Friday, February 21, 2014

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: February 21, 2014

Focus: What can I learn through my memoir?

Please note that today is the last day to submit anything from the past six weeks.

1. Warming up: Taking five minutes to review vocabulary (try one of the Quizlet games!)

2. Assessing your vocabulary with the SAT List 14 vocabulary quiz

3. Reading your memoir independent reading books and setting a schedule:

  • You must finish by March 14 at the latest.
  • If you want to finish your memoir before we begin Fahrenheit 451, which I highly advise because the reading load for that book is challenging, then you will need to finish by Monday, March 3.
  • Count how many pages you have left, then count how many days you have left until the deadline you have set for yourself.  
  • Decide if it's better for you to read a little each day, or if you'd rather read for longer periods of time over the weekend or on lighter days.
  • Write down in your student calendar how many pages you need to read each day, or each week; set yourself some specific deadlines.


4. Finishing your Acting Company quizzes over Acts 3 and 4 if need be

HW:
1. Memoir independent reading

2. Watch the following iPad Air commercial by clicking here.  

Then, respond on today's class blog to the following question:  

The narration of this commercial comes from the film Dead Poets Society, and the speaker ends with, "The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.  What will your verse be?"

I'd like you to answer the question, "What verse might A Midsummer Night's Dream contribute to the world?"  Think about why we still read this play, and how it reaches us despite the fact that it was written and performed centuries ago.  

Here's an example from The Kite Runner: Redemption, though difficult, is possible no matter how disastrous the mistake.
Or, here's an example from A Long Way GoneIt is never too late to heal.

58 comments:

  1. I don't think that the author was talking about what contributions contribute to the world but what somebody contributes to the world. So rather A Midsummer's Nights Dream is not contributing to the world but Shakespeare, the author, contributed the comedy to the world so that people could be entertained and get a happy feeling in their spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think that we still read is play because it's about love, but also a comedy. It shows that true love will turn out the way it should be, even if it requires some help from others. From a viewers perspective, they may get a nice laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  3. In the commercial it said "Life is full a passions". I think this is a true statement. I would a passion for Shakespeare, is play writing. For others it's reading plays. I would say the one thing A Midsummer's Nights Dream has to say to the would is to live out you passion. Do what you want to do, and don't bother with what other will think.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think we still read it because it shows that not all love is serious all the time and you need to relax and just laugh sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would say that "Noble peruses to sustain life". I think it's a truthful powerful statement. Shakespeare creates these plays that ties you to all the characters and the scenes, which makes alot of people relate to the story and the other plays that he also made. But the midsummer's dream give's a message that dreams can become into a reality because if you want to obtain something that you couldn't reach into your grasp, then you have to st goals to reach your dream and determination and dedication, when others can reach their dreams so easily.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I believe that we still read Shakespeare because it shows of a time where love and passion for another person was real. When someone were to say that they love someone in that period that actually meant it. Today its become just a word. It has no real meaning anymore.I think the commercial is telling us that we need to find our place in life, bring meaning back to things. Dont just go through actions in life. Live it to its fullest potential.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think we still read Midsummer Night's Dream because although it was written centuries ago, it still demonstrates the true meaning of love and the struggles and/or confusion that comes with it. Throughout this story, it becomes obvious that love isn't easy, you have to fight for it, learn from it and just deal with it. When people were falling in love with the wrong people, to me that demonstrated struggle in any relationship, which is very common in today's society. Every relationship no matter how "perfect" it may seem has many hidden problems. For example, Lysander and Hermia were seemingly "perfect" at the beginning of this book because their love was the kind of love that everybody wanted, and everybody strives for. But as you continued to read on, it became apparent that their love was actually difficult. In their battle to marry each other against Hermia's fathers wishes, rules were broken and so was trust between father and daughter. It was so easy while reading this book though to make an assumption that their love was smooth and easy, but Shakespeare did an excellent job of demonstrating how love REALLY is, which is why I believe we still read it today, because its still relatable and brings comedy to the stress of love.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think that A Midsummer Night's Dream shows the world that sometimes life gets really hectic and out of control and eventually things will sort themselves out.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Life has its ups and downs, the downs make your day miserable, but its the ups that keeps pushing you forward.
    MIdsummer Nights Dream has many ups and downs, but in the end its an up that makes everything happy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Even though this play was written hundreds of years ago, it still has many concepts that apply to society today. The idea that love isn’t easy is prominent through the book and still holds true in many relationships today. Also, the idea of strict order in society is common especially with teenagers. We all want the freedom to do what we want when we want just like the characters in the book. The strict Athenian law relates to our parents and how teenagers, just like the characters in the book want to be able to make our own decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nothing ever works out quite the way you plan but in the end, a higher power is on your side and eventually, everything will turn out in your favor.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think that we still read A Midsummer's Night Dream because it has a lot hidden lessons we can learn from. It tells us that sometimes things don't work out the way we want them to at first, but they'll eventually work themselves out. It also says that sometimes people may not approve of our decisions at first, but they may later. It's saying to do what you want, and not let others control you or stop you. It also provides some comedy while teaching us things.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think we still read A Midsummer's Night Dream because it still has some important lessons like, if it was meant to be it will happen. And it also shows us that stuff can still happen that life is not perfect. Cause there is always going to be something or someone one getting in your way. Someone or something getting in the way of what you want. Like for the Four lovers the Athenian law was getting of the way of them being together along with the duke and Hermia's father. So like in away fight for what you believe in and don't let someone or something stop you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think that the message A Mid Summer's night dream sends is that no matter what nothing you plan out will end up the way you think it will.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think we are reading A midsummer a night dream because it's telling us you can relax when trying to find love. It is also telling us that even if it's not what you want at first, it will work itself out for the good.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The verse that A Mid Summer Nights Dream might contribute to the world is that things will always work out, just not in the way we have planned.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The verse that can be taken from A Mid Summer Nights Dream is that even if its not how we imagined, it will always turn out to be ok.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A Mid Summer Nights Dream's verse would be that life doesn't always go according to plan, but you just have to role with the punches and make the best of it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. A mid summer nights dream verse is eventually you will find the one you were meant to be with

    ReplyDelete
  20. I believe that we still read A Midsummer's Night Dream because it beautifully portrays the idea of love and all the complications, struggles and confusions that intertwine with love. A Mid Summer Nights Dream's verse would be even though love is not as black and white as some people may believe, true love does in the end, conquer all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like this you did a really good job

      Delete
  21. The reason why we still read a Midsummer Night's Dream is that it shows us that love and all matters of life will run their true part and that all things, either bad or good will conclude. This is important to remember in modern life because as a society we are always stressed about the outcomes of certain things. Also we read Shakespeare because he helped develop the complexity of the English language. A verse Midsummer Night's Dream contributes to the world is that all things will come to conclusion and different aspects of life, such as love, will take unexpected turns.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This book, as with all good books, talks about human issues, not time-specific issues. Were it to have talked about the best way for athens to build its walls, or whether these amazonian women should be allowed to marry athenians, it would be lost long ago due its would-have-been unrelatability.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I believe that A Midsummer night's dream is still read to this day because it shows that love has many complications that make little sense, but in the end there will be a gratifying ending. Throughout the play, the lovers struggle to find/keep the love they aim for but because their bonds were strong enough for them to continue to fight for that love, they ultimately ended up satisfied with the outcome.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. A Midsummer's Nights Dream shows that love is complicated and has many ups and downs. We all can learn that everything will work out in the end. The lovers in this play had good times and bad ones but stayed together to have a great ending. The verse I would say is that everything has an ending and it might not always go the way you want.

    ReplyDelete
  26. We still read a Misummer's Nights Dream today because it shows that love is unpredictable and had ups and downs but can still turn out okay. The lovers in the play all go through both bad and good times together, but in the end it turns out for the better and they end up together no matter what.

    ReplyDelete
  27. We still read a Midsummer's Night Dream because it tells us that when life knocks you down, get back up because everything has a way of working itself out.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love is unpredictable, There is no guarantee that we will have our desires fulfilled, but if we are lucky fate will work in our favor and give us the "happy ending" that we dream of.

    ReplyDelete
  29. We still read this book because it reminds us of how chaotic love is in our lives. That we are humans, and humans aren't ever perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  30. We still read A Midsummer's Night dream because it shows us an example that life can get hard, tangled up, and confusing, but at the end, you will know who you are and who surrounds you. Because at the end of the day, you will find people who will care for you, love you and support you, but you have to go through tough times in order to find this.

    ReplyDelete
  31. A Midsummer's Night Dream shows us that even though love is fickle and can escape our grasp, true love will always find its way to the heart.

    ReplyDelete
  32. A Midsummer's Night Dream shows us about love and how chaotic it can be and how it can change in an instant.

    ReplyDelete
  33. A Midsummer's Night Dream is still being read because it represents that relationships between people can be tangled up with the slightest misunderstanding but with some outside help they find a way to settle and find peace.

    ReplyDelete
  34. A Midsummer's Night Dream shows us that although love can sometimes be hard to find, there is always someone for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  35. We read A Midsummer's Night Dream because the book has a great theme,"...True love never did run smooth...". We still read it today even though it was made centuries ago because English teachers love Shakespeare's way of writing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. We still read A Midsummer's Night Dream because although a happy ending may not present itself in the very beginning, going through the hardships to get to the true love we deserve is worth it in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  37. We still read A Midsummer's Night Dream because it can show us how powerful love really is and how it can be such a struggle to get, but it will always be worth it in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I think that we still read classical literature because it, in some ways, restores faith in the human race and shows that there is humanity there to lean back on. Love is powerful, if you are willing to work for it.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I think A Midsummer's Night Dream is still a popular piece of literature because it shows us how love can be really difficult sometimes and how things just won't go away, but at the end of the day everything works out and that we just have to trust that things will be okay.

    ReplyDelete
  40. we still read A Mid Summer's nights dream becuase is shows us that love doesnt come easy and its very confusing but in the end it will work out.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I believe that we still read olde classic Shakespeare because it developed our English language and also it really helps the reader remember that good will come in the end, even if the journey is tough.

    ReplyDelete
  42. We still read midsummer nights dream because it expands out vocabulary with old Shakespeare and it deals with complex thoughts. It also deals with the idea of love and how it is different in other cultures.

    ReplyDelete
  43. The verse that a Midsummers Nights Dream contributes to the world is, that even when things seem difficult and confusing true love will always come out on top. Although the four lovers had weird things happen to them they still were able to end up with whom they loved. Hermia and Lysander are able to stay together in the end, due to their true love for each other. Helena and Demetrius ended together because of Helenas never failing love for Demetrius. Shakespeare shows us that even through the forest and their run in with the fairies, everything in the end is okay. The characters end up with who they were meant to be with.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I think we still read this book because the lesson of this book is that love is chaotic and that misunderstanding or mistakes can be made.

    ReplyDelete
  45. We still read A Midsummer Night's Dream because it provides an example of how similar the conflicts now were to the conflicts in the past. This also shows us that everything will resolve.

    ReplyDelete
  46. We still read A Mudsummer Night's Dream because it contributes that even though love can bring chaos and confusion, it can also bring great happiness if you really love them.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Life is unpredictable and you have to be ready for what comes your way because in the end, there will be a positive outcome.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Its contributes a wild love story to our lives. I think it is something all of want and that we will all end up with the one we love at the end of the day. But we all know it usually doesn't because life isn't that easy. So that is why we read Shakespeare and his love plays because it gives us something we don't have.

    ReplyDelete
  49. The verse that A Midsummer Night's Dream might contribute to the world is that love is chaotic but in the end true love will conquer all and that nothing, even powerful magic, can separate true love forever. We still read this play because although it is very old it is still applicable to everybody's lives.

    ReplyDelete
  50. We still read this play and plays just like it written by Shakespear because it can teach us that love is powerful an this play has something to offer to us and that is what we don't all have which is true love.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  52. We still read A Midsummer Night's Dream because life doesn't always go the way you planned but when it knocks you down get back up because it eventually works it self out.

    ReplyDelete
  53. We read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" because its major theme is love which is a large portion of what we live by (or try to at least). It also is a great lesson about classic, Shakespearean literature.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I think that we still read this play "A Midsummer Nights Dream" because it shows us that stuff that goes on in our lives is very confusing and that it can all get fixed and back to normal in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I think we read Midsummer Nights Dream because it makes us stop and look at our relationships today, and rethink how we "love" someone. It also teaches us that it's okay to rebel against society if we want to do something we are passionate about.

    ReplyDelete
  56. We still read a Midsummer's Night Dream because it tells us that when life knocks you down, you get back up because everything has a way of working out.

    ReplyDelete