February 8 - February 12

As we begin our unit on Othello, I am reminded of The Killer's song, "Mr. Brightside." Of course the music video takes its inspiration from Buzz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge, but the song itself entertains the range of emotions that Shakespeare explores in his tragedy, "Jealousy, turning saints into the sea, swimming through sick lullabies." The loving Desdemona has no chance against the plotting and revengeful Iago. As Thomas Wolfe once said, "Which of us has really known his brother? Which of us has looked into his father's heart?" Accordingly, the truth eludes us. Shakespeare's play examines man's propensity for jealousy, a scorned man's desire for vengeance, and the beautiful Desdemona's failure to escape that which binds her.

Monday: Poetry Response 3# due
- Return Mirth Essays
- Return and review Frost Multiple Choice
- Research Paper assigned
- Othello groups and jigsaw assignments

Tuesday: Major Works Data Sheet - Mirth
- Poetry - "Birches" and "Home- Burial"

Wednesday: In-class essay - The House of Mirth

Thursday Othello -Act I due

Friday: Poetry Response 4# due

February 1 - February 5

"Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?"

Granted Simon & Garfunkel never had Lawrence Selden in mind in their song, "Mrs. Robinson," the tune highlights a significant void present in this part of Wharton's text. What happened to Selden? Even in a novel of manners, we still expect the hero to emerge and rescue the damsel, regardless of his reputation or of his pride. Mr. Darcy, where are you? Wharton gives us no such scene, but instead, high society rolls over our Lily Bart like a tsunami until she staggers in attempts to stand. Yet, the golden boy hides from the crushing waves, his wings tarnished or perhaps insufficient all along.

Tuesday: Snubs, Roses, and an Anaconda: A discussion
Poetry Response 2# due (dramatic monologue) - Be sure to include form and specific characteristics into your response.

Wednesday: Poetry Explication (Groups Present)

Thursday: Mirth - the finale - The "Ineffectual Male"

Friday: Poetry Explication (Groups Present)
Essay practice

January 25- January 29

Monday: Finish cutting essay - observations and reflections
Correct and type

Tuesday: "More Light! More Light!" poetry analysis: reading for symbol

Wednesday: Mirth Post due
Poetry Analysis - small groups

Thursday: Poetry Analysis - reading for structure
"Journey of the Magi"

Friday: poetry groups

January 19- 22

As we continue to work on poetry and Mirth, we glimpse into the tableaux vivant as a practice and its characterization of Lily Bart in Wharton's text.

Weds: (133- 178) Mirth and post

Thursday: Poetry Response 1# due

Friday: (178-201) due - Posting due Monday

January 11- 15

"The lame balloonman
whistles far and wee"

Tuesday: House of Mirth (77- 105) due

Wednesday: Mirth posts topics due

Thursday: Mirth responses due, Topics due for Reading 3#

Friday: Mirth (105- 133) due with posts

January 5- 8

As we return from the break, we launch into the study of poetry. To compliment our poetry unit, we will also dabble in the realm of Edith Wharton's House of Mirth, where we examine the Novel of Manners, Conspicuous Consumption, and Lily Bart. We will be working out of our Perrine text, so be prepared to bring this work to class daily.

Tuesday, Jan. 5

* Introduction to Semester Two
* Second Semester Poetry Responses
* Poetry in Performance - Finding voice
* HW: Mirth part I due Friday with dialectical Journal, Photo Essay due Monday

Wednesday, Jan. 6

* Poetry: Structure, Sound, and Sense
*HW: Mirth part I due Friday with journal, and Photo Essay due Monday

Thursday, Jan. 7

* In-class essay (poetry)
* HW: Mirth part I due Friday, dialectical journal, and Photo Essay (Monday)

Friday, January 8

* Quotation Quiz (part I)
* Novel of Manners
* Old New York vs. New New York
HW: Photo Essay due on Monday