Sorry.

I am calling it a wash. This blog this semester has been an utter failure. My fault. Sometimes when you are doing (way!) too much, some things have to go. Unfortunately for the blog, this is what went this semester. It's not you all, it's me. :) Sorry.

However, while we're saying goodbye, let me say that this semester with you has been wonderful. I have so enjoyed your energy and enthusiasm (at least most of the time)! You are all genuinely nice people and I am so grateful to have spent your last semester of high school with you. For those I have taught in the past, either in English II, English II Honors, or Holocaust Lit (or more than one of those!), it is one of my greatest joys as a teacher to get to teach kids several times. I love to see the ways you have grown up and matured over time. For those I met for the first time this semester, it is because of you that I love to teach AP English. I have told a few of you already, it always saddens me a little when amazing kids graduate and I never got to teach them. This class gave me an opportunity to meet more of you and for that I am grateful. I wish all of you the best, both in your immediate future and in your distant future. You will succeed in college and in life and I am happy to have been a small part of your past. Now go, and find your Personal Legend! :) Love you!!!

Mrs. Davis

Gertrude and Claudius

I mentioned in class today that I personally do not feel that there was an improper relationship between Gertrude and Claudius prior to the death of King Hamlet. I know that other teachers share varying opinions. What are your thoughts on this topic? What examples can you give from the text to back up your opinion? Do you think it is relevant to the plot either way? Do you think Shakespeare really cared what we made of that relationship?

Foil Characters in Hamlet

Do you feel that there are any foil characters in Hamlet? (You may have to remind yourself what a foil character is...) If you feel that there are, use the comment board to identify some and explain what effect the foil relationship has on the play, whether its plot of character development.

Week of February 8

Well, here we are... the moment you have all been waiting for since sophomore year when the curtain fell on Act V of Julius Caesar, with Octavius and Antony extolling Brutus's virtues.... more Shakespeare!!!! It's Hamlet time! I sincerely hope you love this play as much as I do.

Monday, 2/8
Quiz over satire, sonnets, Boswell, "Everyman"
Intro to Hamlet
Hamlet/Shakespeare notes

Tuesday, 2/9
Hamlet, Act I

Wednesday, 2/10
Hamlet, Act II
"Love" activity
SM 5, 6 check

Thursday, 2/11
OFF!!!
(Parent conferences 12-7)

Friday, 2/12
OFF!!!

FOR FUN, does not count as a comment...

You guys are reading "Everyman" this week. Enjoy this guinea pig version. :)

Week of February 1

I hope that you all enjoyed your semi-long weekend and are set to have a wonderful, productive week.

Monday, 2/1
Medieval period test
Write Character analysis

Tuesday, 2/2
Multiple Choice AP test practice

Wednesday, 2/3
Boswell's Biography, Satire
H/W: Write a satire

Thursday, 2/4
"Everyman", Sonnets
H/W: Write a sonnet

Friday, 2/5
Test over this week

Wife of Bath's Tale

We had a great discussion regarding the Wife of Bath's Tale. Do you think the Wife of Bath is meant to contradict the misogynist (woman-hating) ideas of her time, or to uphold them? How might her story be a type of wish-fulfillment for the aging? Respond to any other elements from this tale (or any others we read during this unit).