We will be reading Of Mice and Men for the next week.
Background info was introduced.

There will only be one assignment for this book--and we will center our class discussions around these topics. Here is the assignment and the topics:

TOPICS - OF MICE AND MEN

• Pick ONE topic only, and answer the question using details, facts, and examples from the story!
• Yes - three points, five paragraphs. 1-1/2 to 2 pages, double spaced, MLA format.

1.) Setting - Discuss the setting of this novel. Why is the time setting crucial to your understanding of George and Lennie's lifestyle?

2.) Troublemakers - Discuss Curley and his wife as trouble makers in the story. In what ways did they generally cause trouble and in what ways did they cause trouble for George and Lennie?

3.) Prosecuting Attorney - George is on trial. Your job is to prove that George is guilty of murder and that no circumstances justify the killing of Lennie. What evidence did the witnesses to the story (including George himself) give to support the prosecution? Prepare your closing statement - the speech you will give to the jury summarizing your case.

4.) Defense Attorney - George is on trial. Your job is to prove that George is NOT guilty of murder. You need to help the jury to believe that special circumstances justified the killing of Lennie Small. What are the circumstances? What evidence did the witnesses to the story give to lead to an acquittal? Prepare your closing statement - the speech you will give to the jury summarizing your case.

5.) The Theme of the American Dream - Everyone has a dream to strive for. The poor ranch hands wish to be their own bosses and actually have stability. What circumstances in the story prevent them from realizing their dreams?

6.) The Theme of Loneliness - Throughout this novel, a main quality of most of the characters was loneliness. Novels set in the West often feature the kind of character known as a "loner." Is it the same? Do the characters in Of Mice and Men enjoy being alone? How do they seek to overcome their loneliness? Consider especially Crooks, Candy, and Curley's wife.

7.) Friendship as a Theme - Everyone needs someone to make them feel special. A basic human requirement is the need to belong to someone and belong somewhere. How is this shown in the novel?

8.) Dreams -The term "dreamer" is often used as a word of mockery or condemnation, yet dreams are a necessary part of life. What are the dreams of the various characters in the novel - Lennie, George, Curley's wife, Crooks, and the others - and how do these dreams help or hinder them in their daily lives?

9.) Foreshadowing - Foreshadowing - having early events or descriptions in the story give hints about what will happen later - is used a great deal in Of Mice and Men. Discuss the many instances of foreshadowing in this novel. How effective is the use of foreshadowing in this story? Is it overused?

10.) Lennie and Animals - Throughout the story, Lennie is compared to or associated with animals. Discuss these comparisons and associations, and draw a conclusion as to why Steinbeck used them.

*^*L:K.dat

Quizzes were passed back and discussed.

We finished reading "Frenriere" aloud and connected the story to the 5 elements of American Gothic fiction.

Some ideas for stories were presented (click here for a list) and we covered the "first lines" of 10 gothic short stories to illustrate how a short story must have a "hook" to draw the reader in. Finally, we discussed the grading rubric for the short stories.

Gothic short stories are due MAY 28. All students are expected to create a rough draft this week.
Your final draft gothic story will have the following:
· Include at least three elements of Gothic (from the definitions in your notes) in the story
· have 2-4 characters
· one major conflict
· and an "ironic twist" or surprise ending.

Don’t have an idea? Use your writing from the descriptive writing assignments (especially #3, 4 or 5) as a starting point.


The paper will be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 3-5 pages, and generally free from spelling errors.

Quiz over elements of Gothic and American influences (first part of class).

Descriptive writing prompt #5:
Write a one page description of a Gothic character. In other words, create a character sketch that helps me 'see' the dark, quirky, obsessive or suppressed personality of a bitter or frightened main character.
DON'T just tell me about the character: "My character has red hair and kohl-lined eyes. She is angry and depressed." Instead show me the character: "You could tell from the slump of her shoulders and her downcast, shadowed eyes that life had not treated her well. Hiding behind her straight, shaggy red hair, her face was a mystery to me. I wanted to know the story behind that curtain of hair."

THE DESCRIPTIVE PROMPTS (all 5) WILL BE COLLECTED ON MONDAY!

We read "Frenriere" (an excerpt from Interview with a Vampire, by Anne Rice) to get a feel for the Southern Gothic as it has morphed in the last 50 years. We did not finish this story, and will compete it on Monday.

We read an excerpt from the Cambridge Companion to Gothic (from the introduction) and defined European Gothic for our notes.

On the overhead we compared and contrasted American Gothic and European Gothic elements.
Essential difference: European Gothic tends to focus on exterior setting and dark, abandoned spaces with secrets while American Gothic tends to focus on the interior landscape--our psychological issues, fears and our potential for evil or good.

We read Stephen King's "Why we crave horror movies" and discussed it as a class.

Descriptive writing prompt #4: Write a one page description of the place of your personal nightmares—the most fearsome, spooky setting you imagine (a place you would never willingly go). This setting can be urban and modern (like a dark alley in Portland), from the past (like a graveyard during the Plague years in Europe), or the imagined future (think of the movies The Matrix or The Island).

THE DESCRIPTIVE PROMPTS (all 5) WILL BE COLLECTED ON MONDAY!

Finish the activity we began on Thursday:

I have provided 3 gothic short stories (10 copies of each story). The stories are: “Lungewater” (a more classic gothic story), “Martin Roehmar’s Boys” (a Halloween story with a twist), and “Watch and Wake” (an alternate worldview gothic story). Be sure all copies make it back to the piles!

Pick two of the short stories and read them aloud in your group

After you have read the two short stories, complete a Venn diagram (two overlapping circles) that compares and contrasts the stories on a single sheet of paper for each group.

On the BACK, list examples of how one of the stories you read demonstrates at least three of the five characteristics of American gothic.
REMINDER:
American gothic characteristics: 1) image of the swamp (or deserted, barren spaces), 2) fascination with the occult or supernatural, 3) need for physical or moral guidance (America as a ship of state), 4) the abuse of reason and/or science, 5) the “senti-mentalization” of death (obsessive).
Be sure ALL group members’ names are on the paper before you turn it in.

QUIZ over Gothic unit on Thursday!!
Short story assignments were handed out (due May 28th)
Your final draft gothic story will have the following:
· Include at least three elements of Gothic (from the definitions in your notes) in the story
· have 2-4 characters
· one major conflict
· and an "ironic twist" or surprise ending.

Don’t have an idea? Use your writing from the descriptive writing assignments (especially #3, 4 or 5) as a starting point.

The paper will be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 3-5 pages, and generally free from spelling errors.

1) Read the “New Gothic” article excerpt aloud as a class (student readers, taking turns). After you have read the article, the teacher may re-emphasize some passages. Discuss the article. This information may be on next week’s quiz.

2) I have provided 3 gothic short stories (10 copies of each story). The stories are: “Lungewater” (a more classic gothic story), “Martin Roehmar’s Boys” (a Halloween story with a twist), and “Watch and Wake” (an alternate worldview gothic story). Be sure all copies make it back to the piles!

3) In groups of 2 or 3 (no more!) pick two of the short stories and read them aloud in your group (three groups can go in the hall—teacher’s choice).

4) After you have read the two short stories, complete a Venn diagram (two overlapping circles) that compares and contrasts the stories on a single sheet of paper for each group.

5) On the BACK, list examples of how one of the stories you read demonstrates at least three of the five characteristics of American gothic.

American gothic characteristics: 1) image of the swamp (or deserted, barren spaces), 2) fascination with the occult or supernatural, 3) need for physical or moral guidance (America as a ship of state), 4) the abuse of reason and/or science, 5) the “senti-mentalization” of death (obsessive).

Be sure ALL group members’ names are on the paper before you turn it in.

REMINDER: ALL late work from the second six weeks is due on Monday, May 11th!!!