Consider the key words from the first pages of The Handmaid’s Tale and predict the story.
palimpsest: a parchment that has been erased to make room for other text
pedantic: overly concerned with minute details
debase: to reduce in value or dignity
servile: submissive; fawning
angels
football
thongs
unwoman
nunneries
colonies
blood
shatterproof
black market
prayvaganzas
Econowives
anarchy
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Margaret Atwood Background
Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1939.
Atwood was raised a strict agnostic, and she believes atheism is a religion.
Her formal degrees are from the University of Toronto and Radcliffe College. She has also received 16 honorary degrees.
She is Canada's most eminent novelist and poet.
Her novels include strong women characters, and the books explore contemporary issues and sexual politics.
Her novels: The Edible Woman (1969); Surfacing (1973); Lady Oracle (1977); Life Before Man (1980); Bodily Harm (1982); The Handmaid's Tale (1986); Cat's Eye (1989); The Robber Bride (1993); Alias Grace (1996); The Blind Assassin (2000); and Oryx and Crake (2003).
The Handmaid's Tale film was released in 1990, and the book was recently staged as an opera.
For more information on Margaret Atwood, read her full biography at Contemporarywriters.com.
View this ten-minute clip of a Bill Moyers interview with Margaret Atwood to hear first-hand some of the political and religious beliefs that influenced The Handmaid's Tale.
After viewing the clip, respond in your journal to one of the following Atwood quotations from the video clip. Your personal response should be at least one full-paragraph. You may also wish to make connections between the quotation and films, books, and current events.
"When societies come under stress, these kinds of things happen. People start looking around for human sacrifices--for someone they can blame."
"In order to preserve our freedoms, we have to give them up for now."
"The theocracy that I put in The Handmaid's Tale never calls itself Christian. In fact, it never says anything about Christianity . . . . The slogans are all from the Old Testament."
"I believe in the America of Thoreau. Thoreau, the conscientious objector. Thoreau, the man who stood upon his principles."
Atwood was raised a strict agnostic, and she believes atheism is a religion.
Her formal degrees are from the University of Toronto and Radcliffe College. She has also received 16 honorary degrees.
She is Canada's most eminent novelist and poet.
Her novels include strong women characters, and the books explore contemporary issues and sexual politics.
Her novels: The Edible Woman (1969); Surfacing (1973); Lady Oracle (1977); Life Before Man (1980); Bodily Harm (1982); The Handmaid's Tale (1986); Cat's Eye (1989); The Robber Bride (1993); Alias Grace (1996); The Blind Assassin (2000); and Oryx and Crake (2003).
The Handmaid's Tale film was released in 1990, and the book was recently staged as an opera.
For more information on Margaret Atwood, read her full biography at Contemporarywriters.com.
View this ten-minute clip of a Bill Moyers interview with Margaret Atwood to hear first-hand some of the political and religious beliefs that influenced The Handmaid's Tale.
After viewing the clip, respond in your journal to one of the following Atwood quotations from the video clip. Your personal response should be at least one full-paragraph. You may also wish to make connections between the quotation and films, books, and current events.
"When societies come under stress, these kinds of things happen. People start looking around for human sacrifices--for someone they can blame."
"In order to preserve our freedoms, we have to give them up for now."
"The theocracy that I put in The Handmaid's Tale never calls itself Christian. In fact, it never says anything about Christianity . . . . The slogans are all from the Old Testament."
"I believe in the America of Thoreau. Thoreau, the conscientious objector. Thoreau, the man who stood upon his principles."
The Handmaid's Tale Reading Schedule
The date indicates the day the reading is due. Be prepared for quizzes, discussions or activities based on those pages.
Feb. 2: pp. 1-33
Feb. 4: pp. 34-66
Feb. 9: pp. 67-106
Feb. 12: pp. 107-188
Feb. 18: pp. 189-233
Feb. 20: pp. 234-311
Feb. 2: pp. 1-33
Feb. 4: pp. 34-66
Feb. 9: pp. 67-106
Feb. 12: pp. 107-188
Feb. 18: pp. 189-233
Feb. 20: pp. 234-311
Monday, January 26, 2009
World Lit II Overview
World Lit II examines the essential question: How do humans express themselves through their political and personal relationships?
Atwood and Austen
In February we will read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and view the hot new Kiera Knightley re-make of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Political and personal concepts studied during this unit include women's roles, oppression, civil liberties, sexism, censorship, religious fanaticism, the death penalty, love and war.
We will also make thematic connections to short stories and poetry in the World Masterpieces textbook.
Choice Unit
In March students pick one of the following novels to read:
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
July’s People by Nadine Gordimer
Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
Waiting by Jin Ha
This choice unit continues to explore many of the concepts introduced in The Handmaid's Tale, and book clubs discuss how people survive political upheavals while maintaining their personal relationships.
With March also comes a World Lit all-time favorite--the Bollywood blockbuster Lagaan. 99% of World Lit students love this film. In fact, whenever I run into past World Lit students, they ask me if I have shown Lagaan yet. A few years ago a bunch of World Lit boys, inspired by this film, even started playing cricket on Sunday afternoons at an Edina park.
Politics and Relationships in Plays
During the Fourth Quarter, World Lit students will not only read the following plays (either in their entirety or excerpts), but also see the dramas come to life through film. The guiding question for this drama unit is: What are the personal and societal obstacles that people must overcome to have a successful marriage/committed relationship?
Othello by William Shakespeare
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Atwood and Austen
In February we will read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and view the hot new Kiera Knightley re-make of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Political and personal concepts studied during this unit include women's roles, oppression, civil liberties, sexism, censorship, religious fanaticism, the death penalty, love and war.
We will also make thematic connections to short stories and poetry in the World Masterpieces textbook.
Choice Unit
In March students pick one of the following novels to read:
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
July’s People by Nadine Gordimer
Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
Waiting by Jin Ha
This choice unit continues to explore many of the concepts introduced in The Handmaid's Tale, and book clubs discuss how people survive political upheavals while maintaining their personal relationships.
With March also comes a World Lit all-time favorite--the Bollywood blockbuster Lagaan. 99% of World Lit students love this film. In fact, whenever I run into past World Lit students, they ask me if I have shown Lagaan yet. A few years ago a bunch of World Lit boys, inspired by this film, even started playing cricket on Sunday afternoons at an Edina park.
Politics and Relationships in Plays
During the Fourth Quarter, World Lit students will not only read the following plays (either in their entirety or excerpts), but also see the dramas come to life through film. The guiding question for this drama unit is: What are the personal and societal obstacles that people must overcome to have a successful marriage/committed relationship?
Othello by William Shakespeare
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Supplies Needed
World Literature students use a single subject, composition notebook to showcase their thinking and writing in World Literature. Notebooks need to be in class every day as participation points will be given on a regular basis vs. turning in the notebook at the end of the unit like in World Lit I.
The classroom magic markers are all running dry. To make all of our Thinking Map posters, A to Z lists, and other activities, room 271 desperately needs markers. Consider donating a pack of markers for extra credit.
The classroom magic markers are all running dry. To make all of our Thinking Map posters, A to Z lists, and other activities, room 271 desperately needs markers. Consider donating a pack of markers for extra credit.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Siddhartha Vocab and Tests
The vocabulary test for Siddhartha will be on finals day along with a scantron exam on plot and characters and a blue book essay.
To study for vocab, see if you can answer the "I have . . . Who has" questions below. Also, you can create you the 4-square for your assigned word for extra credit by adding it as a comment to this post.
Who has a heap of combustibles for burning a corpse?
Who has the quality of being calm and even-tempered?
Who has the practice of self-denial and austerity?
Who has being elevated in status or of being of high rank?
Who has something that is essential to the nature of a thing?
Who has a wandering person who lives in the forest?
Who has to bring into existence or to give birth?
Who has pale or dull complexion?
Who has deep, extensive learning?
Who has utter discontent or boredom?
Who has burdensome or great difficulty?
Who has commanding respect and dignity?
Who has twisted or woven together?
Who has the act of asking for forgiveness or atonement?
Who has a prostitute or hooker?
Who has religious washing or ritual cleansing?
Who has reincarnation or cycle of life—death—rebirth?
Who has urging or making a strong emotional appeal?
Who has perfection, in other words the perfect syllable for meditation?
To study for vocab, see if you can answer the "I have . . . Who has" questions below. Also, you can create you the 4-square for your assigned word for extra credit by adding it as a comment to this post.
Who has a heap of combustibles for burning a corpse?
Who has the quality of being calm and even-tempered?
Who has the practice of self-denial and austerity?
Who has being elevated in status or of being of high rank?
Who has something that is essential to the nature of a thing?
Who has a wandering person who lives in the forest?
Who has to bring into existence or to give birth?
Who has pale or dull complexion?
Who has deep, extensive learning?
Who has utter discontent or boredom?
Who has burdensome or great difficulty?
Who has commanding respect and dignity?
Who has twisted or woven together?
Who has the act of asking for forgiveness or atonement?
Who has a prostitute or hooker?
Who has religious washing or ritual cleansing?
Who has reincarnation or cycle of life—death—rebirth?
Who has urging or making a strong emotional appeal?
Who has perfection, in other words the perfect syllable for meditation?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Hinduism and Buddhism in Siddhartha
Define the following Hindu terms and write at least one sentence about how they relate to Siddhartha.
Dharma
Brahmin
Samsara
The Vedas & The Upanishads
Om
Atman (Brahman/Self)
Define the following Buddhist terms and write at least one sentence about how they relate to Siddhartha.
Meditation
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Noble Path
Nirvana
Historical Buddha (Sakyamuni)
Karma
Dharma
Brahmin
Samsara
The Vedas & The Upanishads
Om
Atman (Brahman/Self)
Define the following Buddhist terms and write at least one sentence about how they relate to Siddhartha.
Meditation
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Noble Path
Nirvana
Historical Buddha (Sakyamuni)
Karma
Monday, January 5, 2009
Siddhartha Reading Schedule
Come to class having read the pages indicated the night before as homework.
Jan. 6: pp. 3-24
Jan. 7: pp. 25-36
Jan. 8: pp. 37-42
Jan. 9: pp. 45-61
Jan. 12: pp. 63-85
Jan. 13: pp. 87-100
Jan. 14: pp. 101-115
Jan. 15: pp. 117-127
Jan. 16: pp. 129-137
Jan. 20: pp. 139-152
A multiple choice exam on plot, character and vocabulary as well as a blue book essay will be completed on finals day. Finals are January 21-23.
Jan. 6: pp. 3-24
Jan. 7: pp. 25-36
Jan. 8: pp. 37-42
Jan. 9: pp. 45-61
Jan. 12: pp. 63-85
Jan. 13: pp. 87-100
Jan. 14: pp. 101-115
Jan. 15: pp. 117-127
Jan. 16: pp. 129-137
Jan. 20: pp. 139-152
A multiple choice exam on plot, character and vocabulary as well as a blue book essay will be completed on finals day. Finals are January 21-23.
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