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

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.

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?

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

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.