Middle Ages Review

You need to do research over the Middle Ages. Look at the following websites and take notes in your notebook. When you have completed this, leave a comment about what you have read. You are responsible for all of the material on these websites.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/feudal.html

For this website, I'd like you just to read about the Black Death.

http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/plague/05.shtml

I know that this might take longer this week, but the last couple have been pretty short.

Have FUN!!!

Week Four

We talked in class last week about how important revisions are. I wanted to show you a poem entitled "My Papa's Waltz." First read over the poem.

The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.
We romped until the pans
Slid from the kitchen shelf;
My mother's countenance
Could not unfrown itself.
The hand that held my wrist
Was battered on one knuckle;
At every step you missed
My right ear scraped a buckle.
You beat time on my head
With a palm caked hard by dirt,
Then waltzed me off to bed
Still clinging to your shirt.

Now that you have finished reading the final draft of tghe poem. I'd like you to click on the link to look at the orginal drafts.

http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/Virtualit/poetry/cultural_docs/roethke_draft.html

You can look at both drafts. Notice some of the changes that he made. How much thought do you think went into each draft? In the comment section, put your thoughts.

I've looked at the first 17 comments. Make sure you look at the fact that he/she was changed. Minor changes?

Depictions of Grendel

We have talked in class about how we create images of what we read in our heads. I love reading books, and I love watching movies, but many times I am disappointed in movies made from books that I have read. The reason for this dissappointment is the manner in which the director creates characters that I have already created in my head. I realize it is an impossible task, but I cannot help it. Below you will see some different depictions of Grendel. I'd like you to look at the pictures and vote on your favorite one. In your comment, I would like you to give at least one reason that explains why you liked the particular depiction.

Pic 1

Pic 2 Pic 3
Pic 4

Pic 5

Independent Reading Assignment

There are two parts of this week's blog, so please make sure you do both parts. Here I'd like you give the title of your book, along with three sentences summarizing the book. Finally end with your rating of the book.

1 - 10. 10 means "The greatest book ever."

Have fun and read some of the other comments. It will give you ideas for your next Independent Reading Assignment.

Week Two

We are beginning our exploration of Beowulf. This week I'd like you to go to the below website and explore the site. You need to go to the original text and try to read it. Good Luck. After reading the original text, then take a look at the modern text. After spending 5 to 10 minutes reading it, make a comment.

http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/

Have fun,
Mr. Lunn

Welcome to British Literature

We are at the beginning of an exciting adventure. This adventure may be painful, sorrowful, and excruitiating at times. These are the times when you will need to rely on your own fortitude and the help of your fellow adventurers. As a group of people at the beginning of this trek, we may seem like a bunch of individuals, but by the end we will have gone through many trials and tribulations that will bring us closer together as a people group. You will create bonds in the class that could last forever. As your guide, I feel that it is my responsibility to begin by introducing myself.

This is my second year at Anderson High School, and my second year teaching British Literature. I am married and have a daughter who is almost one. She has completely changed my life. If you'd like to know more about her, then check out Sara's blog. (Just click on my profile.) Look to your right. I also have another child on the way. Ahhhhhh!!!! You can check that blog out as well. I am an avid golfer and baseball fan. I also coach both sports at Anderson. Before teaching at Anderson, I spent a year teaching English in South Korea and before that I spent five years in the Business world. I love teaching and working with students. I love to see students succeed and work hard. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you. Please take a minute and introduce yourself using the comment button. Tell us something about yourself, where have you traveled, your favorite movie, and what your future occupation will/or would like to be.

Thanks,
Mr. Lunn

Play Highlights

I wanted to post all of the acts, but that was going to take forever. I thought these were the three strongest plays. Amazingly they all came from the say class. I'd like you to view all three of them and vote on which one you think is the best.