IB Literature of the Americas

November 25/26

After announcing the winners of the Walt Whitman Film Festival awards.....(I loved those films!), we discussed the first three chapters of Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and his use of satire.

We also started viewing an important PBS documentary on the controversy surrounding the novel.

The homework is to read chapters 4-18. Happy Thanksgiving!

IB 20th C. Global Literature

November 25/26

Congratulations on finishing your senior paper!
I collected the final drafts of the Memorial poems inspired by Szymborska's "Starvation Camp Near Jaslo" and "Photograph From September 11".
We did a partner comparison activity with Akhmatova's "Lot's Wife" and Szymborska's poem of the same title.
We also read and discussed " An Opinion on the Question of Pornography".

No homework for Thanksgiving Break!

IB Literature of the Americas

November 19/20

The final assessment on the Walt Whitman unit was given today: an in-class passage analysis essay on "Oh Captain, My Captain". Poetry packets were turned in.
The 4th annual film festival is Friday and Monday! I look forward to all the films!

IB 20th C. Global Literature

November 19/20

After briefly discussing Akhmatova's "Poem Without a Hero", I introduced Wislawa Szymborska and we read 4 of her poems.

Memorial poems at Sheldon due: Tuesday. Memorial poems at South due Wednesday.

IB Literature of the Americas

November 17/18

We discussed themes and techniques in "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" . I reviewed the objectives for the in-class passage analysis essay on one of Whitman's poems. Essays will be written on Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20. Students will be able to use all Whitman materials. Annotated poetry packets are due on that day as well.

The 4th Annual Walt Whitman Film Festival takes place at Sheldon on Friday....and on Monday at South! Get your films ready for viewing!

IB 20th C. Global Literature

November 17/18

The class was divided into 13 groups....for the 13 sections of "Requiem". After discussing the assigned section of the poem, groups came together in one large circle for a reading of the entire poem and then a presentation by each group on important historical information as well as imagery and themes.

The homework is to read "Poem Without a Hero".

IB Literature of the Americas

November 12/14

We read and discussed Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider".
Students performed sections of "I Sing the Body Electric".
Film groups and poems were finalized for the 4th annual Walt Whitman Film Festival: Nov 21/24.
The homework is to read "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry".

IB 20th C. Global Literature

November 13/14

I collected the final drafts of the IB Detailed/Imaginative Study Essays. I look forward to reading them!
We finished the presentations on Akhmatova's early poems and students did a partner-discussion poster activity on her later poems.

IB Literature of the Americas

November 10/12

We read "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" and discussed the three main symbols.
We also read and discussed three of Whitman's civil war poems: "Bivouac on a Mountainside", "Calvary Crossing a Ford" and "Come Up From the Fields Father".
It is time to sign up for film groups for the 4th annual Walt Whitman Film Festival: Nov. 21/24!

The homework is to read and take notes on "I Sing the Body Electric".

IB 20th C. Global Literature

November 10/12

We discussed the timeline of Anna Akhmatova's life and how it influenced her poetry. Students presented on her early poems.
The homework is to revise/word process your IB Detailed/Imaginative Study Essay and submit it to turnitin.com. Final drafts due in class on November 13/14.

IB Literature of the Americas

Nov 3/4

I collected the poems inspired by Walt Whitman's "This Compost".
We began a group presentation/poster activity involving 5 different sections of "Song of Myself". The homework is to read "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd".

IB 20th C. Global Literature

Nov 3/4

This is the second and final day of writing the rough draft for the IB Detailed/Imaginative Study. I will do a completion check at the end of class to make sure the rough draft is finished, in MLA format and includes a Works Cited page.

The deadline for submitting the paper to turnitin.com is Nov. 13.

I also handed out the packets for our study of Russian poet, Anna Akhmatova. The homework is to read p. 1-5 of background materials.