Blake and Burns ?'s- Due March 17th

Blake and Burns ?'s- Due March 17th

British Literature
Robert Burns and William Blake ?•s

1. Robert Burns is known as the national poet of Scotland; how does Burns incorporate/
honor is Scottish heritage in the poems “Auld Lang Syne•” and “John Anderson My
Jo”?
He uses the Scottish dialect.

2. What idea concept is being praised/honored in “Auld Lang Syne”?
How is this same
theme extended in “John Anderson, My Jo”? How do these values reflect the values
of Romanticism? How do they contrast with the values of the Age of Reason?
He talks about enjoying nature and time. This is against the Age of Reason b/c his poems are so care free.

3. What does the metaphor of the hill in the second stanza of John Anderson, My Jo
represent?
Through the good times and bad he goes up and down hills

4. Explain how William Blake•s upbringing/worldview influenced the type of poetry he wrote.
He is a very spiritual person and he views the world very different then other people.

5. How are “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” similar to each other? (Read “About the
Selection” on p 679) What two sides of the human soul do the animals represent?
Why did Blake it equally important to understand both sides? In a religiousframework, what do the two animals represent?
They have the same rhyme scheme. The innocent side and the aggression side. You need to know the best and the worst in humanity. The Lamb represents Jesus and the Tyger represents the devil.

6. How do William Blake•s three poems celebrate the untameness of nature and rejectthe urbanity/structured society? How does this reflect Romanticism?
He looks past what most people see.

Pride and Prejudice Blog- Due March 10th

Pride and Prejudice Blog- Due March 10th

1. What character has the pride and which character has the predjudice? Explain.
Elizabeth has the pride and Darcy has the prejudice.

2. What are examples of gender inequity in the movie? How does this gender inequity impact the decisions of some characters?
Women are forced to marry men they might not want to. Elizabeth refuses to marry because she doesn't love him.

3. What are examples of social class playing a role in how characters interact?
The lower class can't say much about that happens in their life.

4. Based of the movie, what were some of the expected norms/behavior women were expect for conform to? How does Elizabeth Bennett break out against these roles?
They were expected to accept marriage if it is offered to them. She refuses to marry a man even when he offers.

5. What do you think Jane Austen was trying to comment on about love/courtship for time period/world? Is it satirical in nature at all?
That marriage is expected when it is convenient. It is satirical because she over exaggerated marriage.

Romanticism Questions- Due March 11th

Romanticism Questions- Due March 11th

1. When did the Romantic Era begin and end? Overall, how does the book describe the movement? How does it contrast to the Enlightenment/Age of Reason?
1785-1902 Very free spirited, your emotion should rule you. valued individual Age of reason is your thoughts should be by science. valued logic

2. What were the major political developments/changes that occured during the Romantic Era?
Civil reform which led to the powerful prime ministers. Industrial revolution.

3. The introduction describe three pre-Romantic poets; how did these poets bridge the gap between Neoclassicism and Romanticism? What were the name of the three pre-Romantics discussed in the book?
Thomas Gray, Robert Burns, and William Blake bridged the gap in writing new styles.

4. What publication really began the Romantic Era? Why was the publication pivotal in the Romantic movement? What statements were the two authors trying to make with it? Who were considered the second generation of Romantics? What did they celebrate through their literature?
Lyrical Ballads explained the movement and the writing. George Gordon, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelly and John Keats they celebrated the first generation with their writing.

5. What is a Gothic novel? What are some examples of it?
Long stories containing elements of suspense, mystery and magic. The Castle of Otranto, and Frankenstein

6. What type of novel did Jane Austen right?
She wrote novels of manners.

Candide Blog- Due March 4th

Candide Blog- Due March 4th

Answer the following that reading Candide,

1. Write a summary paragraph of the selection.
A boy grows up in a castle and falls in love with the castle owners daughter. He is exiled. He gets recruited into an army. He gets lashed for believing in freedom. He escapes Holland and is rejected food by the pope. He walks along the street and finds the castle owner as a toothless begger.

2. What philosophical idea is Voltaire satirizing through the work?
That everything happens for the best

3. What are examples of Voltaire satirizing war and government in Candide? What are example of Voltaire satirizing religion in Candide?
He satirilizes war in that if you are in the army you are considered a hero. He wants food but is rejected by the pope.

4. What is the irony in Pangloss's appearance at the end of the selection?
The philosipher at the beginning that he follows turns into a toothless begger.

5. Do you agree with Voltaire's critique of philosophical optimism, or do you think he's too skeptical and bitter toward the idea that everything that happens is for the best? Why or why not?
I believe that everything happens for a reason but not that everything happens for the best.

Gulliver's Travels- Movie Post- Due February 25th

Gulliver's Travels- Movie Post- Due February 25th

Choose one the world's that Gulliver visits; What social issue(s)/human fault is Swift commenting on through Gulliver's visit to this world? What details from this world bring it out? Is the movie subtle or blatant in how they reveal this? How does the medium of film help to bring out the satire more than just the book could by itself? Did the movie make you think or did you think it was a poor adaptation? Why?

In the Brobdignag they thought he was crazy that there was a whole world as little as him. Everyone was rich and the same. The queen thought it was crazy that their world had taxes and an army. I think that it did make you think about the different aspects of your life.

Modest Proposal ?'s-Due February 13th

Modest Proposal ?'s-Due February 13th

Read "A Modest Proposal" in it's entirety. Then, I want you post your reaction using
these questions as a guide.

1.
What tone does the speaker of this this pamphlet use? In other words, if this guy
were alive, what would he be like to be around? Is this tone effective/appropriate for
the subject manner?
Very matter of fact. To the point. very serious guy. Yes its appropriate.

2.
What structure does he use to shape is argument? What the main arguments/point
that he brings up?
Problem, solution, advantages. Way to populated, mothers can't support their children

3.
What are examples of 'logic' that he uses? From an objective stand point(not gut
reaction, do they have logical merit?
He backs up what he says. There are too many poor people. The benefits outweigh the cost. The only downfall is the population will be reduced.

4.
Go to www.logicalfallacies.info. What's a fallacy? What's an
example of a fallacy found in "A Modest Prosal"? What type of fallacy is it?
A faulty argument. Appeal to novelty, appeal to pity.

5.
What is your gut reaction to this piece of writing? Did your reaction/perception
change after you 'digested' the material and thought deeper?
It's kind of disturbing. Yeah i thought he had a point behind what he was saying. Not as literal.

6. Is this to be taken literally? If not, what is Swift's true purpose in writing this?
No he just wants people to stand up for their country b/c they were not a united country. And the problem isn't getting solved.

7.
Can you think of real life examples when people literally used twisted logic not in a
satirical fashion, but in a complete serious fashion to justify their actions?
The Japanese in California.

8.
Should all decisions be based on logic/reason(as the Enlightenment suggests) or do
gut instincts come into play?
I think that your instincts come into play the most. But it depends on the situation.

Enlightenment/Restoration ?'s- Due February 12th

Enlightenment/Restoration ?'s- Due February 12th

Answer the following questions from page 566-5701.
1. What was the Restoration in British History?
When the king Charles II came back in power.

2. How did the political system change through the Restoration and 17th Century?
It changed to the parliment with a more divided power.

3. Why is this time also called the Age of Reason/Enlightenment? Give examples of people from this time who contributed to this label.
New ideas came about. John Locke, Issac Newton, Adam Smith

4. Define what Neoclassicism is how it was incorporates into the literature during the time. What was this age also called that relates to this concept?
Enlightenment and Augustan Age.

5. The Enlightenment/Restoration is divided up into three areas based on people's names. What are they? What characteristics/authors/literary genres is associated with each age?
Johnson- Samuel Johnson
Dryden- John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe
Pope- Alexander Pope