Question of the Week (12/11/09)

Choose two of the following and write a paragraph (at least 5-6 sentences) about each. Use evidence from the text to support your answers. Post and respond to a fellow classmates' response by Sunday.

1. Who are the witches? Are they real or hallucinations? Support your answer using evidence from the text.
2. Discuss the role of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and how they each deal with the murders in the play.
3. Discuss Lady Macbeth's actions throughout the play with respect to the feminine elements of her character.
4. Explore in writing the theme of guilt in Macbeth in the context of the characters of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, and Macduff.
5. Discuss the character of Lady Macbeth and her progression towards madness.

Again, don't forget to use evidence from the text to support your points. Bring your two paragraphs to class on Monday.

Question of the Week (12/4/09)

Fantastic job on your performance! Don't forget to read Act III, Scene I of Macbeth.
Answer the following questions:

Why does Macbeth have Banquo killed?
Why does Macbeth hire murderers to kill Banquo instead of killing Banquo himself?
What happens when the murderers try to kill Banquo and his son?
What does the ghost of Banquo do to Macbeth's paranoia?
How does Lady Macbeth make her husband feel better after seeing the ghost?

Use evidence from the text to support your answers. Bring your answers to class on Monday.

Post onto the blog your review of the performances you saw today. How did our class do? How about other classes? Remember to post and respond to a classmate's response by Sunday. Enjoy your weekend.

Question of the Week (11/20/09)

Read the analysis of the scene with the porter from Act 2 Scene 3. 

This busy scene begins with a moment of light comedy, which serves to heighten the suspense. The porter of Macbeth's castle, drunk from the previous night's revels, complains that his job is worse than that of the porter of hell. In a private game with the audience, he engages in a piece of stand-up comedy in which he imagines himself as that beleaguered servant, opening and closing the gate on the damned. The first two examples he uses (that of a farmer and an equivocator) have specific religious and historical connotations. A few months before Macbeth was performed at court in front of the Protestant King James I, the infamous Gunpowder Plot (the aim of which was to murder the English king) took place. The conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, may have been encouraged by a Catholic convert called John Garnett, whose nickname was "farmer." The practice of lying in court about one's religion by employing confusing or ambiguous language was known as equivocation. Many examples of ambiguous language are heard throughout Macbeth, and of course the words of the Witches themselves are not entirely clear.

How does the humor (this comedic relief) continue? What does the Porter do? How does this add or take away from the overall tone of Macbeth? Post by Sunday and respond to a fellow classmate's response.

Question of the Week (11/13/09)

Answer the following questions and bring your answers to class on Monday.  Note: You are not posting anything to the blog this week.


Act 1. Scene 4
1. How did Cawdor die (1.4.1-11)? How does the King respond (1.4.11-14)? Keep these lines in mind.
2. How does the King greet Macbeth and Banquo (1.4.14-35)? Note the imagery of planting and growing. What announcement does the King make in lines 35-42? (Prince of Cumberland is the title of the Scottish heir apparent, like Prince of Wales for the English.) Where does the King intend to go (1.4.42-47)? How does he react in his aside to the King's announcement of his heir (1.4.48-53)? What is going on in Macbeth's mind?
1.5
1. Has Macbeth reported accurately to his wife (1.5.1-12)? How does she respond? Read her speech in lines 13-28 carefully. How does she describe Macbeth? Does this match what we have seen of him?
2. How does Lady Macbeth respond to the news that the King is coming? Read her speech in lines 36-52 carefully. What does she intend to do? What does she have to do to herself to let that happen?
3. Who is in charge when Macbeth arrives (1.5.52-71)? Has Lady Macbeth decided what to do? Has Macbeth? What does she tell him to do, and what will she herself do?

Question of the Week (11/6/09)

What do you know about Shakespeare? What have you read by the bard?

Question of the Week (10/30/09)

Discuss the character of the Stage Manager. How does he fit into the world of the play? Keep in mind that the idea of an omniscient character in a play was very cutting edge. Post your response by Sunday (11/1), and don't forget to respond to a classmate's response.

Question of the Week (10/23/09)

Setting your stage: At this point, we are going to pause to set our own stages. Choose a place that really interests you, whether it's a place you've been and loved (or hated), a place whose details you know well (a family's kitchen, a friend's basement, a business you frequent), or someplace you would like to know better.

Write out (informally for now) everything you can about that space. The more details, the better, and your goal is to help your readers see and hear as much as possible in that space. Then choose a time when at least a couple of people might occupy that space. Choosing a particular event—a holiday, a party, a funeral, a meeting—might work well, but so might a more ordinary time, like when everyone first gets up in the morning, or when the store closes in the evening. Do not to worry for now about what might happen there. Right now only set the stage. Post by Sunday 10/25 and bring a copy of your space to class on Monday. Enjoy the weekend.

Question of the Week (10/16/09)

Looking ahead to the reading of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, share what you know about Wilder from a brief internet search.

Question of the Week (10/9/09)

As you finish your opinion paper on Antigone, discuss how your writing has transformed from raw idea to finished piece. For example, some people start with an outline of ideas or topics they wish to target in their paper, while others begin by selecting quotes from the text to support their argument. Reflect on your writing process and write about what worked and what didn't with regard to your writing of this paper. Post by Monday 10/12 for full credit. Enjoy your long weekend.

Question of the Week (10/2/09)

As you complete the rough draft of your Antigone opinion paper, share which conflict you've chosen and why? Support your reason for this choice using evidence from the text.

Antigone

Question of the Week (9/25/09)

The play opens with the prologue consisting of dialogue between Antigone and her sister Ismene. What is the dramatic purpose of the prologue? What problem does Antigone report to her sister? What does Antigone intend to do? What is Ismene's reaction to this intention? What is Ismene's view of the relationship between men and women? Briefly analyze the characterization of these two women in the prologue. What dramatic purpose does the character of Ismene serve? Use specific quotes and page numbers to support your answers. Your blog response is due by Sunday, 9/27/09. Don't forget to read the parados, scene I and ode I of Antigone and complete your reading journal. Enjoy your weekend.

Question of the Week (9/18/09)

Of the short stories that we have read, which is your favorite and why? Use quotes and evidence from the text to support your answer. Enjoy your weekend and don't forget that the short story test is Wednesday, 9/23!

The Yellow Wallpaper

Read The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and answer the question: What does Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story The Yellow Wallpaper suggest about middle-class women's place and role(s) in this society?

Question of the Week (9/11/09)

Using evidence from the provided text, A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor, find examples of the role that fate or chance plays in the story. Post your comments and your response to a fellow classmate's comments by Sunday, September 13.

A Good Man is Hard to Find Journey

Click the link above (A Good Man is Hard to Find Journey) to begin your trip!

Homework for 9/1/09

Don't forget to read The Most Dangerous Game for class tomorrow!

Question of the Week (8/28/09)

Guy de Maupassant, author of The Necklace, writes in the first paragraph that “women have no caste or class.” Do you agree with this? Why or why not? What about men: do they have caste or class? Write at least three paragraphs discussing this question. Don't forget to critique to a fellow classmates' response stating whether you agree or disagree with their points.

Getting Started

Welcome to Hanover High School and your English 9 class! If you don't already have a google account, click getting started and create one. Then introduce yourself to the class.

Welcome to English 9

Greetings and welcome to your English 9 blog. The purpose of this blog is to create a community of writers who share their thoughts and ideas about the texts studied in class.
Each week I will post a question(s) on the blog for you to answer. The question(s) will relate to what has been discussed in class, so you will have a frame of reference from which to draw your response, but your task is to reflect further and showcase this reflection through writing.
After you have answered the question thoroughly (using complete sentences), choose another reflection from one of your classmates and respond critically to it. The goal of both reflections is to show through writing your point of view and that you have read and understood the text. Use your well-constructed written argument (always using quotes and/or direct references to the text in question) to illuminate your point.
*Keep in mind that responding critically to a classmates’ reflection does not entitle you to berate their writing style, grammar, or spelling choices. Use this opportunity to create and organize your written responses.