Ms. Bridges' AP English

OCTOBER 1, 2012 - OCTOBER 5, 2012 WEEKLY AGENDA FOR A.P. ENGLISH LITERATURE Monday, October 1st: Go over Act 1, Scene 3: Laertes, Ophelia, Polonius Pair up and find examples of money and finance in Polonius' speech to Ophelia. For homework: Write a two paragraph mini-essay contrasting the extended metaphors used by  Polonius in his speech to Ophelia and the extended metaphors used by Laertes in his speech to Ophela. What do the differences show in the two men's attitude towards Ophelia?  This will be due on Thursday, October 4th. Read Act 1, Scene 4 in class; For  homework: Find examples of figurative language in Act 1, Scene 4: write the examples, identify and explain how it relates to the theme, the characters, or plot points. Tuesday, October 2nd: Regular day! Read Act 1, Scene 5 in class. Watch Act 1, Scene 4 and 5 in the Kenneth Branagh's film, HAMLET For homework: Find examples of figurative language in Act 1, Scene 5: wr...

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 - SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 WEEKLY AGENDA FOR A.P. ENGLISH LITERATURE Monday, September 24th: Read and discuss Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2 of HAMLET For homework tonight: please do reading log, concentrating on character revelations, plot points, theme, figurative language. For tonight: PERRINE'S; page 966; "That Time of Year" by William Shakespeare; questions 1 - 4; due tomorrow Tuesday, September 25th: Shortened day Multiple choice questions over sonnet "That Time of Year" by Shakespeare Break into pairs, in Scenes 1 and 2, write down all examples of metaphor, simile and personification you can find, translate the passages into contemporary language; relate the passages to the theme, characters or plot points of HAMLET; share with class Watch Kenneth Branagh's HAMLET Wednesday, September 26th: Pass out open book test for HAMLET; Act One. This will be due when we are finished with Act 1. Read and discuss Act 1, Scene 3 of HAMLET ...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 A.P. ENGLISH LITERATURE Tuesday, September 18th: Discuss "Discovery of the New World" by Carter Revard from PERRINE'S LITERATURE; pages 750 - 752; questions 1 - 5.  The questions are due today. Prewrite on compare and contrast on two poems on "Eros" by Robert Bridges and Anne Stephenson. Wednesday, September 19th: Timed essay on "Eros" by Robert Bridges and Anne Stephenson. PERRINE'S LITERATURE; "A Study of Reading Habit" by Philip Larkin; pages 740 - 741; questions 1 - 3, pages 741; due today. Please have read 741 - 744 by today and outline. The outline of pages 741 - 744 will be due today. Please bring your Vocabulary Workshop; Unit One will be assigned and will be due on Monday, September 24th. Thursday, September 20th: Discussion on PERRINE'S LITERATURE; "A Study of Reading Habit" by Phillip Larkin; pages 740 - 741; and discussion on pages 741 - 744. Begin exci...

OEDIPUS REX Homework for Thursday, September 13, 2012: Identify the scenes of reversals (there are three).  Please state when they occur and who are the characters involved.  What is the purported purpose of the scene? In other words, what does the character or characters attempt to do but his or her plan backfires and the opposite effect(s) occur. Please write in complete sentences.     A.  How do these three scenes of reversal advance the plot? 2. Identify the recognition scene when a character is recognized by signs or scars. Please state when and how the recognition scene occurs and how it advances the plot. Please write in complete sentences.

Oedipus Notes Act 1 There is a pestilence which has descended upon Thebes.  The people of Thebes have assembled at the front steps of Oedipus’ palace to plead with him to save them as he once did with the Sphinx. Oedipus says that he has sent Creon to ask Teiresias to come and tell them what he knows, but Creon has been gone for some time now and all anxiously wait for his return. Creon at last arrives and says he has spoken with Teiresias but first asks Oedipus if he would like to hear the news in private or in front of the people. By his comment, “I am prepared to speak, but should we not go in?” suggests that he would like to be more cautious and circumspect. Oedipus’ response is “Let them all hear it. It is for them, I suffer, more than for myself.” This is magnanimous and is suggestive of a large, generous and open heart but also one that might be foolish and a little rash.  What if the news is not good, frightening or embarrassing for him?  The crowd m...

Oedipus Notes Act 1 There is a pestilence which has descended upon Thebes.  The people of Thebes have assembled at the front steps of Oedipus’ palace to plead with him to save them as he once did with the Sphinx. Oedipus says that he has sent Creon to ask Teiresias to come and tell them what he knows, but Creon has been gone for some time now and all anxiously wait for his return. Creon at last arrives and says he has spoken with Teiresias but first asks Oedipus if he would like to hear the news in private or in front of the people. By his comment, “I am prepared to speak, but should we not go in?” suggests that he would like to be more cautious and circumspect. Oedipus’ response is “Let them all hear it. It is for them, I suffer, more than for myself.” This is magnanimous and is suggestive of a large, generous and open heart but also one that might be foolish and a little rash.  What if the news is not good, frightening or embarrassing for him?  The crowd might not take ...

September 10, 2012 - September 14, 2012 Weekly Agenda for A.P. English Literature Monday, September 10th: Discussion of OEDIPUS REX Reversal, Recognition, Pity and Terror, Catharsis, Irony, Character You must finish the play tonight.  Plus, you must do a reading log which details figurative language (don't just list the figurative language; you must show how and why Sophocles uses them); plus, you must include details which reveal irony, character and important plot points.) For homework: Write a minimum of two pages for an essay on Sylvia Plath's use of figurative language to advance the theme found in "Mirror". This will be due on Thursday, September 13th. Tuesday, September 11th: Break into groups of three to prepare Socratic discussion on OEDIPUS REX Look at "Topics for Discussion on OEDIPUS REX" found on the A.P. English Literature blog under OEDIPUS REX. Wednesday, September 12th: Socratic discussion on OEDIPUS REX Thursday, Septe...

A.P. English Class Notes for Tuesday, September 4, 2012  The first thing you should notice in a poem is the title! The Man He Killed SOAPSTONE SPEAKER: The narrator may not actually be the poet, but is used by the poet to convey theme. OCCASION: What is happening?  Why was it written. Audience: The reader; conscience; to the dead man; people who can relate to the idea; people who are clueless about war and death and killing; civilians Purpose: (theme/reason) to educate; to vent; to evoke emotional response; every life has a purpose; Subject: Death, homicide; soldiers in time of war Tone: Saturnine; melancholy; despondent; unrepentant; despairing, reflective, energetic Batten: (verb) to eat as a vulture will eat on a carcass. Augery: prophesies Sphinx: half woman/half lion/ with wings/its tail is a snake and it speaks riddles. The backstory is: Oedipus solving the Sphinx's riddle and causing her to kill herself, thereby liberating Thebes from her siege. ...