Apr. 2 - 5: Animal Farm

Patchwork Poem (15) is now overdue
Animal Farm Test (100) on Tues. Apr. 9  

Animal Farm Questions and Answers for review.
Animal Farm test paragraph question
Fri. Apr. 5 - Animal Farm online novel / Animal Farm Audio Book (abridged)
- Finish reading Animal Farm .

Who is Napoleon?
Napoleon, a Berkshire boar, is the main tyrant and villain of Animal Farm and is based upon Joseph Stalin. He begins to gradually build up his power, using puppies he took from mother dogs Jessie and Bluebell, which he raises to be vicious dogs as his secret police. After driving Snowball off the farm, Napoleon usurps full power, using false propaganda from Squealer and threats and intimidation from the dogs to keep the other animals in line. Among other things, he gradually changes the Commandments to allow himself privileges such as eating at a table and to justify his dictatorial rule. By the end of the book, Napoleon and his fellow pigs have learned to walk upright and started to behave similarly to the humans against whom they originally revolted. Napoleon's name adds to the novella's themes of totalitarian dictators rising from a vacuum of power and absolute power corrupting absolutely. The character's namesake, Napoleon Bonaparte, forcibly took control from a weak government in 1799, installed himself as First Consul and eventually crowned himself Emperor (Wikipedia).
To understand Stalin, the historical figure Napoleon the pig is based on, view Parts 1 to 5:
Joseph Stalin: The Real History (Part 1)
Joseph Stalin: The Real History (Part 2)
Joseph Stalin: The Real History (Part 3)
Joseph Stalin: The Real History (Part 4)
Joseph Stalin: The Real History (Part 5) 

Thurs. Apr. 4
-Finish viewing George Orwell's biography.
- Read ch. 7-8 of Animal Farm.

Tues. Apr. 2 - Wed. Apr. 3

- Unabridged audio book is available below.


- Read and review ch. 1 - 3 Animal Farm questions. 
- View George Orwell biography.  Review questions and answers.
- Continue reading to the end of chapter 6 by Wednesday.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novella that can be described as a roman à clef (French for "novel with a key"), which is a work describing real-life behind a façade of fiction.
Although Animal Farm is short, it can be read and interpreted on several levels:

A "fairy tale" or "fairy story" can mean any far-fetched story that may feature folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and talking animals, and usually enchantments, often involving a far-fetched sequence of events (Wikipedia).

A fable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that features animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized (given human qualities), and that illustrates a moral lesson (a "moral"). Fables can be described as a didactic mode of literature. They frequently have as their central characters animals with the ability to reason and speak (Wikipedia).

In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement.Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humour in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit (Wikipedia).

An allegory is a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in the narrative are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself (Microsoft Encarta).

To appreciate the deeper satirical and allegorical elements within Animal Farm, it is important to have an understanding of the author, George Orwell, and the historical and political dynamics of his time.

View parts 1 -5 of George Orwell's biography and complete the questions (see Assignments and Handouts link):
George Orwell - Part 1
George Orwell - Part 2
George Orwell - Part 3
George Orwell - Part 4
George Orwell - Part 5

Mar. 25 - 28: Poetry

Louis Riel Poetry Ques (20) DUE Tues. Mar. 28
Poetry Blog (40) DUE on Wed. Mar. 27
Open Book Poetry Test (Part II from page 117 to the end) Thurs. Mar. 28 

Thurs. Mar. 28
-Open Book Poetry Test (Part II from page 117 to the end) 


Tues. Mar. 26 - Wed. Mar. 27
- Lab 120 is booked for both days.
- Complete your poetry blog assignments (40 marks).
- Type good copies of your two best media paragraphs; staple to front of all four rough copies and hand in (20 marks).

Mon. Mar. 25
- Start work on the Louis Riel historical poetry assignment. Answers must be in complete sentences. DUE on Tues. Mar. 26.

On February 17th, 2009 the Canadian Press reported that Louis Riel's final poems had been made public for the first time. Read the story and watch the video to learn more. Complete the questions (under the Assignments and Handouts heading in the right margin).

Mar. 11 - 15: Short Stories / Poetry

Thurs Mar. 14 and Fri. Mar. 15 - Class 4 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- Sign into your blog at Blogger.com
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 4 activity.  See an assignment example below:
***Email completed blog with your full name and block in subject line.
***Paste the link to your blog in the body of the email.
- When finished, review pages 117 - 251 of The Poet's Craft textbook in preparation for the open-book poetry test on Thursday, Mar. 28.
- If you finish early, help the United Nations World Food Program feed the world by playing Free Rice.

Nature and Invention

Instructions for Drawing:
- Sign into Google Docs. Select Create New. Select Drawing.
- Click Insert. Select Text box (type or paste poem into text box)
- Add other artistic elements. When finished, click on File. Select Publish to the Web.
- Copy the Embed Code. Paste the code into your blog's Edit HTML view (at the bottom).
- Change the dimensions near the end of the code to w=450 h=400 so it will fit your blog.
- Click Publish Post on your blog. See the sample below:


Wed.  Mar. 13 - Class 3 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- Sign into your blog at Blogger.com
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 3 activity.  See an assignment example below:
- If you finish early, help the United Nations World Food Program feed the world by playing Free Rice.

People and Places

Before Two Portraits of My Mother

I love the beautiful young girl of this

portrait, my mother, painted years ago

when her forehead was white, and there was no

shadow in the dazzling Venetian glass

of her gaze. But this other likeness shows

the deep trenches across her forehead’s white

marble. The rose poem of her youth that

her marriage sang is far behind. Here is

my sadness: I compare these portraits, one

of a joy-radiant brow, the other care-

heavy: sunrise—and the thick coming on

of night. And yet how strange my ways appear,

for when I look at these faded lips my heart

smiles, but at the smiling girl my tears start.

By

Émile Nelligan (1879-1941)

Born in Montreal

Tues. Mar. 12 - Class 2 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- Sign into your blog at Blogger.com
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 2 activity. See an assignment example below:

                                         War and Hope                                             

I Hate That Drum's Discordant Sound

by John Scott

Outwitted

by Edward Markam

Although John Scott's poem "I Hate That Drum's Discordant Sound" certainly contains a relevant message about the turmoil and devastation that is brought about by war, Edward Markham's poem "Outwitted" has greater relevance to the lives of most people in the world today. "Outwitted" is a short poem with a simple message. The poem's theme of  inclusion has relevance to many kinds of relationships such as families, friendships and the workplace. Sometimes family members do not get along, and it can take months or years for them to resolve issues that have caused a falling out. Similarly, friendships may be disrupted and later be repaired as a result of one or both parties' efforts to re-connect. Finally, workplace relationships can be restored through the efforts of a caring mediator. Even though "Outwitted" is a very brief poem, its universal theme has widespread relevance for many people around the world.

Mon. Mar. 11 - Short Story Unit Quiz / Poetry Blogging
- Short Story Unit Quiz (33 marks) *** hand-written notes must be given to Mrs. H. before your class starts if you want to use them for the paragraph section.
- The lab is booked.
- Class 1 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- In the computer lab, set up your blog at Blogger.com (sign in with your Google Docs username and password. Do not make a new account). You can customize your blog's privacy and comment moderation settings through your Blogger Dashboard "settings" and "comments" tabs.
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 1 activity. See an assignment example below:

Love and Loneliness

LOVE

LONELINESS

Love and Loneliness

(a poem with borrowed lines)

Love and loneliness are two sides of that coin called emotion

(Of course there are others such as jealousy and devotion)

Love is a sailboat on calm blue seas

With sunny skies and a warm soft breeze.

I love thee with a love I seem to lose. *

Could it really be the end of this cruise?

Now loneliness is a submarine that hardly surfaces for air

It is a child, homeless man or woman with an outcast stare.

My false friends leave me here to die alone **

Where is that coin? All I have is a stone.

In life we spin the coin:

Love - we win; 

Loneliness - we lose.

*   Line borrowed from "Sonnet 43: How Do I Love Thee" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

** Line borrowed from "Wabanaki Song" translated by Charles G. Leland

 

Mar. 4 - 8: Short Stories

QUIZ (33) Short Stories Unit on Mon. Mar. 11 (can use terms notes) 
Homework: Complete this information survey (6 marks)

Fri. Mar. 8 - The Metaphor
"The Metaphor" is a short story written by Nova Scotian writer Budge Wilson. Wilson has been in the news for writing the prequel to Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. Before Green Gables  was published in February 2008. In a YouTube video, Wilson explains how it felt to take on such a formidable writing task.
Read this story and complete terminology notes according to the long sheet instructions. 


Thurs. Mar. 7 - Forgiveness in Families
- "Forgiveness in Families" was written by Canadian author Alice Munro. Munro is considered one of the world's best short story writers.
- Munro won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2009. It is the biggest international award for short story writing.
- Read the story on p. 93 and complete notes on the terms from the  handout. 


Wed. Mar. 6 - Interactive Short Story Unit Lab Review
- In class, we'll review uses of it's / its / you're / your
Lab 120 is booked:
-Go to Socrative.com. Using your last and first names, sign-in to room 52231. Complete the 10 mark quiz on it's/its/you're/your.
 - Review the Interactive Short Story Unit to prepare for the quiz on Monday. Be sure to cover the elements of the short story and the glossary.
- Use the same web site to listen to and read "Never" by H. E. Bates on p. 120 of Inside Stories II.
- Complete terminology notes using the long sheet handout.
 
Tues. Mar. 5 - God Is Not A Fish Inspector
- You'll be reading "God is Not a Fish Inspector" (Inside Stories II p. 42)
- Read the story and complete the terminology notes according to the long sheet instructions.  


Mon. Mar. 4 - Lab Research Extension of Freedom To Read Week 
- The lab is booked in the library.
- Complete the Freedom to Read activity sheet. This is out of 25 marks and will be collected at the end of class. Use the websites below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_books_banned_by_governments 
http://en.rsf.org

When finished:
Review the Fundamental Freedoms (section 2) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

Fundamental Freedoms

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) freedom of conscience and religion;

b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

d) freedom of association.

Freedom of the press is an important cornerstone of a democracy.

1. Find out where Canada currently ranks on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. Where did Canada rank in 2002?
2. Review yearly  Attacks on the Press
3. Review statistics on journalists killed