AGENDA 11/12

Distribute poetry concepts/terms for next week's poetry terms quiz - I recommend that you first sift them into concept circles, then define. On Friday, we'll review any that are still unfamiliar (knowing that we'll work on some more terms tomorrow). Check out this online literary terms glossary from Bedford/St. Martin's or this online literary terms glossary from The Poetry Foundation for help with definitions.

View and discuss Act I.ii of Hamlet - Claudius's speech and Hamlet's dialogue with Claudius and Gertrude

HW: For Friday, read The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act I.iii, I.iv, I.v and complete the following in your reading journals - write TWO interpretive questions (how or why questions, one about the author’s style, one about events within the play) AND choose a short segment (1-3 lines) that best represents that scene, writing a short justification of why this quotation best represents the scene. See the Study Guide for Act I.i/I.ii for examples.

AGENDA 11/10

Share out Shakespeare facts from weekend homework on the board
Group Activity: Defining Tragedy
Review elements of Aristotelian tragedy

HW: Read Act I, scenes i and ii of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and complete study guide questions in your reading journals for Wednesday. This glossary of frequently encountered words may help.

AGENDA 11/7

Entrance Ticket: (open notes!)
Choose ONE and respond briefly, using complete sentences:
According to the excerpts we read from Aristotle's The Poetics,

1-What are the characteristics of a good plot?

2-Why is Oedipus an ideal tragic figure?

3-How might "fear and pity" be aroused?

4-What kinds of "recognition" are important?

Discuss Oedipus Rex in relation to Aristotle's definition of a tragedy as expressed in the
that we read from The Poetics. How does Oedipus match up with the description of the "tragic figure" in The Standard Deviants "What is Tragedy?" video clip?

Watch the Oedipus Rex section of The Standard Deviants as review and discuss
Start at 7:00, end at 15:02.

HW: Prepping for Hamlet: complete a critical annotation on Shakespeare's life or times, typed in MLA format for Monday. See this sample to assist you (but this website, the Shakespeare Resource Center, is off-limits! Choose another site). Next week: Hamlet and timed essay on poetry! Here is a resource for formatting MLA citations from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue.

AGENDA 11/6

Continue reading excerpts from Aristotle's The Poetics individually and annotate for understanding:
Annotate with questions & connections
Underline or highlight material you understand well enough to explain and give examples of
Box or circle parts that you need clarification on or further examples/have questions about

Then, in small groups: Reciprocal Reading
Adopt one of three roles:
Summarize: The main ideas are...
Question: I wonder...who...what...where...when...why...how...
Clarify: Define unfamiliar words or concepts, ask questions...I didn't get...I want to know more about...

HW: Finish reading Oedipus Rex

AGENDA 11/5

Watch "What is Tragedy?" from The Standard Deviants and take notes/outline ideas
(note: start at 3:45 and watch until 6:55)

Begin reading excerpts from Aristotle's The Poetics individually and annotate for understanding:
Annotate with questions & connections
Underline or highlight material you understand well enough to explain and give examples of
Box or circle parts that you need clarification on or further examples/have questions about


HW: Read Oedipus Rex up to Ode III, page 58

AGENDA 11/4

Continue examination of Italian (Petrarchan) and English (Shakespearean/Elizabethan) sonnets: Choose ONE of the six sonnets to really unpack with your group. Paraphrase it, discuss its meaning/theme, and explain how form contributes to meaning. Then share out with the class.

HW: Begin reading Oedipus Rex to page 25, Oedipus's exchange with Teiresias.

AGENDA 11/3

Textbook room: Pick up Oedipus Rex and Hamlet

Group activity: discovering sonnets
Distinguish between Italian (Petrarchan) and English (Shakespearean/Elizabethan) sonnets: what is the structure of each kind of sonnet? How does form contribute to meaning?

HW: Begin reading Oedipus Rex