Assignments for "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas

Before you begin, read the notes on the poetic form: the villanelle

Your Assignment:
First, Listen to the audio clip of Dylan Thomas (the author) reading this poem

Then,Answer the questions below:
(I have included a link for a glossary of literary terms if you need it)

1. What repeated phrases and words did you hear and write down?
2. What emotions do you think the poet conveys as he is reading the poem?
3. What did you notice about this poem's form?
4. What are the effects of the repetition on the poem's mood or tone?
5. Why do you think Thomas turned to the villanelle form instead of the traditional elegy ("To an Athlete Dying Young" is an elegy)?
6. Can you identify stages of loss throughout Thomas' villanelle?

***7. Compare and contrast this author's view of death with that of A.E. Housman in "To an Athlete Dying Young". Which one do you agree with and why?

Assignments for "To An Athlete Dying Young" by A.E. Housman

(An online version of this poem is available as a link on the left)
"To an Athlete Dying Young", by A. E. Housman, allows the reader to view an early death as an escape from seeing your life's glory slowly fade away and become forgotten, instead of something that is to be mourned.

*Answer and post these questions with a partner. Since there will be 2 of you, I expect you to talk it out and produce quality answers. Remember, identify yourself using your initials and class period. Also, make sure you type in Word and spell/grammar check before you post please.

Interpret and explain the significance of the following lines:
1."shoulder-high, we bring you home" (6) (see the 2 photos above)
2."And early though the laurel grows/ It withers quicker than the rose."(11-12)
3."Now you will not swell the rout/ Of lads that wore their honors out,/ Runners whom renown outran/ And the name died before the man." (17-20)

What literary element is being used in the following lines and what is its purpose?:
4."Eyes the shady night has shut" (13) and "After earth as stopped the ears" (16).

Answer the questions below as thoroughly as you can using evidence from the poem to support your answers whenever possible:
5. In the lines:"The time you won your town the race/ We chaired you through the market-place;/ Man and boy stood cheering by,/ And home we brought you shoulder-high" the speaker talks about the athlete as if he is still alive? (this is called apostrophe) Why do you think this is?

6. In your opinion, when Housman calls him a "smart man" (9), does he mean that the young athlete killed himself? Or does he simply mean that he died of an illness, an accident, a crime, or war?

7. Is Housman right? Are those who accomplish a great deal and die at a young age remembered? Or is it those who live a long life of accomplishment that remain in our/the public's memories?
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If you finish, read the article link to left "Remembering Len Bias" and complete the following response based on his life and early death:
1. Who was he and what happened to him?
2. How can his life and death be related to the Houseman poem, "To An Athlete Dying Young"? Do you think this is the type of person the author was writing about?

Assignments for "My Last Duchess"

Dramatic Monologue--Glenn Everett argues that Browning's dramatic monologues contain three "requirements" (from his essay, available on Victorian Web):

1.The reader shares the part of the "listener" or audience.
2.The speaker uses a case-making, argumentative tone.
3."We complete the dramatic scene from within, by means of inference and imagination." Everett argues that as the listener, we participate in the drama by imagining that we are present, and by inferring what the speaker really did. Rarely, however, do we have conclusive proof.
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Today's objectives (what you will do today):
First: Read the Study Guide for "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning (stop after you read the section labeled Ambiguity and Irony)

Next: Answer the following questions as comments on this post (a good suggestion would be to type your comments in Word so you can spell/grammar check and then cut and paste. Use only your initials and class period to identify yourself).

Questions:
1.The Duke spends most of his energy talking about the late Duchess and her image. What effect does the painting have (or not have) on him as he views it?
2. Looking at the definition of Browning's dramatic monologues above, explain why "My Last Duchess" qualifies as such (meaning, does it fit this criteria? why?).
**Be sure to use specific examples from the poem in your answers. You should have the poem in hand and there is also an online link to the left if you prefer.

Grading Rubric for the Research Paper

rubric

Getting Started: Help on outlines and format

Here are a few helpful sites to get you started writing your paper:

RESEARCH PAPER FORMAT: A STUDENT GUIDE

BASIC OUTLINE FOR ARGUMENT/PERSUASION

Steps: Writing the Research Paper

Objectives:
1. To learn how to correctly and effectively research and write a persuasive research paper

Assignment:
Make sure you choose a topic that can be ARGUED. (NOT FACTUAL)
You must have a defined and limited thesis:
For example: The Great Depression---No! This is too general and it is informational.
The Great Depression changed the social welfare system for the better.--this is good.

Procedure:
You will complete source cards and notes in the library each day
You will complete an outline, a draft with a working thesis and works cited page
You will complete a revised, final copy complete with correct MLA format

Assessment:Your grade will be configured in the following way:
1. The Research Process
Day One--Choose topic, post topic to the blog, complete 1 source and notes
Day Two--min. 2 additional sources and notes completed
Day Three-- min 2 additional sources and notes completed
Day Four-- min 2 additional sources and notes completed (min. 7 total)
Day Five-- outline complete, works cited page complete

2. Pre-writing/Drafting Steps
An outline with revised thesis statement
A rough copy of the paper
A rough works cited page

3. The Research Paper: *YOUR PAPER MUST INCLUDE:
4-5 typed pages
A minimum of 7 different reputable resources (bibliography)
A minimum of 5 correct in-text citations
A Works Cited page
Correct MLA format

See the rubric below for final paper grading: