The Great Gatsby, Final Test

When finished with test:

• Silent reading time (Into the Wild handed out. Reading schedule here.)
• Vocabulary extra credit
  

Silent Reading, 20 min

Historical Research Essay

• Turn in topic note card with 4 causes/effects and your historical "moment."
• IMC Research time.
• Find (and print) five credible, scholarly sources.
  

Silent Reading, 20 min

The Great Gatsby

• Chapter Experts 7-9 presentations
• Review for test on Tuesday!
• Topics to review:

1. Themes: wealth & status; materialism; truth/lies; the decline of the American Dream.
2. Consider Nick as a narrator. Is he reliable? Is he biased?
3. Symbols and Motifs: East vs. West Egg; Midwest/West vs. East; green light; the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg; ash heaps; weather; etc.
4. Consider the time period in which this book is set (1920s)--look back at the information from your background wikis. What impact does this have on the novel? What is Fitzgerald's purpose in presenting this society in the way he does?
   

Writing Prompt: Write about a pair of shoes.

Historical Research Essay.

• Assignment and timeline on wiki here. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
  
• IMC for research time.
  

Silent Reading, 20 min

The Great Gatsby
Chapter Experts 4-6 Presentations

Writing Prompt: If you had any super power, what would it be? Why?

The Great Gatsby Chapter Experts

• Chapters 1-3 are presenting today.
• All class members are graded on their participation in each presentation (their own and discussion in others' presentations)

Ernest Hemingway

• "Big Two-Hearted River"--will hand out another day--ran out of time.
  

Silent Reading, 20 min

Ernest Hemingway

• Read "Indian Camp" (handout in class)
• Answer these questions:

1. What characteristics of the Hemingway hero does Nick exhibit in this story?
2. This story, which obviously takes place years before "The End of Something," features Nick--the same main character. Do we learn information here that explains more of his behavior in that story?
3. Iceberg Theory: What information in "Indian Camp" is 'under water'? What does Hemingway leave out?

The Great Gatsby

• Work time for Chapter Experts presentations. (See assignment and groups here)
• There will only be about 5 minutes at the beginning of class for preparation on Tuesday. Remember that all assigned groups will present, even if some group members are missing.
  

OMAM Essay Due--beginning of hour

Silent Reading, 20 min.

William Faulkner (Gothic fiction, chronology)

• "A Rose for Emily"--p. 720
• Literary connection: "The Feather Pillow"--p. 733

1. Create a timeline for the events of "A Rose for Emily."
2. What features of Gothic fiction does this story show?
3. Compare/Contrast the gothic features of Faulkner and Quiroga.
   

Writing Prompt: Write about something you want but cannot have.

Ernest Hemingway

• Hemingway Hero and Iceberg Theory powerpoint
• "Soldier's Home"--p. 685.

1. How is Krebs an example of a Hemingway Hero? What characteristics does he display?
2. Look at the conversation Krebs has with his sister on pp. 689-690. What mood does this show Krebs is in?
3. Look at the conversation Krebs has with his mother on p. 690. What conflicts does this conversation show?
4. Iceberg Theory: What parts of "Soldier's Home" are under water? What does Hemingway leave out?

• "The End of Something"--handout

1. How is Nick an example of a Hemingway Hero? What characteristics does he display?
2. Iceberg Theory: What parts of "The End of Something" are under water? What does Hemingway leave out? (hand in six questions)
   

The Great Gatsby

Background Scavenger Hunt.

• Complete assignment in partners or groups of three.
• Copy and paste or link answers to your page on msjohnsonwiki.pbworks.com.
  

Assigned: Chapter Experts presentation.

If finished early, either:

1. Work on OMAM essay (due Friday)
2. Silent Reading (The Great Gatsby)
   

Of Mice and Men film (finish)

Review OMAM Literary Analysis essay (assignment here--due Friday)

Hand out The Great Gatsby. Introduce Chapter Experts and Background Scavenger Hunt.

Writing Prompt: Of Mice and Men is #6 on the American Library Association's list of the 100 most often challenged books. Other books (Harry Potter, Goosebumps, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Wrinkle in Time, Where's Waldo?) that students have commonly read also appear on the list. Why do you think some of these books have been so often challenged? (For complete list, click here.)

Silent Reading, 20 min.

Of Mice and Men film (1992) as background for lit. analysis essay.

Completed essay due Friday, Dec. 11 at beginning of class.

Final Test, Of Mice and Men

First part of test: multiple choice and matching. No books or notes.
Second part of test: short answer and essay. Open book and notes. Page numbers and specific quotes required in answers. (50 points)

Silent Reading following test

Begin Of Mice and Men film (1992) if time.

Writing Prompt: see below

This inscription is often associated with John Steinbeck's novel, Of Mice and Men:
"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main."
--John Donne, Devotions XVII
How does this quote relate to the novel?

Of Mice and Men, test review

• With the group at your table, write answers to these questions. These will be your notes for the test, so include page numbers where possible to help you in constructing essays.

1. Locate three passages or scenes that best describe Lennie. What do these show about him?
2. Locate three passages or scenes that best describe George. What do these show about him?
3. Theme: Loneliness is a key theme in this novel--locate three passages where you see this.
4. Theme: The American Dream is a key theme in this novel--locate three passages where you see this. What message is Steinbeck sending about the dream?
   
5. Theme: The Corrupting Power of Women is a key theme in this novel--locate three passages where you see this.
6. Theme: Discrimination is a key theme in this novel--locate three passages where you see this.
7. Theme: Friendship is a key theme in this novel--locate three passages where you see this.
8. Theme: Alienation is a key theme in this novel--locate three passages where you see this.
9. Why did George make the final decision he did? What options did he have?
10. Who or what is to blame for the events at the end of the novel?
11. The novel's title comes from Robert Burns' poem, "To a Mouse": "The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men/Gang aft agley,/An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,/For Promis'd Joy!" [The best-laid plans of Mice and Men often go awry (or wrong) and leave us nothing but grief and pain instead of the promised joy.] Explain how the title was appropriate for the novel.
12. Nicknames or shortened versions of names are used in the novel. Why do you think Steinbeck used this technique and how does it relate to the larger theme of alienation?
13. Who is the hero in this novel? Who is the villain? Why do you think so?
14. How is foreshadowing used in the novel? Give at least two examples.
15. Do you feel more sympathetic towards Curley's wife after her conversation with Lennie? Why or why not?
16. The American Library Association keeps a list of the top 100 most often challenged or banned books. Of Mice and Men is number 6. Why do you think this is?

• Answers will be followed by a full-class discussion of the questions.
  

Silent Reading, 20 min

Of Mice and Men

• Background Research presentations in small groups.
• Peer evaluations of presenters and groups.
• Finish reading book by Thursday, Dec. 3. Final Test on Fri, Dec. 4.
  

Writing Prompt: Write about a time you got what you wanted.

Robert Frost (narrative poem, blank verse)

• Read "The Death of the Hired Man"--p. 805
• Answer these questions:

1. Look at lines 103-110. What do these tell you about the setting of the poem? What do they tell you about Mary's character?
2. Does Warren or Mary change throughout the poem? Where do you see that change (give specific lines)?
3. What is the theme of the poem?

Of Mice and Men

• Literary Analysis Essay, assignment given. Click here for instructions. Essay due at the beginning of class on Friday, December 11.
• Background Research project: work time on presentations and posters. Presentations will be given Wednesday in small groups.