Beowulf

Today we will be reading some selections from "Beowulf."

This poem is what we call an epic poem, which is a long, narrative poem that tells about a great hero who goes on a series of quests. 

The first election that we will read is on page 428 of of your textbook.

The second selection will be given to you. If you lose this copy, you can access a PDF copy by clicking here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0J8fyb3_YBib3oyR21odjNpU3M/edit?usp=docslist_api. It is also in Canvas. 

Some things to keep in mind about the characters:

Beowulf = the hero

Hrothgar = the kind of the Danes (Denmark)

Higlac = Beowulf's uncle and king of the Geats

Grendel = a demon/monster who terrorizes Hrothgar's kingdom

Questions and statements  you might use while you are working 

with your groups to read the second selection:

- What does it mean in line ____ when it says "..........?"

- What does the word _______ mean? 

- Do you understand why the character ________?

- In lines _______, I think what happened is that ________. 

Do you agree?

- I agree with you that _________ happened, but I'm not 

sure that ________ is right because......

"To have great poets, there must be great audiences." - Walt Whitman

Good morning!

Today we are continuing our learning on poetry. Here is our agenda:

1. Literary Devices Warm-Up - in the Chapter 6 folder in Canvas
2. Review Paul Revere storyboards
3. Continue working on "My Mother Pieced Quilts" and "Junkards."
4. Introduce epic poetry with "Beowulf"

In addition, here are a couple links you might be interested in. 

• This is the TRUE story of Paul Revere. It's very short. The poem we read is not entirely true, though he did ride through many towns at the beginning of the American Revolution. You can even seen a map of the route!
• The Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park has a special exhibition until July that focuses on quilts. If your interested in the quilting process or want to see some amazing examples, check it out.

Symbolism in Poetry

A junkyard

Happy Monday!

Make sure you have your completed storyboard out on your desk. I will be collecting them at the beginning of class.

Today we will be exploring symbolism in two poems:

• "My Mother Pieced Quilts" by Teresa Palomo Acosta
• "Junkards" by Julian Lee Rayford

Our work for the day comes in three parts:

1. In Canvas, open the file in the Chapter 5 folder called "SYMBOLISM.pdf." You will be reading the poem and completing this work with your row partner.
2. Together we will read "Junkyards." Your homework will be to complete the "Junkyards of the Future" questions. 

If you finish, I would like you to fill out the form linked here in the sidebar at the top of the page called "Student Questionnaire."

It is a simple form. I have been with you for about a month, but I want to know more about you! Please answer honestly. I will not be grading it, nor will anyone else see it. 

Narrative Poetry

Good morning everyone!

Today we will be starting a new unit on poetry. We have lots to do, so let's get started.

We are going to start by reading "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Here is some important vocabulary that you might need to write down (probably in your Toolkit):

narrative poem: a poem that tells a story. It has a beginning, middle, and end, as well as a conflict and a resolution, just like a short story or a novel.

end rhyme: when words rhyme at the end of two or more different lines of poetry

internal rhyme: when there are words that rhyme in the middle of lines of poetry

Alliteration: The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words

stanza: a grouping or division of lines in poetry that often have a common pattern that is repeated in each stanza. It can be compared to a paragraph in stories.

You will be making a storyboard, recreating the story using pictures and explanation. There are three things that you must include for each of the six panels in your storyboard.

1. A drawing of what is happening in the story.
2. A written explanation of what the picture represents using complete sentences.
3. one or two lines from the poem that show you that this event is happening. It should look like this:

"Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch

Of the North Church tower as a signal light,—

One, if by land, and two, if by sea;"  (lines 8-10)