Friday

Today - we are going to post words of the day and work on your Branwen projects. 

Branwen

Here is a video story of BRANWEN

Tuesday

Today we are going to finish "Branwen" and compare it to the "Death of Conchobhar"

1)  Connections: Characters – compare the characters of the two stories, which characters are alike.  You can compare kings, warriors, women.

Characters: “Branwen”—Brandigiefran, Mathlowch, Manawydan, Efnisien, Nisien; “The Death of Conchobhar”—Conchobhar, Cet, Finghin, Meis-Geghra, Conall, Cu Chulainn.

2) Compare the conflicts in the two stories.  

3. Compare the following themes in the two stories: The Role of Kings (think about who is a better king and why); The Role of Women (and yes there are women in “The Death of Conchobar”); The concept of magic (think about who uses magic in each story and what the purpose of magic is for); hospitality (yes its there in Conchobhar just not as clear); paganism vs. Christianity (perhaps more important in Conchobhar—think about the ending); man alone in a hostile world.  

4)  Compare the endings of the two stories: how are they alike.  

5. Compare the following symbols: the cauldron of resurrection, the brain balls.

6. Outline the following for each story: point of view, protagonist, antagonist, type of conflict, dynamic characters, inciting event, climax, resolution, allusions (this is a trick question), foreshadows (maybe one from each story).
7. List your favorite moment from each story.
8. Which story did you like better and why?
9. Discuss one irony from each story.

Monday

Today we are going to finish "The Death of Conchobhar" and then move onto Branwen, Daughter of Llyr.  Finally, you'll have some time to look up your new vocabulary words.  

Note - we will be comparing the two stories tomorrow in class so start thinking.    

 Pre-reading

Break into groups of three and brainstorm the following:

1) What are the qualities of a warrior/hero (think of the Odyssey, the Iliad)?

2) What are the qualities of a good king?

3) What does a society with a king and warriors look like or act like? 

4) What do you expect from a story about heroes and kings?

5) What does Oral Tradition mean to you and how do you expect it to affect the story?

As we read

1)    Keep track of all the characters that appear.  Who is the protagonist?  The antagonist(s)-- (think type of conflict).

2)    What is the main theme of the story (what is the author trying to say about life).

3)    List at least two symbols in the story.  Why are these important?

4)    Try to outline the plot.

After we read

1)    What is up with the ending?  Why is it important?  Is this a Christian story or a Pagan story?  What clues (evidence) help you determine this?

2)    What does the story tell us about life in Ireland during this time period? 

3)    What do you think about Conchobhar?  Is he a good king?  What is his personality like?

4)    What do you think about Cet?  Is he a good warrior?  What inferences can you make about him?

5)    What other warriors appear in the story? 

6)    Summarize this story.

GROUP ACTIVITY (this is worth 20 points)

Rewrite the story in your own words and give your own telling of it.  This should be a script with characters (one of your characters can be a narrator).  You will act this out in front of class tomorrow.  Your acting/presentation should take 2-3 minutes and I will time it on a stopwatch.  Good luck.  

Vocabulary #1: 

Obsolete

Philistine

Meticulous

Officious

Peruse

Mitigate

Perfidy

Morose

2017 -2018 Syllabus

 British Literature 

Course Syllabus: 2017-2018

Instructor: Mr. Fielding

Phone: 612-0055

kfielding@skagwayschool.org

British Literature (English 12)

Course Description

Emphasis: British and World Literature, in-depth analysis of literature by ideas, themes and literary devices.

Align to the Common Core, British and World Literature, a writing and reading intensive course, integrates a variety of literary genres and informational reading with various writing techniques, speaking and writing projects, and the development of vocabulary and grammar skills appropriate to success in college.  It is designed to strengthen students’ comprehension of a wide range of reading materials found in high school and the world beyond, and to give students the opportunity to develop as a writer by introducing and incorporating many different writing strategies into the student’s own work.  The literary genres covered will include short stories, plays, poetry, and novels.  In non-fiction we will look at the structures of the personal essay, memoir, the analytical essay, and the persuasive essay.  The course will cover materials, in historical sequence, from the Anglo-Saxon period to contemporary works. Students will contrast the literary forms, stylistic techniques, and characteristics of the major literary periods. They not only analyze such devices as figurative language, imagery, speaker, and tone, they also relate the literature to the geographical, philosophical, political, religious, cultural, and social influences of those periods. A student who successfully completes British Literature is able to respond to works of great complexity and depth in an articulate and sophisticated manner.

Textbooks (some of all of the following): Holt McDougal: British Literature (anthology), Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Hamlet, selections from Paradise Lost, selections from Gulliver's Travels, Great Expectations, 1984. 

JOURNALS/BLOGS

Students will be required to keep a blog throughout the year.  This blog will be your journal writing for the year.  In this blog/journal will be reading reflections, lists of literary devices found in stories and novels, creative assignments that correspond with readings, pre-writing exercises, analytic writing. 

NOTE: I read every journal entry and you will lose points for skipping entries or not following directions.  If you do not understand an assignment please ask.

GRADES:

Tests – 25% of overall grade

Papers—25% of overall grade

Projects—20% of overall grade

Quizzes, class work, homework—20% of overall grade

Journals/Blogs—10% of overall grade

Scale:

100- 93 = A

92.49- 90 = A-

89.49- 87 = B+

86.49-83.00 = B

82.49- 80.00 = B-

79.49-77.00 = C+

76.49- 73 = C

72.49-70.00 = C-

69.49-67.00 = D+

66.49- 63.00 = D

62.49- 60 = D-

Below 60 = F

Late Work: Mark down 10% per day.  You are expected to turn in work on the deadlines due. 

Required Materials:

1 Spiral Notebook (use as a journal)

1 Pocket Folders (to keep handouts, note guides, returned work)

1 Binder with loose paper

General Guidelines:

1. Be prepared when class begins.  It is imperative that all pencils are sharpened and materials are ready when the bell rings. 
2. Class discussions should be conducted in an orderly and respectful fashion. 
3. Do not talk when I am talking.
4. I dismiss you, not the bell!
5. You may choose you own seat, but I reserve the right to assign seats or move you if I see the need.

Respect others and their property.  This respect extends to remaining quiet during announcements, directions, lectures, and presentations.  If you are talking someone else might not be able to hear.

Hello!

Hello and welcome to British Literature!