Freshmen CP - Hill's English Unleashed.life

Of Mice and Men: A Paradise Lost

4/3/2020

One of the reasons that good reading can be hard, is that author's may use one of many literary devices. We are going to focus on several throughout the year, beginning with the hardest. We begin with those because you do not have to get them right now. They take time, growth, and experience. Steinbeck is a master of a few of these, namely: symbol/archetype, allegory, and allusion. He isn't trying to be difficult; he is trying to be expressive. We are going to spend a few weeks working our way into these techniques so that reading his book is more meaningful.

The first and the hardest of these techniques is allusion: a reference to something else, to enrich the text. One of the primary texts that Steinbeck is referring to, also one of the most important English texts written, alluded to, and politic changing, is John Milton's Paradise Lost. It is also one of the most difficult pieces. We are going to listen to music and read an abridged version. It won't be simple, but whatever you take from it will enrich reading in general, and Steinbeck and Shelly's Frankenstein specifically.

2) Read and annotate the article below: BBC- Why You Should Re-Read Paradise Lost
Either print out the article or digitally save and annotate. Post in Classroom.

BBC: Why You Should Re-Read Paradise Lost

Not perfect, but here are a few optional overviews of Paradise Lost.

3) Read Book 1 in Google Classroom (or your packet) or on the Dartmouth site below. Language is original, spellings are different than modern spellings. Don't let that throw you. :)

Paradise Lost - Book 1

When have you ever felt betrayed? What was your reaction?
How did your emotions change the world around you?
Assignment: All of these songs were chosen by students as the soundtrack to PL.
Start collecting songs of your own as we go through the story.
Send them to me and I will add them!

Soundtrack sampler from Last Year- PL Book 1

"To a Mouse"

3/30/2020

Annotate your poem and add our notes from here, please. Allusions are different than symbols. You have to have read and understood the reference well-- or you won't understand your piece with the same depth. We have worked very hard to make sure that you understand that knowing what happens is possibly less than half of a text. Knowing how that text interacts with the world? That is everything. Remember Steinbeck is one of the foremost American Authors who changed a nation with his writing. It is important that we go beyond and feel into his true meanings.

Of all times, I have taught this book, this may be one of the most important and, one of the first times, I thing Steinbeck would be really proud of us. Shutting down a nation and profits to safeguard lives? This is our story of how we did it right. Now, how are you going to invest in yourself, your dreams, your education, and your community so that we all make it through this stronger?

Please read part of the Burns article. It is lengthy. Concentrate on the first 25%. I pulled out one of the most important quotes for you here.

"Burns...has been viewed alternately as the beginning of another literary tradition: he is often called a pre-Romantic poet for his sensitivity to nature, his high valuation of feeling and emotion, his spontaneity, his fierce stance for freedom and against authority, his individualism, and his antiquarian interest in old songs and legends. The many backward glances of Romantic poets to Burns, as well as their critical comments and pilgrimages to the locales of Burns’s life and work, suggest the validity of connecting Burns with that pervasive European cultural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries which shared with him a concern for creating a better world and for cultural renovation" (Poetry Foundation).

Robert Burns- overview

Allusion: a reference to another source: history, literature, religious, etc.
Allegory: a piece with many layers where characters, places, and incidents are symbolic of something else- likely a real allusion.

Answer the questions in quality annotations and/or answer them in Classroom. We hope to return. I can accept handwritten assignments and packets at that time. For altering your grade while we are distance learning. Turn in your work to Classroom as typed answers or as a picture of annotations.
Questions to annotate for:

What happens in the poem? What has the farmer done to the mouse? What will happen to the mouse because of it?
Who does the farmer represent?
Who does the mouse represent?
Answer question #1 again in light of that representation.
Does the farmer seem to have understood? Does he sound sincere? (Hint: is he going to do anything about it?)

"To a Mouse" is an allegorical poem. Here are its most important layers:
1) The farmer and the mouse- what is literally happening and how should the reader feel about this?
2) England and Scotland- Which is the farmer and which is the mouse? Why and how does that change the answer to your questions?
3) Humanity and Nature- Which is the farmer and which is the mouse? What is Burns saying about how humans treat the world and each other?

Of Mice and Men

3/25/2020

1) We already watched this video as an introduction to Steinbeck and the Great Depression. You should have notes in MLA at the beginning of your packet.

2} We watched episode one of this documentary on Superheroes as an additional intro to the 1930's and how literature encapsulates our history and psychology through symbolism. Looking at how Grapes of Wrath and the comics discuss our nation like the Odyssey does for the Greeks is a huge step into better understanding Of Mice and Men.

What do the superheroes show us about our world, our society, and ourselves?

Superheroes Documentary on Amazon

3) Of Mice and Men movie. Watch trailer as you begin to read your book. The movie has some alterations but they are minor, and it is excellent. For free on HBO. For rent on Amazon and other. PG-13. Annotate the beginnings of chapter 1 and chapter 6 in your packet. How are they the same and how are they different? What will happen in the story?

4) "To a Mouse" -listen to the poem and annotate in your packet. I included the original and a standard English version. "To a Mouse" is based on the same issues that Steinbeck is pointing out, but in Scotland. Who does the farmer represent? Who does the mouse represent? Why do we need to read this poem to understand Of Mice and Men? What is an allusion?

5) Read Of Mice and Men
I will post separately about Paradise Lost, which is an additional allusion for Of Mice and Men, but for simplicity, your home school work is to read Of Mice and Men and answer the questions in the packet with citations. The whole audio only takes about 3 hours to complete. Please read carefully and answer questions well; take more notes as needed. The main questions though-- what does each character represent? What does the mouse represent? What is Steinbeck's main point- hint: same as the Grapes of Wrath. Like the Odyssey- this is a national story. Is this a story that we are proud of? How do we become better? This year this books seems particularly well timed. How do we answer the call to our communities in times of struggle?

Of Mice and Men- Amazon Audio

Of Mice and Men on Audible

Of Mice and Men PDF

"To a Mouse"

10/12/2018

The importance of a poem: history, politics, symbolism-- and it's resounding comment on today.
Our fundamental terms: Allusion, Allegory, Symbol, and Archetype.

Steinbeck's Courage

9/5/2018

Friday: What kind of courage must Steinbeck have had to write his novels? And what kind of courage do readers have to have to face reading them? Lastly, what kind of courage do we have to have to continue to make America what we want and need it to be?

We began talking about the Great Depression on Wednesday. Here is a more in depth view. Was it really or only the Stock Market Crash? Or was it more complicated? Watch Crash Course: The Great Depression and take notes.

Next watch Great Books: The Grapes of Wrath that we also began on Wednesday and take notes on Steinbeck and his famous novel The Grapes of Wrath. This will give you a good background on the author and the time period as we begin a unit on his Of Mice and Men.

Join our Quizlet Class

After the video: Help hand back vocabulary worksheet #3. You may work on vocabulary #4. Study both for next week. For homework: use your phones (or chromebooks) to log on to Quizlet and join our class to study your vocabulary. Play games with a friend or use flashcards! :) (I will try to log in and accept your request while I am in school, but if not, I will accept it when I return. :)

2016-Feds Force Michigan Cherries to Rot – In Order To Raise Prices

The Importance of Eating Together

3/15/2018

Burns, Milton, and Steinbeck have all looked at how relationships can literally transform our lives and surroundings. The main symbol of that relationship in each piece has been the growing and sharing of food and housing. Why is that such a key aspect in these stories? If this is a standard archetype, is that backed up by psychology? Oh wait... is seems to be. :)

Food Presentations
Due: Friday 3/23
Read and annotate the article:
"The Importance of Eating Together"
Sign up with a partner for a food presentation.
Create a presentation on an important food to you: what does making, eating, or sharing represent.
Make poster or PowerPoint with at least 2 quotes. Cite sources. At least 2 sources- must include "The Importance of Eating Together" and will hopefully include family.
Correct MLA- citations and works cited- for an A. Extra credit: do not look at visual aid and/or bring in a food to share. :)
Use this to review MLA :) and have fun!

"The Importance of Eating Together"

Paradise Lost- The end

2/23/2018

Book 12

I was praying that you and me might end up together
It's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert
But I'm holding you closer than most 'cause you are my heaven...
Heaven doesn't seem far away anymore, no no
Heaven doesn't seem far away. Pope

Book 9- The end of perfection, the beginning of reality

Eve to Adam- with a happy ending
How does Milton understand?

Waking up ...

Satan to God and Satan to Eve
If he loves, why does he kill?

Eating the Apple

Lost without each other

Paradise Lost- The Soundtrack

2/16/2018

Book 4

Book 5

Daring Dissent

2/8/2018

Milton wasn't the only one who wrote, spoke, and risked his life for democracy and freedom. As Americans, this idea is part of the fabric of our history. It is an on going balance between law and individual freedoms.

Please complete the two StudySync assignments in class.
If you need more time, please come to tutorial or work on it at home.
Blast: Daring Dissent and Reading: After Being Convicted of Voting
Using the Chromebooks, login to StudySync.
StudySync Reminders: login button is at the side ---->
User name: FLAST#### (First initial, last name, last 4 id. #'s)
Password: LWholeID# (Last initial, whole id. #)

Milton's Paradise Lost

2/5/2018

Steinbeck is a master of symbol and allusion. Aside from "To a Mouse" by Robert Burns, the other backbone of Of Mice and Men is Milton's Paradise Lost which he alludes to with his main character George Milton.

Paradise Lost is a difficult work, so we will be working with a soundtrack (abridged) version!
Have songs that relate to a someone who feels betrayed and is off to destroy something? Feel free to share. :)
My soundtrack-- was made by students! :)

Paradise Lost -Book 1

Paradise Lost -Book 2

Paradise Lost -Book 8