Losen World Literature 2010-2011

Agenda for the Week of April 25-April 29, 2011

 

Monday/Tuesday:

We will review “Hamlet” through Act II. Be ready to take notes. You will also receive copies of Slaughterhouse Five. Begin reading it for homework. I know that A. P. tests are coming up, and I am taking that into consideration with the dates for finishing this novel. Students tend to enjoy reading it. Its language is contemporary, not archaic. Vonnegut has a wonderful sense of humor. Therefore, I expect you to be half-way through by Monday (odd) or Tuesday (even) on May 9th & 10th. Finish the entire novel  by May 16th (odd) or 17th (even). Expect regular reading quizzes that will integrate “Hamlet” and Slaughterhouse Five as assigned and completed. We will read Act III in class.

One of the elements that I want you to start to notice is that Vonnegut’s novel and Shakespeare’s play can both be seen as political or personal statements about war.

Homework: Read Slaughterhouse Five.

 

Wednesday/Thursday:

Finish Act III> I have a student-created slide-show with wonderful visuals of Dresden—before the allied attack and after. It will give you more of a context for Slaughterhouse Five.

We will watch some of Branagh’s film-version.

Homework: Keep reading Slaughterhouse Five.

Friday:

We will watch more of Branagh’s “Hamlet.”


Homework: Read through Chapter 4 of Slaughterhouse Five. That means that you STOP before Chapter 5. The quiz will really benefit students that pay attention in class and that have done the assigned readings and taken notes of "Hamlet." Quotation identification will be a part of the quiz. You should recognize speeches that I have pointed out as important, know why they are important, and know the speaker. I will not expect you to remember the name of a minor character. If that is the case, I will identify the character by name. Then I will ask other questions that are relevant. I strongly suggest that students take the work we do in c

Week of April 11, 2011

Monday/Tuesday:

Take out Norton’s from the closet. We will start “Hamlet.” We will do act 1 in class. Homework: Begin reading about Jorge Luis Borges and his short story, “The Garden of Forking Paths”—pp. 648-659. Quiz is rescheduled for Wednesday/Thursday and will include Books 18-20 of the Odyssey and the background on Borges and the short story.

Wednesday/Thursday:

Quiz on assigned reading. We will act out more on “Hamlet.” You will also receive a novel, Slaughterhouse Five. It will not need to be completed until two weeks after we get back, so you can choose to read it over break or choose not to do so.

Friday: TBA

Monday/Tuesday:

Have your Odysseys with you--as I said multiple times last week. We will start with a multiple-choice Odyssey quiz. After you finish, I have prepared a vocabulary crossword puzzle. Do not take out your texts until everyone has finished.

Next, we will read Book XVIII (18). If there is time, we will continue to watch "O Brother Where Art Thou."

Homework: Study for your vocabulary test. I have already made up two versions. Extra credit questions will relate to "O Brother Where Art Thou."

Wednesday/Thursday:

Have your Odysseys with you again. We will start with the test, which should not take the entire period. Do not take out your vocabulary books when anyone is taking the test. Instead, start your homework--book 19. When everyone is finished, we will watch "O Brother Where Art Thou."

Homework: Book 19.

Friday: We will go over Book 19. Read Book 20 for homework.