AP Literary Terms

As you are preparing for the AP Literature and Composition Exam, which is on May 8, 2014, take a moment or two to refresh your knowledge of major figurative device that often appear on the test.  Use your term cards and this site for help.
http://www.gertzresslerhigh.org/ourpages/auto/2013/3/13/60886679/AP%20LITERARY%20TERMS.pdf

Under a Hand Accussed!

Now, that we have read the entire play, read the following propositions. If you are the first person to respond, you must write on the first proposition. If you are the second, the second proposition is yours and so on.   Write a response that supports or refutes this proposition.  YES, you must take one side and one side only.  This isn't Switzerland. No credit will be given if you do not stay on one side of the issue.  (The deadline to post a response is midnight, Tuesday, April 1, 2014,)

1) Lady Macbeth's problem is that while she understands herself, she does not understand Macbeth.
2) Lady Macbeth is totally evil; she is, in fact, the fiend-like Queen described by Malcolm at the end of the play.
3) The witches so manipulate Macbeth that he has no control over his fate.
4) Shakespeare didn't write the silly Hecate bits, so out they come.  If you were producing a performance of Macbeth, explain why you would or would not include the Hecate scenes.
5) The story of a bad man who commits a crime is not a tragedy but a straightforward tale of evil. Macbeth, however, is about a good man who becomes evil and that is his tragedy.
6) Far from being the strong character he is often portrayed as being, Macbeth is essentially a weak man; he allows the witches and Lady Macbeth to manipulate him into an act which, if left alone, he would never contemplate, never mind commit.

Witchy Women....

Notice that the Weird Sisters are referred to as "witches" only in the stage directions. No one sitting in the audience seeing the play will hear the word witch even once. Rather, in the text Banquo and Macbeth call them "Weird Sisters." They, in fact, even refer to themselves by such a title. The word "weird" is derived from the Old English "wyrd," meaning fate or destiny. Thus far in the play, how have the predictions of the Weird Sisters influenced or controlled Macbeth's fate/destiny? Do you believe that their influence is the greatest influence upon him? If so, why? If not, what or who influences Macbeth most? (This post closes at midnight, Friday, March 28, 2014)

Infirm of Purpose...

In Act Two of Macbeth, the murder of Duncan occurs.  So much is revealed about the true characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in this act as they react to the murder of Duncan.  What do we learn of Macbeth through his words and actions in this situation?  of Lady Macbeth?  Which of these two characters are you finding most interesting? Why?  (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, Wednesday, March 26, 2014.)

A Woman's World

Near the end of Act One of Macbeth, Macbeth declares that he will proceed no further in the business of killing Duncan.  Analyze Lady Macbeth's response to this declaration.  What tactics does she use to persuade him?  What is that finally persuades him?  What do you think of Lady Macbeth as a person and as persuasive person? (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Tuesday, March 25, 2014.)

The Bard Lives

Today, we discussed many things about Shakespeare, the Globe,  and the Renaissance.  Comment on something you found interesting in the lecture.  Explain why you found this intriguing.  (The deadline to post a response to the blog question is midnight, Sunday, March 23, 2014.)

Whan the Marchelle

The Canterbury Pilgrims arrived a month early this spring.  Here they are.   You all did amazing jobs.  Some of the best performances I have ever seen.  You maketh me proud!

Mattlan --the Doctor,  Sophia-- the Friar, Niall--the Oxford Cleric, Blaine-- the Merchant, Isaiah-- the Miller, Kali-- the Skipper, Stephanie-- the Serjeant at Law, Katherine-- the Prioress, Tara-- the Yeoman, Dixie-- the Franklin, Dana-- the Reeve and Aulora-- the Nun's Priest.

Walking on broken glass...

In the Prologue of the novel, David tells of "a series" of images that remain from the summer of 1948: a young Sioux woman, feverish on the bed in his house; his father kneeling on the kitchen floor, begging his mother to help him; his mother holding a 12 gauge shotgun, intending to use it;  and the sound of breaking glass and the odor of rotting vegetables.  By the end of Part Three, all of these images have been fully revealed and because of the "broken jars," David believes everything will go back to the way it was before.  His twelve-year-old innocence fails to realize that those jars are broken forever. Select any image from the novel (you don't have to select one from the Prologue), and discuss what was revealed in the moment and what consequence comes to the Haydens via that event. CATCH:  You may not write on any image already discussed by a classmate.   (The deadline to post a response is midnight, March 18, 2014. No credit will be given to plagiarized responses.)

Meaning Amidst the Dust

One of the indicators of an outstanding work of literature is the author's use of symbols.  In Part Two of Montana 1948, Watson presents several symbols.  Among them are Julian Hayden's log house, the magpie that David kills, the coyote mentioned in Marie's final words to David, and the reverie that David has of the Native Americans walking up Circle Hill.  Select one of these images and discuss what you feel it symbolizes and how it adds to the story's plot, characterization, and theme.  CATCH:  You must comment on what the person prior to you has said, but you may not focus on that symbol.  You must move the discussion to another symbol.  I will begin the discussion.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Thursday, March 13, 2014.)

Conflicts rising...

Part One of Montana 1948 has established several internal and external conflicts.  Internally, what conflicts are Wes and David facing?  Give a line that reveals those conflicts. Catch:  When you post a response you must comment on what others before you have said and you may not give the same quote/line that someone previously has posted.  (Deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Tuesday, March11, 2014. No credit will be given to plagiarized responses.)

She said/He said...

We have read both "The Pardoner's Tale" and "The Wife of Bath's Tale." Which of the stories do you feel was the best?  Give two reasons why you like this one best.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight, March 7, 2014.) 

A little irony goes a long way...

One of the most famous of the Canterbury Tales is the "Pardoner's Tale," which we read today.  Of course, Chaucer is being ironic with the avarice-driven Pardoner telling a story of the evils of greed, but which element /event of irony in the story did you find most humorous or edifying?  Give the line and identify the type of irony being used and explain what you liked about it.  Make sure you don't use the same example as the poster prior to you.  (The deadline to post a response is midnight Thursday, March 6, 2014.)