Saturday, October 09, 2004

 

English II Archives Week of October 4 - October 8, 2004

Friday, October 8, 2004

I. Hand in LOTF Questions, Chapter 4 and Vocabulary definitions

II. Vocabulary & LOTF, (Chapters 1 - 3) Quiz Today!

III. Have Controversial Essay Paragraph one outline stamped


IV. Continue watching LOTF Video

NO HOMEWORK!
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Thursday, October 7, 2004


I. Warm-Up: Capitalization (Worksheet)

II. Writing Tips for Controversial Essay - Paragraph #1 (Handout)
III. Review for Vocabulary & Lord of the Flies, Chapters 1- 3 Test

IV. Briefly discuss LOTF Chapter 4 - Hand in Chapter 4 Study Questions

HOMEWORK

Study for Friday's 10/8 Vocabulary & "Lord of the Flies" Test Chapters 1- 3

Chapter 1 - The Sound of the Conch Summary - Notes

In the first chapter, the scene is set for the action of the novel.
A plane carrying schoolboys has crashed on the island. Ironically,
the boys were escaping a nuclear war and being flown to freedom.
The boys, aged roughly between five and twelve, are now marooned
on the island. In this opening chapter, they feel they have reached
paradise, for the island is uninhabited and free of adult rules and
supervision. Ralph, a handsome, trim, and athletic boy of twelve,
is particularly overjoyed to note that there are no adults around
and to see the beauty of the island. He sheds his clothes and
enters the lagoon to bathe. This shedding of clothes is symbolic
of the shedding of civilization. The boys are introduced, one by one,
as they gather on the beach. The first person Ralph meets is Piggy.
Appropriately nicknamed and in contrast to Ralph, Piggy is fat, clumsy,
and not very physically fit. He also wears thick glasses, being almost blind,
and has asthma. In spite of his physical limitation, Piggy is very good- natured
and extremely rational. He immediately senses the gravity of the situation and
is eager to locate other survivors. Piggy is also the one that spies the conch
shell on the beach and suggests that Ralph blow it in an effort to call the
other stranded boys. Ralph, a rational boy himself, does not take an
immediate liking to his first island acquaintance. Jack and his troop
of choirboys are next introduced. Wearing black capes and caps,
they march on to the beach in military style. Aggressive and demanding,
Jack immediately asserts his authority and takes his place beside Ralph.
The protagonist and antagonist are, thus, brought together in the opening
pages of the book and depicted as opposites in nature. Jack represents
the world of hunting, tactics, and skill; Ralph represents common sense
and sensitivity to the natural world. The reader senses an immediate rivalry
between them. When all of the boys discuss their situation, they quickly
realize that they need a leader. Ralph is elected, probably because he has
blown the conch and called the boys together. The new leader, sensitive to
the needs of others, recognizes Jack's disappointment over not being
selected and appoints him as Head of the Hunters. This appointment,
along with his bullying of Piggy, makes Jack feel better. As Jack torments
Piggy, Ralph realizes that he has been inconsiderate of the boy as well;
he tries to apologize to Piggy and be more friendly to him. Ralph tells the
others to wait on the beach while he, Jack, and Simon (another choirboy
who is quiet and shy) go off to explore the island and search for inhabitants.
It is obvious that the three boys, at this point in the book, enjoy one another's
company and the freedom they have found. As they play games in the jungle
and climb the mountain, they seem to bond with the beauty of the island and
one another. It is significant to note that the trio's first encounter with a pig will
significantly contrast to later scenes of the hunters living for "the kill". When Jack
spies the piglet caught in the undergrowth, he brings out his knife in readiness, but
something stops him from killing the pig. He is obviously still held back by the laws
of the civilized world he has left behind and, as a youth, has no natural instinct for
the hunt and its brutality and bloodiness. It is also important to note that in the first
chapter the conch shell becomes a symbol of authority and order. Ralph uses it to
call the boys together and displays it to show his leadership. Towards the end of the
novel, when Piggy is crushed and killed, the conch shell is also crushed. Its destruction
symbolizes the end of order and the breaking up of civilization on the island.


Chapter 2 - Fire on the Mountain Summary - Notes

At the start of the second chapter, an atmosphere of freedom
and merriment continues, but the rational Ralph sees the need
of establishing a sense of order amongst the boys. He states that
there needs to be some rules, a fact that excites authoritarian Jack.
He has visions of a police state where he can punish those who break
the rules. The other boys are much more interested in adventure than
rules. It is also the rational Ralph who sees the need to build a fire
signal at the top of the mountain. In childish excitement over the
adventure of building a fire, all the boys rush off leaving the two
sensible characters, Piggy and Ralph, on the beach. Piggy
bemoans the reckless nature of the other boys to his friend and
leader. On the mountaintop, the dictatorial Jack takes charge.
He rudely grabs the glasses (which are a symbol of intelligence
and civilization) from Piggy's face and ironically uses them to start
the fire (which is a primitive element). When the rational Piggy tries
to warn the children about being frivolous with the fire, they refuse to
listen to his wisdom and openly mock him. The result of their
irresponsibility is a fire raging out of control and a dead child
burned by the blaze. In this chapter, the author introduces two
emotions that interrupt the children's fun and games. A shy little
boy states he has seen a beast in the woods, a foreshadowing of
things to come. (Ironically, it is this little boy that is burned to death
in the fire on the mountaintop.) Even though the older boys tell the
child it was only a nightmare, FEAR is introduced to the group, and
their adventure seems to fade a bit. As the story develops, the fear grows
and the boys begin to see the beast everywhere -- except in the place of its
origin, the human heart. The second emotion is SHAME. When they learn
the boy with the mulberry mark has died due to their irresponsibility in building
and managing the fire, the boys feel terrible but refuse to openly accept responsibility.
By the end of the chapter, the savage element has been introduced in the boy's behavior.
The creeping plants have turned into writhing snakes in the fire, and Eden
(or unspoiled paradise) is destroyed.

Chapter 3 - Huts on the Beach Summary - Notes

The chapter opens with Jack hunting for meat. His appearance
and behavior have a savage cast to them and foreshadow his later
regression. His hair has grown longer, making him appear somewhat
wild. He also crawls through the brush on all fours with a "nearly mad"
look in his eyes. He seems almost obsessed with the act of hunting
and fights with Ralph when the leader suggests his troops should help
with building the huts rather than hunting in the jungle. In contrast to Jack,
Ralph continues to be the picture of rationality. He is busy at work building
huts for the boys, realizing they need protection from the elements.
Unfortunately for him, the only person he can persuade to help him is
Simon, the one who can see deeply into things and who realizes the
importance of shelter. The other boys have shirked their responsibility
and run away from the hard work. Golding seems to be saying that this
is a typical behavior of human society. Ralph is also beginning to feel the
weariness of duty and responsibility. It is a chore to make certain that the
fire continually burns. It is hard work to build the huts, almost single handedly.
It is frustrating that the other boys listen in the meetings, proclaim excitement
for ideas, and then do nothing about them. Ralph also feels responsible for the
little ones and worries about their being fearful. In this chapter, Simon is also
more clearly developed as a character and a Christ-like symbol. Unlike the others,
he is willing to give up his fun (to make the sacrifice) to help Ralph in the building
of the huts. After being a helper, he wanders off alone to seek a quiet place of solitude
where he can observe the beauty of nature and commune with it. His experience in the
jungle is in total contrast to Jack's experience. He appreciates the beautiful butterflies,
the fantastic birds, the scented flowers, and the magnificent plants and trees; he takes
it all in without disturbing a thing. Jack, on the other hand, plows through the jungle with
an eagerness to destroy and kill; he never notices the beauty that surrounds him, is
startled by the call of a bird, and is frustrated that he cannot conquer nature. It is not
surprising the "savage" Jack would call Simon queer and funny.


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Wednesday, October 6, 2004



I. D.O.L. #7

II. Hand in Vocab Definitions
They will be returned to you stamped.

III. Review Controversial Essay (Handout)
Work on Essay Outline together.

IV. Discuss LOTF Chapter 4

V. Continue to watch LOTF Video (Chapters 1 - 4)


HOMEWORK - Due Thursday 10/7

I. READ - Complete LOTF Chapter 4


II. Study Questions -

1) Which three littluns are playing on
the beach as the chapter opens?
2. Who destroys the littluns’ sandcastles?
3. What does Roger do to cruelly bother Henry?
4. What substances and colors
does Jack use to paint his face?
5. What item does Piggy suggest they build with a stick?
6. What does Ralph spot on the horizon?
7. Why is the signal fire out?
8. What violence does Jack commit toward Piggy?
9. How did the hunters kill the pig?
10. Who gives Piggy meat despite Jack’s objection?


Reminder:

Are you filling in a reading log every
30 minutes that you read outside of class?

Remember, your outside reading
book report is due Monday, 11/8


Lord of the Flies is Golding's warning to humanity,
without supervision, society may degenerate into
anarchy. LOTF is a powerful and remarkable tale
that helps us understand that we have to have order
and learn to work within boundaries if we want to
call ourselves civilized.

Similar Titles that were inspired by Lord of the Flies

Koushun Takami's
"Battle Royale"



Robert A. Heinlein's
"Tunnel in the Sky"


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Tuesday, October 5, 2004


I. Journal # 6

A. What do you think about Jack's compulsion
to kill a pig?

B.Which do you think is the more important priority -
Hunting or building shelters?

C. How is Simon's view of the Island different from
Ralph's and Jack's?


II. Vocabulary Quiz - LOTF Quiz 2

III. Abandoned - Worksheet - Due in class

HOMEWORK - Due Wednesday 10/6

I. LOTF Chapter 3 Study Questions 1-10

II. Vocabulary Definitions


clamber, lagoon, vainly, quiver, decorous,
interpose, strident, scupper, speculate,
clamor, pallor, indignation, jumble, grating,
devour, warp, conch, scornfully,

III. Finish Reading LOTF Chapter 3


Reminders:

Vocabulary Quiz #3 and LOTF Test Chapters 1 - 3 on Friday, 10/8

Final Draft of Controversial Essay Due Wednesday 10/13

Book Report Due Monday, 11/8

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Monday, October 4, 2004
English II CP (Grade 10)
Periods 2, 4 & 5

I. D.O.L. #6

II. Review Vocabulary Words and
Literature terms for Tuesday's Quiz on 10/5

III. Response to Controversial Literature


Writing Standard 2.2

Write responses to literature that advances a judgment that
demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas
of works or passages.

Support key ideas and viewpoints through accurate and
detailed references to the text or to other works

Demonstrate awareness of the author's use of stylistic
devices and an appreciation of the effects created
Identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities,
nuances, and complexities within text.


Lord of the Flies
Controversial 5-Paragraph Essay -
Due October 13th

Lord of the Flies has been used to convey a deeper
political and moral meaning. Many times a novel’s characters
are used to camouflage the controversial topics that the author
discusses. The characters, in William Golding’s novel Lord of the
Flies symbolize many political events that took place in Golding’s life.
Three character’s personas in particular, Jack's chaotic nature,
Ralph's ability to call people to order, and Piggy's intelligence, may hold
deeper meaning. The theme of Lord of the Flies is sometimes depicted
as a reflection of the flaws of society and that of human nature.
Who’s to blame for some of the characters unruly behavior? Is it society
or the individual that is truly responsible?

IV. Book Report Handout - Reports Due Monday, 11/8

Homework - Due Wednesday 10/6

READ LOTF: Chapter 3

Study Questions

1. What sort of weapon is Jack using to hunt pigs?
2. How does Jack know there is a pig in the creepers ahead of him?
3. How are the boys collecting drinking water?
4. Who helps Ralph with the hut building?
5. How many huts have the boys managed to build?
6. What does Jack claim to feel behind him when he hunts?
7. What does Jack suggest will make him a better hunter?
8. Which boy does Jack view as odd?
9. Where does Simon go in the jungle?
10. When do the candle-buds that Simon sees bloom?


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English II Archives Week of September 27 - October 1, 2004


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