All of your Swift work ("A Modest Proposal" and Gulliver's Travels) was due today.

Today we learned about Samuel Johnson and his contributions to the English language, specifically through his Dictionary of the English Language. Please see the notes for this information and for the in-class activity/assignment.

Your dictionary assignment is due on Monday, February 27.

Additionally, you have a small writing assignment, due on Wednesday, February 29:

In “A Modest Proposal,” Jonathan Swift proposes a satirical solution to the very real problem of overpopulation and poverty in his native Ireland.

A good satirical solution would:

• Be written in a style that makes it look like the author is being serious (remember: great satire is indistinguishable from the truth!)…
• ...BUT be ridiculous, impossible, or unbelievable (and NOT something you actually would want to happen)…
• …and is designed to point out how ridiculous (evil, unbelievable, etc.) the “powers that be” are, or to draw attention to something that you think is a real problem.

Please write a short satire in which you identify a problem (could be anything, big or small, but make it something that you know a lot about) and propose a satirical solution. It should be a minimum of 300 words long, and no longer than 2 pages typed. HAVE FUN with this!

Today we finished up our "Modest Proposal" assignments by answering the following three questions in the blank space on your storyboard. Each question should be answered in a short PARAGRAPH (3-5 sentences).

1. What is the purpose of satire (in general)?

2. Why does Swift use satire – and is it effective?

3. Based on what you know about this time period, why would satire be a major feature of the “Age of Reason”?

Following this, we read excerpts from Gulliver's Travels, starting on page 566 in the green books. We then answered the following questions: 1-4, 6-8, and 10.

Today we talked about Jonathan Swift, satire, and "A Modest Proposal" - bad day to have missed! However, if you missed, we can get you caught up. First, please read the notes on Swift (attached below). You will need to do the reading; PLEASE make sure to read "The Sting of Satire" before trying to read "A Modest Proposal". When you are reading to read "Proposal," DON'T use the book - please use the file I've attached below and follow the in-text directions AS WELL AS the instructions on the 4th slide of the notes. You will need a sheet of printer paper folded to divide it into 8 boxes on each side (this activity will take up 14 of the 16 boxes, front and back).

Today was a big day of note-taking... see attached.

Your Dead Poets Society packet and essay were due today. This is a MAJOR grade - make sure to get it turned in.

We have a test on Thursday; please download a copy of the study guide if you didn't receive one in class.

Today we did a quick overview of John Milton. Please see the attached notes. We read a section of Paradise Lost (available online at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_1/ - read up to line 270 - "what more lost in Hell?") and answered the following questions over the reading:

1. What in Milton's description of Hell do you find most vivid? Explain.
4. Lines 34-53 tell of another, earlier fall from grace. (a) Who fell that earlier time? (b) What caused that earlier fall?
5. Lines 59-74 describe Hell. What are its main features?
6. In lines 84-155, Satan addresses Beelzebub and speaks of eternal rebellion and war against God. (a) What are his motives for continuing the war? (b) Explain Beelzebub's advice.
7. From lines 193 to 209, Milton describes the size of Satan. To what creatures is Satan compared?
9. In what ways are the Fall of Adam and Eve paralleled by the Fall of Satan and his cohorts? Point out the parallels in the poem.
10. Between lines 200 and 208, Milton uses an epic simile in which he compares Satan to the sea beast Leviathan. How does Milton convey the huge size of Leviathan?
13. The eighteenth-century poet William Blake said "Milton was of the Devil's party." What do you think this statement means? Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement. Find evidence from the poem to support your answer.

Below, please find the attached notes, the study guide, and a document that might prove helpful to you as you read. The helpful document does not cover ALL of the Paradise Lost excerpt, but it is a start.

Today we finished watching Dead Poets Society. Your completed packet and essay are due next Tuesday, Feb. 7.  If you lost or did not receive a packet, please download it from Wednesday's post.

Today we are watching the first half of Dead Poets Society, a movie that references some of the literature recently read in this class as well as literature read in American Lit (English 5/6). As we watch, we are going to be making connections between these two eras, our own lives, our futures, and our educations. 

If you were absent, you will need to try to find a copy of this movie and watch the part that you missed. I rented mine at Hastings; you can often buy it inexpensively at Walmart or other stores, and it should be available on Netflix. 

If you did not receive your viewing guide, or if you lost your copy, you can download it below. This guide includes an essay question and will be a significant grade - please don't neglect to do this project! 

Today we hit the "best of" the School of Donne and the Sons of Ben. Please review the notes (attached below) and complete the reading and response assignment you find therein. There are a few YouTube clips linked in the notes; they are optional but may help you with your reading.

Today we finished preparing our presentations, and then acted out "The Scottish Play."

If you missed class, please read the attachment and watch this fun video in order to be prepared for a quiz on Wednesday!

Before we begin - LOTS OF YOU did not turn in your sonnets! They are individual grades and will be an ugly chunk out of your grade if you don't turn them in! PLEASE take care of this!

Today we started off with a review of some of the basics about Shakespeare by taking a trivia quiz/pop quiz. You can see the questions and answers on the slides, attached below (along with the notes). Afterward, we took a few notes in preparation for Hamlet and went over the requirements for the unit.

YOU WILL HAVE A QUIZ OVER ACT I OF HAMLET ON THE DAY YOU RETURN FROM THANKSGIVING!!! Make sure that you download a copy of the packet (attached below) so that you have the calendar.