write in parentheses what type of phrase you used (e.g., prepositional phrase).

This blog is due no later than 8am tomorrow Friday October 26.

Beowulf: on death

Why do you think was it necessary for Beowulf to die at the end of the epic? (consider: how would it have otherwise altered the story?) Do you think it was necessary for him to die?

*This should be a full, thoughtful response. Vague, generic, or excessively brief responses will receive a grade of no more than a 50.

This blog is due no later than 8am Wednesday October 24.

Beowulf project

Post what project you're doing, who you're doing it with, and what your plans are so far.

Post this by 4pm Monday October 22

Beowulf: on what interests you

What's been your favorite part of Beowulf so far? Summarize the scene briefly. Why is this your favorite scene?

Don't just give me a thoughtless 4-sentence response. Think about it. Talk about it. Write about it. Get into it.

This blog is due no later than Friday, October 19 at 8am.

Sestinas

Post your sestinas here--due Tuesday!

poetry: on learning about caesura

THIS IS NOT A  BLOG YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO. HOWEVER, SKIM OVER THIS TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND CAESURA!

Caesuras

Caesuras are essentially nothing more than breaks in rhythm, thought, or syntax that occur anywhere between the beginning and end of a line. In other words, they’re the same as an end-stopped line except that the “end-stopping” occurs in the middle of the line. That said, they can be trickier to spot. They aren't associated with the end of a line and aren't always matched by punctuation.

Caesuras were a fixture of classical Greek and Latin poetry but Anglo Saxon was the language in which the Caesura came to glory. 

So, if we were to lineate Sing a Song of Six-Pence as Beowulf’s author might have, it might look like this  (caesuras marked):

Sing a song of sixpence, || a pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds, || baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened, || the birds began to sing;
Wasn’t that a dainty dish, || to set before the king?

The king was in his counting house, || counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlour, || eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden, || hanging out the clothes;
When down came a blackbird || and pecked off her nose.

If you click the link to Leonard’s translation, you’ll see how this translates when applied to Beowulf. You might get an idea as to how the Anglo Saxons would have “heard” the great poem (and how the caesura was an integral part of the poem’s rhythm and structure). I always favor translations which try to capture, not just the sense, but the sound and structure of the original — something which is altogether too rare with the near total dominance of free verse.

The caesura’s importance to English poetry faded with the language’s modernization.  Still, examples can be found. Wikipedia offers an example from the ballad Tom O’Bedlam. I’ll give another from the same poem (which you can read in its entirety in Harold Bloom’s book The Best Poems of the English Language: From Chaucer Through Frost):

When I short have shorn my sow’s face
·······And swigged my horny barrel,
At an oaken inn || I impound my skin
·······In a suit of gilt apparel.
The moon’s my constant mistress
·······And the lovely owl my marrow.
The flaming drake || and the night-crow make
·······Me music to my sorrow.
While I do sing || “Any food, any feeding
·······Feeding, drink or clothing?
Come dame or maid, || be not afraid:
·······Poor Tom will injure nothing.

Notice that only the final caesura coincides with any sort of punctuation. (Is the rhythm of the ballad a faint echo of the ancient Anglo Saxon poetry? Possibly.) The caesura, in the stanza above, indicate rhythmic pauses. Also, all of the caesuras would be masculine caesuras. They each occur after a stressed syllable. Here are the first two stanzas from Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven.

Once upon a midnight dreary, || while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious || volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, || suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, || rapping at my chamber door.
`’Tis some visitor,’ || I muttered, || `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.’

Ah, distinctly I remember || it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember|| wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; – || vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow – || sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden || whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

Once again, some of  the caesura are marked by punctuation, some aren’t. Most native English speakers will instinctively pause mid-line, even without punctuation. The combination of the internal rhymes (dreary/weary, napping/tapping) and the trochaic meter encourages us to read the lines as bipartite. Normally, for example, one wouldn’t pause between curious and volume in the second line, but the poem’s rhyme and meter strongly encourage us to divide the line (if only to reinforce the rhythm of the others). Try it. See if you agree. Conversely, we want to read through pauses that we normally wouldn’t. For instance, the heavy mid-line caesuras make us want to ignore the syntactic breaks in the first stanza’s third, fifth and last line::

While I nodded, nearly napping…
…
`’Tis some visitor,’ I muttered…
Only this, and nothing more.

We might be more hard-pressed to ignore the natural break in ‘Tis some visitor,‘ I muttered…, but we could. In Poe’s poem, unlike Tom O’Bedlam, all the Caesura arefeminine caesuras because they each occur after unstressed syllables.

Source: http://poemshape.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/recognizing-using-caesuras-enjambment-and-end-stopped-lines/

poetry: on writing as a poet EXTRA CREDIT

DO THE BLOG BELOW THIS ONE!

As I've said several times before, the more of a poet and writer you become, the better analyst and critical thinker you'll be when analyzing poetry and literature.

I want you to choose one of the following literary devices (I've chosen some that you may be less familiar with). This will be the title of your poem. Then, write a poem ABOUT that device, USING that device. I've included an example.

This blog is for extra credit only. It will replace a missing blog grade! You have until Friday to do it.

My example:

Father Spoonerism

O dear Daddy Spoonerism, 
Your twisting tongue is ever
Bonfusing my crain,
Wisting my twords,
Thrambling my soughts.

From a young age, it's always been
Nicken chuggets,
Lapped chips,
Lipped chaps,
and pail nolish.

UNTIL ONE DAY
Justice was received:
While I was sitting in front church pew,
Attentive to Father's sermon,
The words were bending, twisting, reversing...

We are called to pray!
We are called to pray!
We are prayed to call!

...?

Amplification

Definition:

Amplification refers to a literary practice wherein the writer embellishes the sentence by adding more information to it in order to increase its worth and understandability. When a plain sentence is too abrupt and fails to convey the full implications desired, amplification comes into play when the writer adds more to the structure to give it more meaning.

Example:

Original sentence- The thesis paper was difficult. After amplification- The thesis paper was difficult: it required extensive research, data collection, sample surveys, interviews and a lot of fieldwork.

Anastrophe

Definition:

Anastrophe is a form of literary device wherein the order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged. In standard parlance and writing the adjective comes before the noun but when one is employing an anastrophe the noun is followed by the adjective. This reversed order creates a dramatic impact and lends weight to the description offered by the adjective.

Example:

He spoke of times past and future, and dreamt of things to be.

Anthropomorphism

Definition:

Anthropomorphism can be understood to be the act of lending a human quality, emotion or ambition to a non-human object or being. This act of lending a human element to a non-human subject is often employed in order to endear the latter to the readers or audience and increase the level of relativity between the two while also lending character to the subject.

Example:

The raging storm brought with it howling winds and fierce lightning as the residents of the village looked up at the angry skies in alarm.

For the differences between anthropomorphism and personification: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-anthropomorphism-and-personification

Aphorism

Definition:

An aphorism is a concise statement that is made in a matter of fact tone to state a principle or an opinion that is generally understood to be a universal truth. Aphorisms are often adages, wise sayings and maxims aimed at imparting sense and wisdom. It is to be noted that aphorisms are usually witty and curt and often have an underlying tone of authority to them.

Example:

Upon seeing the shoddy work done by the employee the boss told him to “either shape up or ship out”.

Asyndeton

Definition:

Asyndeton refers to a practice in literature whereby the author purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase. Asyndeton as a literary tool helps in shortening up the implied meaning of the entire phrase and presenting it in a succinct form. This compact version helps in creating an immediate impact whereby the reader is instantly attuned to what the writer is trying to convey. Use of this literary device helps in creating a strong impact and such sentences have greater recall worth since the idea is presented in a nutshell.

Example:

1. Read, Write, Learn.
2. Watch, Absorb, Understand.
3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Authorial Intrusion

Definition:

Authorial Intrusion is an interesting literary device wherein the author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader. Authorial Intrusion establishes a one to one relationship between the writer and the reader where the latter is no longer a secondary player or an indirect audience to the progress of the story but is the main subject of the author’s attention.

Example:

In many olden novels, especially in suspense novels, the protagonist would move away from the stream of the story and speak out to the reader. This technique was often used to reveal some crucial elements of the story to the reader even though the protagonist might remain mystified within the story for the time being.

Bibliomancy

Definition:

As the very name itself suggests, this kind of literary device finds its roots in biblical origins. This term refers to the practice of basing a plot happening or event and anticipating the results it will have on a faction of the Bible. It involves a random selection process wherein the biblical passage is chosen as a founding stone for basing the outcome of the writing. In an overall context, not limited to just literature, bibliomancy refers to foretelling the future by turning to random portions of the Bible for guidance.

Example:

The Vedas serve as a tool for Bibliomancy to the Hindus while Muslims rely on the Koran.

Cacophony

Definition:

A cacophony in literature refers to the use of words and phrases that imply strong, harsh sounds within the phrase. These words have jarring and dissonant sounds that create a disturbing, objectionable atmosphere.

Example:

His fingers rapped and pounded the door, and his foot thumped against the yellowing wood

Caesura

Definition:

This literary device involves creating a fracture of sorts within a sentence where the two separate parts are distinguishable from one another yet intrinsically linked to one another. The purpose of using a caesura is to create a dramatic pause, which has a strong impact. The pause helps to add an emotional, often theatrical touch to the sentence and conveys a depth of sentiment in a short phrase.

Example:

Mozart- oh how your music makes me soar!

Circumlocution

Definition:

Circumlocution is a form of writing where the writer uses exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence. Circumlocution involves stating an idea or a view in an indirect manner that leaves the reader guessing and grasping at the actual meaning.

Example:

Instead of writing “he arrived for dinner at 8 pm” the author writes, “8 pm was when he reached the dinner party”.

Deus ex Machina

Definition:

Deus ex Machina is a rather debatable and often criticized form of literary device. It refers to the incidence where an implausible concept or character is brought into the story in order to make the conflict in the story resolve and to bring about a pleasing solution. The use of Deus ex Machina is not recommended as it is seen to be the mark of a poor plot that the writer needs to resort to random, insupportable and unbelievable twists and turns to reach the end of the story.

Example:

If in a suspense novel the protagonist suddenly finds a solution to his dilemmas because of divine intervention.

Euphemism

Definition:

The term ‘euphemism’ is used to refer to the literary practice of using a comparatively milder or less abrasive form of a negative description instead of its original, unsympathetic form. This device is used when writing about matters such as sex, violence, death, crimes and "embarrassing". The purpose of euphemisms is to substitute unpleasant and severe words with more genteel ones in order to mask the harshness.. The use of euphemisms is sometimes manipulated to lend a touch of exaggeration or irony in satirical writing.

Example:

Using “to put out to pasture” when one implies retiring a person because they are too old to be effective.

Euphony

Definition:

The literary device “euphony” refers to the use of phrases and words that are noted for possessing an extensive degree of notable loveliness or melody in the sound they create. The use of euphony is predominant in literary prose and poetry, where poetic devices such as alliterations, rhymes and assonace are used to create pleasant sounds. Euphony is the opposite of cacophony, which refers to the creation of unpleasant and harsh sounds by using certain words/ phrases together. This literary devices is based on the use and manipulation of phonetics in literature.

Example:

It has been said that the phrase “cellar door” is reportedly the most pleasant sounding phrase in the English language. The phrase is said to depict the highest degree of euphony, and is said to be especially notable when spoken in the British accent.

Hyperbaton

Definition:

A hyperbaton is a literary device wherein the author plays with the regular positioning of words and phrases and creates a differently structured sentence to convey the same meaning. It is said that by using a hyperbaton, words/ phrases overstep their conventional placements and result in a more complex and intriguing sentence structure. This literary device is used to add more depth and interest to the sentence structure.

Example:

“Alone he walked on the cold, lonely roads”. This sentence is a variation of the more conventional, “He walked alone on the cold, lonely roads”.

Litotes

understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in “not a bad singer” or “not unhappy”)

Malapropism

Definition:

Malapropism in literature refers to the practice of misusing words by substituting words with similar sounding words that have different, often unconnected meanings, and thus creating a situation of confusion, misunderstanding and amusement. Malapropism is used to convey that the speaker/character is flustered, bothered, unaware or confused and as a result cannot employ proper diction. A trick to using malapropism is to ensure that the two words (the original and the substitute) sound similar enough for the reader to catch onto the intended switch and find humor in the result.

Example:

In the play Much Ado About Nothing, noted playwright William Shakespeare’s character Dogberry says, "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons." Instead, what the character means to say is “"Our watch, sir, have indeed apprehended two suspicious persons."

Metonymy

Definition:

Metonymy in literature refers to the practice of not using the formal word for an object/subject and instead referring to it by using another word that is intricately linked to the formal name/word. It is the practice of substituting the main word with a word that is closely linked to it.

Example:

When we use the name “Washington D.C” we are talking about the U.S’ political hot seat by referring to the political capital of the United States because all the significant political institutions such as the White House, Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol and many more are located her. The phrase “Washington D.C.” is metonymy for the government of the U.S. in this case.

Motif

Definition:

The literary device ‘motif’ is any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature. Using a motif refers to the repetition of a specific theme dominating the literary work. Motifs are very noticeable and play a significant role in defining the nature of the story, the course of events and the very fabric of the literary piece.

Example:

In all the famed fairytales, the motif of a ‘handsome prince’ falling in love with a ‘damsel in distress’ and the two being bothered by a wicked step-mother/ evil witch/ beast and finally conquering all and living ‘happily ever after’ is a common motif.

Another common motif is the simple, pretty peasant girl or girl from a modest background in fairytales discovering that she is actually a royal or noble by the end of the tale.

Oxymoron

Definition:

Oxymoron is a significant literary device as it allows the author to use contradictory, contrasting concepts placed together in a manner that actually ends up making sense in a strange, and slightly complex manner. An oxymoron is an interesting literary device because it helps to perceive a deeper level of truth and explore different layers of semantics while writing.

Example:

Sometimes we cherish things of little value.
He possessed a cold fire in his eyes.

Paradox

Definition:

A paradox in literature refers to the use of concepts/ ideas that are contradictory to one another, yet, when placed together they hold significant value on several levels. The uniqueness of paradoxes lies in the fact that a deeper level of meaning and significance is not revealed at first glace, but when it does crystallize, it provides astonishing insight.

Example:

High walls make not a palace; full coffers make not a king.

Periphrasis

Definition:

The term ‘periphrasis’ refers to the use of excessive language and surplus words to convey a meaning that could otherwise be conveyed with fewer words and in more direct a manner. The use of this literary device can be to embellish a sentence, to create a grander effect, to beat around the bush and to draw attention away from the crux of the message being conveyed.

Example:

Instead of simply saying “I am displeased with your behavior”, one can say, “the manner in which you have conducted yourself in my presence of late has caused me to feel uncomfortable and has resulted in my feeling disgruntled and disappointed with you”.

Polysyndeton

Definition:

In literature, the literary device ‘polysyndeton’ refers to the process of using conjunctions or connecting words frequently in a sentence, placed very close to one another, as opposed to the usual norm of using them sparsely, only where they are technically needed. The use of polysyndetons is primarily for adding dramatic effect as they have a strong rhetorical presence.

Example:

For example:

a) Saying “here and there and everywhere”, instead of simply saying “here, there and everywhere”.

b) “Marge and Susan and Anne and Daisy and Barry all planned to go for a picnic”, instead of “Marge, Susan, Anne, Daisy and Barry…” emphasizes each of the individuals and calls attention to every person one by one instead of assembling them as a group.

Portmanteau

Definition:

In literature, this device refers to the practice of joining together two or more words in order to create an entirely new word. This is often done in order to create a name or word for something by combining the individual characteristics of 2 or more other words.

Example:

1. The word “smog” is a portmanteau that was built combining “fog” and “smoke” and “smog” has the properties of both fog and smoke.

2. Liger= Lion + Tiger= A hybrid of the two feline species, possessing characteristics of both.

Spoonerism

Definition:

Spoonerism refers to the practice of interchanging the first letters of some words in order to create new words or even to create nonsensical words in order to create a humorous setting. While they are often unintentional and known as a “slip of the tongue”, in literature they are welcomed as witty word-play.

Example:

The phrase “flesh and blood” being spoken as a character as “blesh and flood” in urgency and heightened emotion.

Beowulf: looking at the hero

How does Beowulf characterize a hero thus far? Consider what you've learned about the qualities of a hero (specifically an Anglo-Saxon hero) in class. What do you think of Beowulf? Think critically here... don't just go with the easy, go-to answer!

I'm not setting a length requirement on this. However, your grade will reflect your thoughtfulness and thoroughness.

This blog is due no later than 8am Tuesday, October 9.

poetry: it doesn't have to be boring

I found this amazing poetry website I'm in love with. Go here:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org

On the left tab, you can browse poems and poets. When you click on that, it brings up a page where you can narrow down your results by subject, time period, literary device, etc. Go to "browse poems" then click "poetic terms" on the left. Then look at the subjects. Choose any of those subjects you're interested in. In a paragraph, summarize what the point of the poem is. What's the subject? What's a lesson we can take away from this poem? How does the speaker feel about the subject?


Find a poem that interests you. Mess around with the website a little bit--get familiar with it. You may actually come across a poet you don't hate.

This blog is due no later than 8am Monday, October 8. And don't forget PAJAMA DAY! Bring breakfast food and snacks for a comfy cozy Monday, if you want. :)

poetry: on allusion

A literary allusion is defined as the following:
a brief reference to a person, event, place, or phrase. The writer assumes the reader will recognize the reference. For instance, most of us would know the difference between a mechanic's being as reliable as George Washington or as reliable as Benedict Arnold. Allusions that are commonplace for readers in one era may require footnotes for readers in a later time.

Allusions are frequently used in poetry and prose alike. 

Write your own poem while utilizing allusion. This can be an historical, biblical, mythological, etc. allusion--any of your choosing. The poem may either center around the allusion, or the allusion may simply be used as a small piece of your poem to drive home an illustration or idea. You are the poet. The rhyme scheme (or lack thereof), format, length, content--everything--is entirely up to you. 
Let your creativity soar unlike the wings upon which Icarus flew and fell.

This blog is due no later than 8am Wednesday, October (can you believe it's October already?!) 3.

Beowulf: on kennings

Choose 5 kennings that you come across in lines 1-300 of Beowulf. Tell me what the kenning is, what line it's found in, what it stands for (what's it a metaphor for?), and what effect this wording has.

Example:
1. Boy-child (12) means "son." This is used to show that not only did Shield just have a "son" or a "child," but it reveals his gender AND age in one word.

This blog is due by 8am on Monday.
Don't forget your Zinch.com blog due Monday also!

Beowulf: on names

In the preface to Beowulf (between the introduction and the beginning of the poem), there is a page entitled A Note on Names. Read this page carefully. Then, loosely using the rules of Anglo-Saxon compound names, create your own compound name that accurately describes you. For example, I could be Knowledge-bestower, Grade-inflicter, or Language-informer. Or, if I really wanted to get creative, I could make my name even sound Old English. 

The student with the most authentic and creative Anglo-Saxon name gets a blog pass! 
Post your name on this blog with a brief (1-3 sentence) explanation of why this name describes you.

YOU MAY NOT USE A BLOG PASS ON THIS BLOG.
This blog is due ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN 8am Friday, September 28.

on scholarships

Zinch.com posts a weekly $1000 scholarship for a 2-3 sentence essay responding to a given topic (a different topic each week). I'd like for you guys to try this scholarship every week! The deadlines are on Mondays. 

Go to the website: http://www.zinch.com/scholarships/weekly
You can look at the past winners there to get an idea of what they like.
Write your 2-3 sentence essay.
Post it on here by 8am, Friday.
Submit your "essay" on the website by September 24 to see if you can win a thousand bucks!

on writing

It's no secret that I like to do a rather significant amount of writing practice in English class. This is not to inflict torture in writing form upon you; rather, I'm training each of you to become better writers. This is a good thing, believe it or not. You cannot become a better writer if you don't write. So we write.

Reflect on your own writing--your attitudes toward it, your style, your positive and negative experiences with writing. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? After considering this, I just want you to write reflectively about how you would like to grow as a writer this year. Yes, this is technically an assignment, but I really want you to  consider this. This goes beyond me merely assigning things for grades. Set goals for yourself now so that, come May, you can look back on this year as more than a year you survived, but as a year that you took advantage of having the opportunity to get a good education. 

There is no word limit for this blog--you will be graded according to the thoughtfulness of your response.

Due tomorrow, Wednesday, by 8am!

College Applications: on essays

Register for the school website of one of the colleges you are applying to. After beginning the application process, look for the essay prompt required for your school. Post that prompt on here. This will be the essay you are writing for my class! So pick a good one.

If you do not post a prompt by Thursday, you will be assigned a generic college essay prompt that may not actually be useful for you as you apply to your school of choice.

DUE THURSDAY 9/6

Frankenstein: on description

Today in class, we read Shelley's physical description of Frankenstein's monster. I want you to choose a person (someone you know, a fictional character, a celebrity...) and in 100-200 words, describe his/her physical features. Pay attention to specific details. You want me as your reader to get an accurate image in my mind of the person you're describing. Don't tell me who your person is. 

THIS BLOG IS DUE TOMORROW, FRIDAY AUGUST 17 BY 8AM.

Frankenstein: on new life

In 100-200 words, write a first-person narrative (a story written from your point of view) of what your day would be like if you had just been born into your current body today. If today were your first day of life, how would you react? What would seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling things be like? Would you know to eat or drink? Would you know what to eat or drink? How would you react to other people? How would they react to you? How would you try to communicate? Think through what you would and wouldn't be able to do as a new person in a 17 or 18-year-old's body. Be creative. 

REMEMBER THIS IS DUE TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15 BY 8AM.

*extra credit post only*

This post is for extra credit only. You may not respond to this question to fulfill one of your assigned 4 questions per novel. You may only receive extra credit for this question if you have already responded to 4 questions for Frankenstein and 4 questions for The Importance of Being Earnest. 

I want to know your thoughts on the books you read this summer. Did you like them? Dislike them? Give me specific reasons why. 

Now I want you to think about what these books have to do with life. You spent a significant amount of time reading these texts (at least, I trust that you did...), so tell me what you can take away from them. Even if you didn't enjoy the novel and play, what can they teach you about people? about life? about yourself? Were there any characters, themes, ideas that seemed to relate to your life or life in general? Discuss the good, the bad, the ugly.

Responses should still be 250+ words. You may choose to answer this question using one or both of your summer reading texts. If you choose to respond to both Frankenstein and The Importance of Being Earnest, respond to them in separate posts and identify which you're responding to. 

Question Five: Frankenstein

Frankenstein: on theme

A theme is a recurring idea throughout a work of literature. What's something you noticed that seemed to keep appearing in Frankenstein? If you can't think of a theme on your own, do some shallow research to identify some themes from the novel. In your comment, tell me what theme you chose to talk about, briefly summarize the specific places (note: places being plural!) you see this theme in the text, then spend the majority of your words telling me about the significance of this theme. Why was this theme important? How does it relate to real life? Why would Shelley choose to focus on this theme? 

You will respond to this question by leaving a comment on this post. 

Responses should be at least 200 words each.

Remember: you must respond to at least 4 questions per novel. 

Extra credit will be awarded if you respond to more than 4 questions.

*and remember, this is a blog--write with good English and use your inner intellectual, but speak casually!