Hamlet Motifs

Motif Assignment

1.      Each quotation will be a separate comment on this post.

       

      Write down a quotation that develops your motif. (Include act, scene, and line.)
Write a detailed explanation of what the quotation means (in context) and how the quotation develops the motif.

2.      Write down another quotation that develops your motif. (Include act, scene, and line.)
Write a detailed explanation of what the quotation means (in context) and how the quotation develops the motif.

3.      Write down a third quotation that develops your motif. (Include act, scene, and line.)
Write a detailed explanation of what the quotation means (in context) and how the quotation develops the motif.

4.      Then write explain the development of the motif in play so far. Use quotations and other details to support your explanation.

     

       Motifs:

1.      Water and other fluids

2.      Sleep and Dreams

3.      Madness and Normalcy

4.      Decay and Deterioration

5.      Ghosts and Spirits

6.      Corruption and Honesty:

7.      Women and womanliness

8.      Eye and I (the self and seeing)

9.      Playing and Acting

10.  Man and Manliness

11.  Afterlife & Death

12.  Fortune/ Fate

13.  Flora and Fauna

14.  Words and Speaking

15.  Appearance and truth

16.  Responses to authority

17.  Action/Inaction

Shooting an Elephant

1.   What is the implied assumption in the first sentence?

2. Describe the nature of the voice in the opening paragraph. Is there any humor and irony?

3. What is Orwell’s attitude toward imperialism?

4. What is Orwell’s attitude toward the native peoples?

5.What is Orwell’s attitude toward his own position in Burma?

6. In the second paragraph, what is suggested by the qualifiers “and secretly, of course” and “if you can catch him off duty”?

7. Note Orwell’s language in paragraph 5. What are the rhetorical effects of “merely ravaging their homes” and “as it would be to an English crowd.”

8. In paragraph 6 Orwell states, “As soon as I saw the elephant I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him.” Why, then, does he decide to shoot the elephant? Refer to specifics from the text.

9. In paragraph 11 Orwell states, “At last, after what seemed a long time – it might have been five seconds, I dare say – he sagged flabbily to his knees.” Explain what such a characterization of the time period suggests about Orwell.

10. Compare and contrast the description of the killing of the elephant as related in paragraphs 10-13 with that of the killing of the Indian as related in paragraph 4. Consider the rhetorical purpose of the descriptions.

11. The final paragraph presents Europeans’ views of the elephant killing. Explain the differences.

12. Discuss Orwell’s tone and attitude in the final paragraph.

The Catcher in the Rye Scavenger Hunt

Use the links that appear below each question to answer the questions.

1. Why would a book be banned/challenged?

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/aboutbannedbooks/index.cfm

2. Where is Catcher on the list?

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/index.cfm

3. What is the reasoning for Catcher being banned?

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned/index.cfm

What was happening in the 1950s?

4.  Name two key political facts/events, and explain why they are significant to the time period (and perhaps the novel).

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade50.html

a.     

b.    

5. Review the literature from the time period at the following link:  http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/home.html

Many of the works focus on similar issues—what is one trend you notice in the literature listed? Give three examples (titles) to support your point.

6.  Explain the key Supreme Court decision that took place during this era, in terms of educational policy.  Why was this significant?

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade50.html

7.  Explore the fashion trends for men, women and children during the 1950s.  What do you notice? How does it differ from today’s clothing?

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/fashion-w.htm

8.  Read about family life during the 1950s.  What are some significant points? How do families today differ?

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/pop/info-family.htm

Visit Valley Forge Military Academy at this website and answer the following questions:

http://www.vfmac.edu/

9.  Where is the school located?

10.  Summarize the school’s mission statement in your own words.

11.  How many students attend the school?  How many girls?  How many boys?  International students?

12.  What is the average number of students in each class?

13.  What is the tuition?  Room and Board?

14.  Now, do a search for other prep schools that exist today and list the names of at least two of them below.  What do you notice about them?

Read about author J.D. Salinger at http://www.biography.com/articles/J.D.-Salinger-9470070

15.  What inferences can you make about him from the five pieces you read? 

16.  List five adjectives below that can summarize the type of person he seems to be. 

17.  Also, write one question you have about Salinger.

Macbeth Socratic Seminar discussions

While listening to the inner circle discussions, post a 50-word blog offering your view on the topic, referring to Macbeth and particular scenes in the play to support your opinions.

Daisy and Tom Buchanan

After meeting Daisy and Tom, does it surprise you to learn that Tom has a mistress that everyone knows about?  Why or why not?

What does this suggest about their marriage and/or gender roles during the time period?

The Great Gatsby Treasure Hunt

1.      F. Scott Fitzgerald

Skim the biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald. List the major influences on his life and writing.

2.      World War I

o    After the war ended, the economy skyrocketed, making it possible for people to spend more time and money on leisure activities. After reviewing the website in this section, list three major innovations that came out of the WWI experience.

o    After the War: List the dominant postwar American attitudes and the major movements of the 1920's. Pay close attention to the attitudes of the "Lost Generation" and the "Prosperity & Consumerism" movement.

3.      19th Amendment

What right did women gain from the passage of the 19th Amendment?

4.      The Roaring Twenties 

List three changes that occurred in 1922 (the year in which the novel is set). You need not read the entire article; your answers will be found in the first few paragraphs.

5.      18th Amendment

o    What exactly does the amendment abolish? What was the result?

6.      Prohibition

o    What is a Speakeasy? Based on information you have already collected from previous questions, why do you think Speakeasies popped up across the country?

7.      Organized Crime and Arnold Rothstein

o  What's in a name?: List three elements of Rothstein's character that interest you. Explain.

o    The Organizer: Read the quotes at the beginning of this site. What is his primary occupation? What are his "sidejobs"?

o    Did your impression of Rothstein change from one web page to the next? Explain.

8.      Flappers

o    Read the first five paragraphs of the article about "Flapper Jane" According to the author, what are the essential elements of being a true flapper?

o    After reading the article, look at the selected photos of Louise Brooks. Does she fit the "Flapper" profile as proposed by the author of "Flapper Jane"? Why or why not?

o    Read Dorothy Parker's poem "The Flapper." Do you think Ms. Parker approves or disapproves of Flappers? Explain.

9.      Automobiles

o    Why were cars considered "the most important catalyst for social change in the 1920's"?

o    Gatsby Coachworks: Reproductions of 1920's era automobiles. The white and gold car is similar to what Jay Gatsby would have driven.

10.  Music

o    Listen to the music on the radio blog music player to the right (click on the track with your mouse).

o    As you listen, record your thoughts and reactions to the songs.

11.  1920's Slang

o    Read some 1920's slang terms.

o    List 5 slang words or phrases and definitions from this site and write them down in your notes.

o    Why did you choose these terms?

12.  Drawing Conclusions

Based on the information you have collected from this website, what do you think the plot and setting of The Great Gatsby will include? What kinds of characters do you expect to encounter in the novel?