King Lear

Shakespeare!

Our next selection for the class is King Lear by William Shakespeare.

Please find a copy of King Lear at the library, or there are several PDF documents online. Shakespeare can be challenging to read for a well-seasoned literary expert. If this is the first Shakespeare play you are attempting, here's what I recommend:

STEP 1. As you read, refer to a character chart (https://www.anoisewithin.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Character-Map.pdf).
The above chart will help keep the characters (and there are many) clear in your mind. Please feel free to print out and write descriptive characteristics for each of the characters directly on the pdf.  You may also refer to this study guide for helpful history, scene descriptions, and summaries: http://www.aoifesnotes.com/leaving-cert/ordinary-level/Paper-Two/docs/single-text/King%20Lear%20-%20Scene%20Summaries%20and%20Key%20Quotations%20from%20Each%20Scene.pdf

STEP 2. Once you have read Act 1, please write a summary of Act 1.

STEP 3. Listen to Act 1. Follow along with the written copy as you listen. Radio Drama https://youtu.be/1JylxvHvdtA. (NOTE: There are several audio recordings available from the library- use whatever audio recording you would prefer).

STEP 4. Repeat for all 5 Acts. Read, Summarise, Listen.  (Summaries due by October 17th)

A tentative date has been set for October 30th to WATCH King Lear at my house. Unfortunately, I could not find a live play so we will watch a BBC version on my television.

****We will NOT meet on October 10th.  The Biology class has a field trip planned that day, and we will not be back in time for class.

3 Assignments:

1. As stated above: Read King Lear by OCTOBER 17th! Please refer to the steps above for the complete assignment.

2. Essay Prompt: In class, I gave you a handout of statements regarding the play, King Lear. These statements should serve as potential essay prompts for you. The statements are designed for you to 'take a stand' or "argue your opinion." It is up to you to create a thesis from the statements given. For example, if the statement is, "The ending in King Lear is unbearable." Your thesis statement might be as simple as:
'The ending in King Lear is unbearable for three reasons: hopelessness, tragedy, and death.'  Alternatively, you might argue the opposite: 'The tragic ending is an acceptable conclusion to this play because: the ending is realistic, reflects consequences and speaks to truth.'

Make sure you include evidence to support your arguments. While I definitely want to know the position you take on one of the statements, I need you to back up your opinion with evidence from the play or other sources.

THIS ESSAY IS DUE: October 28th! Please email me your essay!


3. Please answer one of the following BLOG Questions by October 22nd.

Discussion Questions for the blog. Please choose one to answer. Don't forget to respond to two of your classmates.


Family Structures - One of the themes in King Lear is family. There are many different family structures within the play. Can you identify the various families in the play? How does each family member relate to their other members? What are the relationships like
Deception - Another major theme in King Lear is deception. What forms does fraud take? What characters use deceit and do you consider their causes good or evil?
Tragedy – King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s Tragedies. What is tragic about the story? What elements make it a tragedy? Which characters are most tragic? What do you think is the overall, great tragedy within the story?

Due Date Summary:
September 25th-Class Discussion on Sir Gawain and introduce King Lear
October 10th- No Class (make-up class on October 30th)
October 17th- Act Summaries finished. Entire play read.
October 22nd- Blog question answered by this date
October 24th-Class Discussion
October 28th- Essay Due
October 30th- Watch King Lear at my house. 6:30 start time- The date and time are tentative!
October 31st- Class Discussion

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight-September 25th

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Our class discussion on September 25th will be on the story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Thank you, Madelyn, for researching and presenting information on the Code of Chivalry.

Assignment One: 
Read (or listen to) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I recommend JRR Tolkien's version. However, Simon Artimage does a great job of translating and keeping the literary techniques intact. I'll let you choose your final version. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Assignment Two:
Identify and explain three symbols in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. You may need to research time period significance. (You may use any of the following or find a symbol of your own:
Color
Nature
Animals
Seasons
Calendar Dates
Any other symbols you can find?


Assignment Three:
Find three examples of ALLUSION in Sir Gawain. "An allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a well-known story, event, person, or object to make a comparison in the readers' minds." For example,  "My friend is a Judas."  The statement is, of course, an allusion to the Bible. An allusion can be a reference to a historical event, the Bible, Greek myths, a song, a movie, etc.

Provide a brief explanation of the three allusions-specifically, the reference, and the significance.

Assignment Four:
Journal the answer to the following question: What is bravery? This journal assignment will be turned in to me on September 25th. Please make sure it is at least 3 paragraphs in length.

Assignment FIVE:
I handed out a series of questions for you to answer on Sir Gawain.  Please answer these questions and be ready to turn in the answers in class on the 25th.

There will not be a BLOG question this week. HEADS UP: An Essay Prompt will be assigned on September 25th in class. Due date for the essay will be BEFORE October 12th, via email.