2020 American Literature

  1/27 Chapters 37-38 1/28 Chapter 39 and time to catch up on discussion questions 1/29 Essay Question 2/1 Chapter 40 2/2 41 - End 2/3 Review 2/4 Review or Emily Dickerson 2/5 TEST 2/8 Walt Whitman 2/9 Essay 2/10 Essay 2/11 Essay Due 2/12 Modernism and The Great Gatsby Huck Discussion XXXVI-XXXIX - Written Assignment Directions: Please write a minimum of three paragraphs on the following topic. Supply evidence from Chapters 35 - 39 to support your answer. It is due next class period. Think carefully about your answer. Twain criticizes the Romantics. The Romantics based their literature on the conviction that imagination and emotion were superior to reason. You will recall that in Chapters 12 & 13, Twain names the wrecked steamboat The Walter Scott after a Romantic author, metaphorically relating it to the demise of Romanticism. Obviously, Twain was not a fan of Romantic fiction. The Question: How was Twain's disdain for Romantic fiction evident in Chapters 36-39? Hint ...

    Students should independently read Huckleberry Finn chapters 35-36 and work on Discussion Questions for chapters 31-35. These will be due on Wednesday.

 Today, we are going to discuss the climax of the book. Give you a few minutes to outline episodes 7 and 8, and read chapter 32-34. Huck Discussion Questions XXXI - XXXV 1. Would you say that Chapter 31 represents the climax of the novel? Why or why not? 2. Huck says, "All right, then, I'll go to hell." Explain the irony in that statement. 3. Discuss the symbolism of the imagery at the beginning of Chapter 32. 4. Discuss Huck's understanding of Providence? Would Miss Watson agree? 5. How does Twain use irony in the discussion between Huck and Mrs. Phelps about the "steamboat accident." 6. One of the recurring themes becomes apparent when Huck discovers that the Phelps are expecting Tom Sawyer. Which theme comes to mind and why? 7. Huck and Tom both agree to help Jim escape; however, their motives are different. Explain. 8. "...and as they went by I see they had the king and duke astraddle of a rail - that is, I knowed it WAS the king and the duke, t...

 Today you will take a vocabulary quiz. When you are finished please read chapters 29 and 30 of Huckleberry Finn.  Huck Questions XXVIII - XXX 1. Twain was heavily criticized for bad taste due to his description of the funeral toward the end of Chapter XXVII. Why do you think he was criticized, and do you think the criticism justified? 2. On page 198 Huck says, ". . . here's a case where I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie." Explain. 3. In these three chapters Huck finds himself having to lie for various reasons. How do his motives differ? 4. Why doesn't Twain involve Jim more in these chapters? 5. Does Huck's escape from Hines say anything about Hines' character? 6. How does Huck feel about Mary Jane? Why does Huck tell her to go away? Significance? 7. Discuss the significance of Huck's statement, ". . . anybody but a lot of prejudiced chuckleheads would a seen that the old gentlemen ...

Today we are going to look at the poem from the Inauguration, go over your quizzes, and read. 1/21 Chapters 28-29  1/22 Chapters 30-31 and vocabulary quia 1/25 Chapters 32-34 1/26 Chapters 35-36 1/27 Chapters 37-38 1/28 Chapter 39 and time to catch up on discussion questions 1/29 Essay Question 2/1 Chapter 40 2/2 41 - End 2/3 Review 2/4 Review or Emily Dickerson 2/5 TEST 2/8 Walt Whitman 2/9 Essay 2/10 Essay 2/11 Essay Due 2/12 Modernism and The Great Gatsby New Vocabulary Words: temperance histrionic muse brazen contrite languish calamity ponderous stealthiest blitheful infernal abolitionist confound frivolousness haughty divining  Episode 1: (Chapters 1- 4) Huck is living with the Widow Douglas, who is teaching him about region and having go to school. Tom Sawyer starts a gang who says there are gonna steal for passing wagons. Tom plays a trick on Jim. Huck is in Tom's gang for a little while but nothing really comes of it and he quits. Huck realizes his dad is back an...

 QUIZ. Today you will have a quiz on Huck Finn chapters 11-27. After you are finished, you will need to either a) study vocabulary. This means finish writing sentences with the rest of the vocabulary words, and putting the words into a Quizlet, OR, working with practice on vocabulary.com. You should also work on any caught up work that needs to be done. Example - answering study questions from chapters 24-27. GOOD LUCK (you might need it)!

 Today we need to write sentences with the next two words and read chapters 26 and 27. Tomorrow - QUIZ.  HUCKLEBERRY FINN Introduction:             Huckleberry Finn, published in 1885, is considered not only a great book, but according to Ernest Hemingway (and many critics), it is the foundation of American literature.   It is the first novel to address uniquely American problems such as slavery and the hypocrisy of American Society (particularly of the Southern Gentile Tradition).   It is the first novel to have as its narrator a true American: an uneducated homeless boy of the lower class who has been raised for most of his life by no one and who owns nothing but his own ingenuity.   In fact it is the naivety of the narrator that allows Mark Twain to condemn society.   Huck Finn, while a liar, a thief, a minor conman (or con-boy), a rapscallion, a dirty waif, and a prankster, is ironically ...

Today we are going to read chapters 24 and 25. First write sentences with contrite and languish.   Huck Discussion Questions XXIV - XXVII 1. As we have discussed, clothes can play a symbolic or thematic role in the novel. Huck even says that he "never knowed how clothes could change a body before." Discuss the thematic role of clothes in these chapters. 2. Comment on the last paragraph of Chapter XXIV. Make a connection to Twain's description of the Arkansas town. Why is Huck's response to the Peter Wilks incident so strong? Why does Huck make moral evaluations now (you'll recall that he remained morally neutral concerning the prior schemes of the duke and king)? 3. What qualities do the Wilks girls have that allow them to be fooled so easily? 4. Why is it significant that Joanna eats in the kitchen? What is the significance of her nickname? What themes are revealed? 5. What statement about the behavior of people does Twain make through the Dr. Robinson in...

 Write sentences with the first two words of the day ( temperance and histrionic ) Read chapter 23 and answer the questions below.  Huck Discussion Questions: XXI - XXIII "Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel . He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it . It is a trait that is not known to the higher animals." This quote is from Twain's essay, "The Damned Human Race." How is this contempt for certain aspects of human behavior evident in the description of the Arkansas town in Chapter XXI? How does he describe the residents? Why does Huck observe but does not participate in the schemes of the duke and king? Through the Grangerford episode, Twain was able to criticize the myth of Southern honor. What myth of Southern life does Twain satirize in the Sherburn / Boggs incident (which, by the way, was based on a true incident)? What aspect of human nature does Twain satirize t...

 Today we are going to look at the "The Narrative of Frederick Douglas" (page 558) and discuss a possible link with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Do study questions 1-3, 5-7, on page 570. Homework: Read Harriet Jacobs on page 572. Do questions 1-3 on page 580. Possible quiz on Jacobs tomorrow.  First - make sure you have these words looked up and write sentences for the first three: New Vocabulary Words: temperance histrionic muse brazen contrite languish calamity ponderous stealthiest blitheful infernal abolitionist confound frivolousness haughty divining

  Today and tonight we will read Abraham Lincoln.  He is a question from a future exam: 4) Discuss Lincoln's purpose in "The Gettysburg Address" and his "Second Inaugural Address".  Give a summary of the "Emancipation Proclamation" and how its form reinforces it idea. So as we read today you need to figure out Lincoln's purpose in his two speeches, "The Gettysburg Address" and his "Second Inaugural Address" and write these purposes out with examples from that text on your blog.  (Each of these should be a paragraph).  Example - Abraham Lincoln's purpose in "The Gettysburg Address" is to......  This can be scene by his.... and ....  He uses these examples to reinforce the idea that ..... Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address  "The Gettysburg Address" and "The Emancipation Proclamation" can be found on pages 584-590.

Today we will read chapter 22 and work on outlining episodes 1-6. Note - this week we need to read Abraham Lincoln as well. Huck Discussion Questions: XXI - XXIII "Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel . He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it . It is a trait that is not known to the higher animals." This quote is from Twain's essay, "The Damned Human Race." How is this contempt for certain aspects of human behavior evident in the description of the Arkansas town in Chapter XXI? How does he describe the residents? Why does Huck observe but does not participate in the schemes of the duke and king? Through the Grangerford episode, Twain was able to criticize the myth of Southern honor. What myth of Southern life does Twain satirize in the Sherburn / Boggs incident (which, by the way, was based on a true incident)? What aspect of human nat...

 So, today we will take a quiz on Huckleberry Finn, discuss what you read over break, the episodes up to chapter 21, and look at chapter 22. Note - this week we need to read Abraham Lincoln as well. Huck Discussion Questions: XXI - XXIII "Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel . He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it . It is a trait that is not known to the higher animals." This quote is from Twain's essay, "The Damned Human Race." How is this contempt for certain aspects of human behavior evident in the description of the Arkansas town in Chapter XXI? How does he describe the residents? Why does Huck observe but does not participate in the schemes of the duke and king? Through the Grangerford episode, Twain was able to criticize the myth of Southern honor. What myth of Southern life does Twain satirize in the Sherburn / Boggs incident ...