Merry Christmas

The ending to the Pit and the Pendulum is the last blog entry for this semester. You have a research paper and finals to deal with and don't need extra work. We will resume blogging in 2011. If you have blogs to make up, this would be a good time to do them because they have to be made up before the semester ends.

What were you thinking, Edgar?

The Pit and the Pendulum is my favorite Poe story, but I hate the ending. I would like you to write a new ending for the story. It doesn't have to be long, and it can be really gory, but something more creative than
"There was a discordant hum of human voices! There was a loud blast as of many trumpets! There was a harsh grating as of a thousand thunders! The fiery walls rushed back! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell fainting into the abyss. It was that of General Lasalle. The French army had entered Toledo. The Inquisition was in the hands of its enemies."

That ending seems way too contrived. You can have the narrator live or die, your choice, but do it in your best Poe manner and have fun with it.

Gothiclight

Team Poe or Team Irving, which do you choose and why?


BTW I really liked the Romantic Poem reflections. I like to know how you feel about what we study, and sometimes that is hard to find out in class, especially from those of you on the quiet or shy side. I'm happy that some of you connected with the poetry. For those of you who are not "happy romantics," perhaps you will connect on the dark side. :D

Romantic Poem Reflection

Write a reflection on one of the poems we study this week.

Connection to Nature

Get a Voki now!

Crucible Paper

Because you all have a Crucible paper due next Monday, take a week off from your blog to write your paper. Check back here next Sunday. :)

Political climate of the 1950s

This week research the political climate of the 1950s. There are excellent places on the Internet to learn about Joseph McCarthy, HUAC, black listing, Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan, Charlie Chaplin, Paul Robeson, etc. Remember to post the address of the site you use for your post.

Post a summary of the information you find and a reflection about it.

or

Find a video that is appropriate to the topic and reflect on the contents.

or

Post information on the effect of the McCarthy Hearings on ordinary life
in the U.S. and reflect on what you learn.

Crucible Reflection

As we begin reading and discussing The Crucible, reflect on the events of Act I and the discussion in class. Post your reflections for this week's blog post.

Puritan Plain Style

This week is write like a Puritan week. Try out a poem or some prose in Puritan Plain Style.

Choose one:

Observe something then write about the observation and the religious lesson you get from the observation.

Write part of a sermon.

Write an account of some aspect of Puritan daily life based on what you can find out. Don't forget the religious lesson.

Write a reflection about something, culminating with a religious lesson.

Write a poem in the style of Anne Bradstreet. Don't forget the religious lesson.

Write an account of the Puritan side of King Phillip's War. Don't forget the religious lesson.

They All Played a Part

In 1620 the Pilgrims came to America on a ship called the Mayflower. To make a successful colony, everyone has a part. This week investigate the players in the Mayflower adventure and write a reflection about their contributions to the voyage and/or the colony. Pick one :

1. William Bradford

2. William Brewster

3 Myles Standish

4. John Alden/Priscilla Mullens

5. Squanto

6. the Wampanoag tribe

7. Chief Massasoit

Journals of Discovery

The second blog entry is about the journals we will be studying this week. We will be reading parts of the journals of early explorers and settlers. We will be discovering the influence of bias on primary sources. Your choices for posting this week include the following:
1. Reflect on any of the journals we have read, focusing on one of the following areas:
a. bias
b. relationship to the Native Americans
c. hardships
d. misconceptions and mistakes
2. Research one of the voyages and reflect on the trip to the New World.
3. Research the life of one of the authors and reflect on what happened after the journey and discovery or colonization.
4. Read more of one of the journals online and post a reflection on it.
5. Post a picture relating to one of the journeys and reflect on the picture's accuracy and message.

If you have an alternate direction you would like to explore about the journals, please ask. You have until next Sunday to publish your post.

Native American Culture Blog

This week you are to post about Native American culture. Here are a few suggestions to help you think of what to post:

You can reflect on any of the myths, stories, or videos we have read or
seen.

You can find an article on the internet about how modern Native Americans
still revere their root culture. Provide a link to the article and post a
reflection about it.

You can create a trickster story using the cultural elements of a tribe
and post it on your site.

You can link to a youtube video featuring a story or chant BY a Native
American and reflect on the cultural elements in it.

You can create a piece of graphic art showing Native American culture and
explain your artwork in a reflection.


If you have an idea other than the above suggestions, go for it, but you may NOT make fun of or degrade Native American culture in any way! Your post is worth 20 blog points on the next week's grade.

Welcome to the Honors American Literature class blog. You must check this blog each week to find the instructions for your blogs. You will get points each time you post on your blog or comment on a classmate's blog. You must post once a week about the material we cover in that week. I will give instructions or suggestions here to help you find something to write about.

The first assignment is to connect to this blog and become a follower. Then you must email your blog address to me so I can follow your blog and connect you to everyone else. The sooner you establish a blog, the sooner you will get blog points. Remember for security reasons not to use your full name in your address or blog title.

Get busy setting up your blog. If you have questions, watch the videos on the dashboard page or ask me in class.
Happy Blogging!