UMM...

Was there no one scheduled to blog on Friday, March 9th?

The Importance of...Being Prepared

Is it profane to even be writing here right now, being that it's Spring Break and all?

Give me but a moment of your time and I will leave you to your frivolity...

Just a reminder that to fully enjoy the play we will watch on Wednesday, April 4, we need to be fully prepared.

To that end, please read Act 1 of The Importance of Being Earnest and answer the reading check questions that follow. Act 1 will be discussed on Monday.

Here is a link to get you in the right 'head-space' for this play:

http://www.artsclub.com/watch/pdf/bills-notes/20112012/bills-notes-earnest.pdf

Enjoy the dwindling days of S.B.

Poem of the Test, Test’s Poem, Poem Test..…WHAT?

March 8, 2012: today was test day! 

If you did not study, you were sure to pay,

From trying to remember poet’s names,

To playing various guessing games.

It was a difficult experience,

Though most likely to increase hence,

For Literature 12 is not an easy class.

Actually, it’s an amazingly frustrating class.

Do not get me wrong,

I love Lit so much I could sing a song.

But I am sure you will agree

The burden was not something we had foreseen.

Anyways, I close my little blog,

With a reminder to clear all fog.

Homework for tonight is simply to read,

Chudleigh’s To the Ladies, her bio also a need,

To top that, Diary of Pepys awaits your pleasure,

Though there are no questions to measure.

So I bid thee farewell and good night,

And hope that sleep will come while there is still light.

So for those of you who didn’t catch that, here is your HOMEWORK:

1)      Pg. 354-355: Read Chudleigh (bio and poem – To the Ladies)

2)      Pg. 358-365: Read Diary of Pepys including Fire

(no questions)

Finishing up the Renaissance

Today, we finished the Renaissance by studying Bunyan's, The Pilgrim's Progress. As we discussed the questions and answers, we found that the Vanity Fair was a fairly simplicit piece of writing which covered familiar ideas of corruption, and persecution of the Christian. Many of Bunyan's ideas can be seen in parallel to scripture.

We also read the Growth of the English Language in the Seventeeth Century. Some factors that affected the attitude and change towards the language were science, colonization, and the KJV bible.

For homework, complete the blanks for the handout of The Restoration and Eighteenth Century

and of course, make sure you study lots for the Renaissance Unit test tomorrow!

Of Heaven and Hell and Celestial Cities

Today proved to be another beautiful day! Hopefully, everyone was able to enjoy at least the lunch hour basking in the sun. I provided devotions this morning (rather nervously, as some noticed) on Matthew 5 v. 14 - 16. Our faith is to be a light unto the world. We should not admit ourselves Christian and continue to live our lives as the world encourages. Instead, we should actively display our faith, living in the world but not of the world. In this way, we may spread Christ's mercy and message of salvation through our actions and words and live as a testimony to His Name.

In class we reviewed the homework questions on "Paradise Lost" and were further reminded on Satan's pride and deception. It came to our attention, however, that in a passing statement quite easy to miss, Satan admits to having lived a happy existence in Heaven. As expected, this realization does not last long. Satan quickly comes to terms with the joyless, broken, and burning realms of Hell and welcomes it fully as his new abode. No matter how ghastly the realm Hell proves to be, Satan's lust for power will forever convince him life is better as the king of Hell than as a shining servant in Heaven.

We also began reading the first few paragraphs of "A Pilgrim's Progress" and will likely discuss it tomorrow in class.

Homework due tomorrow is short and sweet: Finish reading "A Pilgrim's Progress" (p. 319 - 322) and answer the Reading Check on p. 322.

Also remember to print off a good copy of your Renaissance poems so Mrs. Loconte may put them on display.

Our Literature test is on Thursday - We will only be tested on what we studied in class, as well as the works featured in our previous test. Also be sure to study Spenser, as we will be quizzed on him despite not studying his writings in class.

Finally, our Essay is due on Monday, April 2rd, the first day back from Spring Break.


Hope everyone has a wonderful evening, especially now that sun is shining later and later each night!

- Jaclyn Loewen

PS: Was totally going to include the Sims somewhere in my post, but sadly could not find an appropriate place to mention it. I thought here was better than nowhere.

Hey, It's Sunny!

I could already tell today was going to be a fabulous day, when before the clock had even struck 9, the rain stopped and the sun appeared.  To further a great beginning to a great day, Donna gave us a thought-provoking devotional about how God is all powerful, and nothing is impossible if we place our complete trust in Him.  It's such an important reminder for us to rely not on our own strength, but rather on the Father's.  

After devotions, we continued our discussion/reading of Paradise Lost, answering the homework questions and reiterating what we had learned for those who missed out on class Thursday and/or Friday.  We also finished reading the rest of the great epic and answered the remaining questions on the sheet.  

From this, we discussed and learned several new and interesting facts.  Firstly, we learned about the supposed hugeness of angels/demons.  We also discussed the idea that though Satan is evil and determined to perverse all that is good, he cannot do anything without God's permission.  The poem solidifies this idea with the metaphor of a mighty ship chained to a lake - much like Satan chained to a burning lake of fire.  In the end, we all finally came to the conclusion that ultimately, Satan wants to rule above all else.  He believes though that as long as his mind is free, he can make hell his heaven and heaven his hell, essentially the idea of "mind over matter."  Little does he realize, no matter what he determines to do, God will ultimately triumph in the end.

Homework: Paradise Lost Review Period Sheet Due Tomorrow & Start Studying for Renaissance Test on Thursday

"Paradise Lost"

Sorry it's a little late...

On Friday we started off with a devotion from Tayler titled Attention. The devotion talked about unexpected incidences that occur, which cause us to be shaken and unsure, but in every incident God is trying to show us something, it may not always be clear, but we need to trust and rely on God because he has a plan for each and every one of us. 

Next we each read and listened to each others Renaissance and 17th Century Poetry Assignment.

We then continued with reading, discussing and answering the questions on Paradise Lost by John Milton. As we began reading, a lot of questions came up regarding Satan and his ability to betray God. In class we discussed and answered questions 9-19 in the Paradise Lost Study Questions hand-out.

Homework: Answer up to question #25 in the Paradise Lost hand-out.

Hope you all had a relaxing and fun weekend. See you all tomorrow. 

April 1, 2012

We began the day with a devotion from Mrs. Loconte. In the devotion she talked about the nights template, as well as the myths behind the Da Vinci Code.

In class we talked about the poem "Oh his blindness" by John Milton. The speaker expresses frustration about becoming blind, and how he can no longer serve God because of this set back. "Patience" answer him by saying that God does not need man's work, and that you should do as God commands, with no complaint. The speaker learns him being blind is apart of his work, and that he should learn to be patient with it

We also began to read "Paradise Lost" an epic poem by John Milton, which talks about the biblical fall of man.

Homework:
Poem due Tomorrow.

Have a great night!

Rachel Van Andel