August 28th

What a lovely first class. Thank you for sharing your creation myths today. As you work on writing a creation myth of your own, think about the characteristics of the creation myths you read this week. Include several of those characteristics in your own myth.

This week you have 4 Assignments:

Assignment 1: Due before September 11th.

While we know that the Creator is responsible for all of creation, we also know that God is creative.  When you write your creation myth- feel free to give a narrative to the story of creation. For example, perhaps God was inspired to create spots on a leopard because he spilled his coffee on a sheet of paper. Why do Armadillos have shells? Do you know an anteater walking backward looks like a dinosaur? Maybe that's where the dinosaurs went! Use your imagination! There is no right or wrong answer!

Requirements: Creation myth should be a minimum of one paragraph and a maximum of one page. Feel free to use framed narrative to tell your story. Please email me your myth before our next class time. If you are artistic- Feel free to include a drawing or painting illustration.

Assignment 2: Due before our next class time

Finish up The Secret Garden and the blog from August 15th. Our new BLOG question is:

The Secret Garden, as its title suggests, is a novel organized around the motif of secrets. Which are the narrative's most pivotal secrets? How are they discovered? Explain the significance of how they are discovered.

Assignment 3:

Journal Entries: Due by September 11th. Will be discussed in class on September 11th.

1. In your opinion, does Mr. Craven, after subjecting his son to years of neglect, deserve redemption? Why, or why not? Is there another character in literature that is similar to Mr. Craven? Perhaps in another piece of writing or the Bible? Do you think his name holds any symbolic meaning?

2. Watch a film adaptation of The Secret Garden. Screenwriters and directors select sections of the book or add to the book to tell their version of the original story. After watching the movie, discuss how the changes made by the screenwriter affect the story. Does the film change or modify the plot, character development or themes?

Assignment 4: To be discussed in class on September 11th.

To finish out this week's assignments, please read and summarize the following poem by Wordsworth. For the purpose of this exercise, please summarize or tell me what the poem is literally saying. If you would like to explain the symbolism or analyze the poem, fabulous!

Lo! where the Moon along the sky
Sails with her happy destiny;
Oft is she hid from mortal eye
Or dimly seen,
But when the clouds asunder fly
How bright her mien!

Far different we--a forward race,
Thousands though rich in Fortune's grace
With cherished sullenness of pace
Their way pursue,
Ingrates who wear a smileless face
The whole year through.

If kindred humours e'er would make
My spirit droop for drooping's sake,
From Fancy following in thy wake,
Bright ship of heaven!
A counter impulse let me take
And be forgiven.

Note: Our next reading selection will be Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and King Arthur. Feel free to find a version/edition of these stories that work for you. Begin reading September 11th.

August 15th Assignment

Assignment One:

Please read "The Secret Garden" by September 12th.

BLOG question #1 As you read the "Secret Garden" take note of the author's use of nature in the novel. What purpose does nature (geography, animals, the garden, flowers, weather, etc.) fulfill in the novel for both the characters, the author and the reader?


Remember, please respond to my questions and two of your classmate's responses. September 12 is the deadline for answering these blog questions. You may respond to my question and your classmate's responses in the comment section below.

Assignment Two:

Research and read three different creation myths, from three different countries/cultures, regarding the creation of honeybees, fire or another subject of your choosing. Type up a summary of the myths you read and bring to class on August 29th.

Assignment Three: 

Journal Entry: Entry #1 On a day of your choosing, take your journal outside and complete this assignment: Thinking back to the three creation myths you read: define creation myth and list characteristics the creation myths had in common besides their topic (fire or honeybees).

Entry #2 Choose one of the following: (1) Find out the mythological origins of these English words and sayings: Achilles Heel, Labyrinth, Titanic, Panic, Tantalize, The Midas Touch or (2) Find a nature myth that explains the formation of some geographical feature (for example, an island) and then research the scientific explanation or (3) Analyze this statement: 'Part of a myth is true'.

Class Syllabus

SCHULLANDHEIM

WILD LITERATURE 

2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Class begins: August 29th

Structure: Students will attend class the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month. (Some 5th Wednesdays will be included) On the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays students will be asked to complete reading assignments, participate in an online blog, and write essays and critiques. Class time will vary between an hour and a hour and a half. 

Objective: Students will be challenged in the areas of analysis, writing, reflection, discussion, as well as, literary analysis. Students will explore the author’s use of nature as a plot device and literary element. 

Blog: There will be an online blog for students to interact with the teacher and their classmates. 

Student Expectations

Students will be responsible for reading the required novels, short stories and literary essays.

Students will keep a weekly journal.

Students will be asked to write the following: 2 or 3 essays a semester, two critiques, a weekly journal, blog entries, 2 creative writing pieces, memorize 1-2 poems and complete a final project. 

Module 1: Ancients and Nature (Greek and Roman Myths, Native American Myths, African Folktales) Secret Garden

Module 2: Renaissance and Nature (King Arthur, Sir Gawain)

Module 3: Romantics, Transcendentalism and Nature (Thoreau, Emerson, Heart of Darkness, excerpts from Frankenstein)

Module 4: Poetry and Nature (Whitman, Frost, Tennyson, Wordsworth, Shelly, Keats and others)

Module 5: Realism and Nature (Call of the Wild, Lord of the Flies and Short Stories)

Module 6: Modernism and Nature (The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, The Pearl, The Secret Life of Bees, Wendell Berry)

Modules explained: 

Module 1: Students will be asked to research and read at least three different creation myths on the origin of honey bees from three unique continents.  They will be asked to read three different creation myth accounts on the creation of fire. Students will be asked to write their own creation myth and research the evidence of Greek myths in popular culture. 

In addition to Creation Myths, students will read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgen. Students will interact with the classroom blog for the Secret Garden. We will start to examine the use of nature as both theme and symbol. If your student has already read this novel- I encourage them to read it again with the module emphasis. 

Module 2: Students will read excerpts of KA and Sir Gawain.  We will look primarily at the use of nature as symbol and examine the author’s worldview regarding nature. Students will interact on the blog for discussion regarding these literature pieces. 

We will watch King Lear together and then discuss in class and on the blog. 

Module 3: Students will read excerpts of Thoreau and Emerson uncovering the worldview of transcendentalism. Students will be asked to participate in Journal Nature and close reading activities. We will also read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. This novel will allow us to examine nature as plot and theme device. Students will be asked to write a reflection essay regarding the themes of HOD.

Module 4: Poetry Unit. Using interactive guided discussions and activities students will examine Nature through the poet's lens. We will focus on the Romantic poets but will venture into modern poets as well. Students will be asked to memorize two poems and write a poem. Students will have the option of submitting their poetry to a poetry contest. 

In addition, students will be asked to read Watership Down.  Blog entry discussions and close reading activities. 

Module 5: We will read Call of the Wild and two short stories, To Build a Fire and A White Heron. Through discussions in class and on the blog we will examine nature in the context of worldview and symbolism.

Module 6: Our last unit will allow us to examine a non-fiction book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and modern fiction book, The Secret life of Bees or Hannah Coulter.  During this module we will read a few essays from Wendell Berry. Students will work on an end of the year project that will include a persuasive essay and/or creative short story and visual display. 

Journal Entries:  Journal topics will be assigned each week.  Typical journal topics: Pick a day this week to sit outside and write. You can make a list of all that you see, hear, smell, taste, feel or write a short story where the weather or the setting plays a major role in plot. 

Dear Class,

Throughout the year we will utilize a blog discussion format.  Assignments, discussions and reading lists will be posted here. Please bookmark this blog address for easy access. Subscribing to the blog is optional but could be helpful for you to keep up to date on the information posted. 

What is a blog discussion?

Quite simply we do not always have the opportunity to discuss everything we need to discuss in class. This blog will serve the same purpose as our classroom discussions. The advantage of using a blog is 2-fold: written expression practice and entire class participation.

What are the guidelines?

For the blog posts, you will always be asked to respond to the question or questions that I post, as well as, respond to two separate class member's posts.

What else do I need to know?

1. Internet access must still be granted by your parent. Please do not log on to the internet without your parent's permission.
2. Remember, in order to complete the assignment you MUST respond to my question and two of your classmate's post. This means it is essential you post your reply to my question in a timely manner. Otherwise, your classmates will not be able to respond to your posts.
3. Make sure you SAVE your response before you go to a new screen. 
4. Grading is entirely based on participation and contribution. If you participate you will receive a pass, high pass or honors grade based on your level of contribution to the discussion. Strive to improve your written communication skills each week.

Happy Blogging!