English 11: Freudian Theory and LOTF

 Some review of defense mechanisms and the Id, Ego and Superego.

Back to psychology! Here we go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUELAiHbCxc&t=227s

English 12: Existentialism

For our last stretch, we'll be looking at existentialism and its application in literature and our lives. To start, we need to figure out what existentialism is.

Existentialism is the idea that the world is inherently meaningless, and we must make it meaningful for ourselves. Existentialism rejects essentialism - which argues that meaning inherently exists as the essence of all things.

Sartre’s "Ratchet Up the Anguish"

(Activity) 

Next, the Myth of Sisyphus and Camus:

LOTF!

How do the boys’ perceptions of one another change in Chapters 10–12 as fear and power take hold, and how does the naval officer’s reaction at the end of the novel challenge or expose the way the boys have come to see themselves and each other?

Chapter 6 LOTF

 How does the discovery of the “beast from air” in Chapter 6 intensify the boys’ fear, and how does this growing fear begin to undermine Ralph’s attempts at order and rational leadership?

Tuesday Siesta

 Question for Tuesday Siesta:

How do the oppressive heat and the enforced quiet of the siesta contribute to the story’s mood and themes? What might they symbolize beyond the literal setting?

Spring Storm

 Greetings English 12! Here's the topic for Spring Storm by Mori Yoko:

How does the conflict between Natsuo and Yusuke represent a shift in power between men and women in postwar Japan?

The LandLady: English 11

 Here's the short story for Monday/Tuesday!

THE LANDLADY

Totem

 How does Totem reflect the our capacity for tolerance?

The Euphio Question

 Coming up English 11: The Euphio Question.

CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE STORY.

Masque of the Red Death

 A little EAP!

Here we go:

Edgar Allan Poe designed Prospero to represent more selfish aspects of our nature. How does Prince Prospero represent these aspects in the face of inevitability?

Painted Door

How does the story explore the theme of emotional neglect versus physical presence? Which is more damaging in the story, and why?

English 12: Horses of the Night

 Good afternoon all! 

Here are a couple questions for "Horses of the Night" by Margaret Laurence:

Chris eventually confronts a truth about himself that mirrors his father’s life. Is this realization empowering, devastating, or both? Defend your answer with evidence.

Horses appear repeatedly in the story. What do they symbolize at different points, and how does their meaning change as Chris grows older?

Depending on time, we may do both or pick one for our response.

English 12: The Jade Peony

 Greetings English 12! Here is our writing work for Jade Peony. Depending on remaining time, I will give some more specific instructions during class :)

How does Wayson Choy construct the grandmother's presence through memory, belief, and symbolism?

To what extent does the jade peony function as a symbol of cultural inheritance rather than personal memory?

Omelas Topics: Semester 2 English 12

 

• Our Imagination as a vehicle for Complicity: As the narrator invites the audience to create an image of Omelas, we become complicit in the moral consequences of its greatest crime: the agreement to allow a child to continue suffering in order for everyone else to be happy. Think about what this allegory represents. Considering an allegorical reading, do you agree with Le Guin's claim?
• Coming of Age and the Loss of Innocence: All children between 8 and 12 learn about the child in the basement. At this discovery, the narrator states that everyone is disgusted and horrified at first. How might the contrast of childhood and adulthood (or at least puberty), be represented through the coming of age in Omelas?

The Lottery: English 11 Essay Topics

 

1. Symbolism of the Black Box:

Discuss how the black box functions as a symbol in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery. How does its physical description and role in the ritual reflect the themes of decay, resistance to change, and the persistence of outdated traditions?

2. The Role of Community and Conformity:
Analyze the role of conformity (prioritizing fitting in and following rules over other values) in the villagers’ participation in the lottery. How does Jackson portray the tension between individual morality and community expectations?

To thrive in either of these topics, you must answer the question and explain why it's important. In topic one - if you were to find good examples that reflect the topic, perhaps in the conclusion or at the end of your body paragraph you might discuss why it is in our nature to persist in outdated traditions. In topic two - you might speculate why we prioritize the community over ourselves, why we value "fitting in" so much, that we may cross moral boundaries in order to do so.

Welcome to semester 2!

 Here we are - and here's to a good semester!

Final Writing Prompt

Well good ELL learners - it's time for our final writing topic. Here we go!

Article: Social Media Ban in Australia

After reading the article and having our discussion, please do these questions:

Agree or Disagree
“Social media does more harm than good for teenagers.”
Do you agree or disagree? Use ideas from the article.

Choose one side only
Use one idea from the article

Sentence starters:
I agree/disagree because…
The article explains that…
This shows that…

 
Effects on Teenagers
How might the social media ban affect teenagers’ daily lives? Describe one positive effect and one negative effect.

Sentence starters:
One positive effect could be…
One negative effect might be…
This could change teens’ lives by…

Fair or Unfair?
Is it fair to ban all kids under 16 from social media, even if some are responsible users? Explain your thinking.

Sentence starters:
I think this rule is fair/unfair because…
Some teenagers might…
This rule treats teens by…

New Writing topic!

Many young people follow influencers, athletes, musicians, and celebrities online. Some people believe these famous individuals can inspire others to work hard and follow their dreams. Others think they often show unrealistic lifestyles and set bad examples.

Write a paragraph that explains whether influencers and celebrities should be considered role models for young people. 

Venezuela

"Progress for some often means loss for others."

"A country that cannot control its own resources cannot be free."
— Kwame Nkrumah

After reading and discussing the Venezuelan conflict. Read these quotes. Write a reflection that considers what could be the reasons and results for the US take-over of Venezuela.