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Holden shows us pretty clearly that he has a particular set of beliefs that are really important to him. He believes that movies are rubbish. He believes that phoney people are annoying. He believes in books. And he believes that the young and the innocent need the protection of the strong and determined. His most crucial moments come when he is sticking up for what he believes - his fights with Stradlater and Maurice, his decision not to leave so that he can be sure that Phoebe remains safe.

As you are revising your crucial moment, ask yourself if your story shows reveals something in which you believe. Sticking up for what you believe in makes a really good story. We’ll talk more about this on Thurs.

Antigone is another character in literature who is determined to stick by what she believes, no matter what the consequences. As we read and watch the film, try to put yourself in her shoes. Would you do what she does in breaking the law and standing up to Creon? What are your reasons for standing up to authority figures? Is your defiance worth it, as Antigone believes hers is? As you can see, there are many questions. Let’s take a look at how the week will shape up.

Monday 1/29:

1. In class writing: How do you define independence? In what ways have you acted independently?

2. Revision work with your crucial moment - what needs development? what can be removed? what surprised you? what part do you like most?

3. introduction to Antigone.

hmwk: the second draft of your crucial moment is due Thurs. 2/1

Tuesday 1/30:

1. In class writing: how do you define truth? What are your most important truths?

2. revision practice: start your crucial moment at the end. When you do your revision, perhaps you would like to use this as your lead.

3. continue introduction to Antigone

hmwk: remember that your revision is due on Thurs.

Wednesday 1/31:

We drop.

Thursday 2/1:

1. in class writing - what is justice? do you see yourself as a just person? how so?

2. peer editing conference - paragraphs, commas, dialogue

3. introduction to Antigone completed; we begin reading.

hmwk: crucial moment is due Monday 2/5.

Friday 2/2:

You guys have no school!!!

Usually when I begin “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” I am struck, sometimes literally I think, by the first three lines. “The evening is spread out against the sky” is beautiful, lyrical. In the next breath I am thunderstruck by the comparison to an etherized patient. Despite the rhythm of the line, the sky is numb, unconscious, grey and colorless, perhaps even opaque.  I am still reeling by the end of the stanza and miss quite a bit of the rest of it. When we read in class, however, I heard words and phrases that I had missed before. I was struck by “half-deserted streets”. Places that are deserted are places that are undesireable. People have cleared out if they had the chance. Only the destitute remain. It’s the kind of place you want to avoid, yet it is precisely where Prufrocl wants to take you. He has to to get you to where the visit will begin. I next noticed “muttering retreats”. A retreat is a safe place, a place of respite and rejuvenation. Here it mutters, disaffected, even unbalanced. It is a “one night cheap hotel”. There is no relief here; it is angry, maybe a little crazy (it is angry people and mad people mutter). Prufrock brings us into a “restless” night, agitated and overwhelmed. He is anxious, uneasy, perhaps because wants to tell you and at the same time keep secrets. One street after another is “tedious” with argument, perhaps malcontent, and, again, that disaffection is everywhere. This is how Prufrock sets the scene - restless, vulnerable, threatening. And, rather than telling us what this world is like, he must show us. He must use images because they are more emotional than language, perhaps more eloquent. It is as though he believes that he cannot adequately explain. But, ironically, it will be a visit rather than a tour.

 You may find that you read the first stanza of the poem quite differently. Very good! The trick in you explication is to explain how you are reading, what meaning you make with the words and phrases. Kat’s group had a very different take on “muttering retreats”. They interpretted retreat as leaving, as running away. Prufrock cannot face his life and so retreats, muttering. Does their take work? Does mine? You must find your answers in the poem.

It is English 122. You are officially second semester freshmen. It’s a big deal to make it through the first semester of high school. Congratulations!! So here is the plan. We will finish The Catcher in the Rye this week and begin writing your first personal narrative about a crucial moment you have had in your life. We will talk! Take a look.

Monday 1/22

In class: We need to do some binder organization, and we will consider where Holden has been since we last visited.

hmwk: Please read ch. 22-23 in The Catcher in the Rye

 Tues. 1/23

 In Class, we will talk about Holden as a tragic hero.

hmwk: read ch. 24-25 The Catcher in the Rye

Weds. 1/24

 In class we will read ch. 26 and discuss

 hmwk: none

Thurs. 1/25

We drop.

Friday 1/26

In class we will conclude our discussion of The Catcher in the Rye, and we will begin planning the first personal narrative, a Crucial moment.

hmwk: please write the first draft of your crucial moment.

BLOCK 7 EXAM IS ON THURSDAY 1/18 AT 9:45 IN RM. 117

BLOCK  8 EXAM IS ON FRIDAY 1/19 AT 9:45 IN RM. 117

 It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of the first semeseter. I must tell you that I am excited by your focus and attention in The Catcher in the Rye! Keep up the good work.

There are two things we must do this week. First, we must continue with the reading. Second, we  will prepare for the exam, for the most part in class. There is some work, however, that you must do  outside of class, primarily reviewing your notes on literary terms and the hero.  Here is what the week will look like.

Monday 1/8: We drop.

Tues 1/9:

In class, we will discuss the exam - what it will look like and what we will do to prepare.

hmwk: Please read chapters 18 & 19 in The Catcher in the Rye and review your notes on characterization. There may be a quiz tomorrow!!!???

Weds. 1/10:

In class we will discuss “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry” and how it is illustrated in Of Mice and Men and The Catcher in the Rye.

hmwk: Please read ch. 20 and 21 in The Catcher in the Rye and review your notes on conflict and turning point

Thurs 1/11:

In class, we will talk about the hero’s journey in The Catcher in the Rye as well as the themes of friendship and sacrifice in both novels.

hmwk: Get ready for the exam. Good Luck!!!

Friday 12: We drop.