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!!!

Students read Poe stories--"The Black Cat," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Cask of Amontilado," or "The Masque of the Red Death" and compared them to the 5 elements of American gothic.

Then we watched a Poe powerpoint and took notes.

Additional info TBA--need to scan a document to complete this day's blog.



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

Check back for info on Wednesday, 5-13

Today we covered grade updates and dealt with any papers that needed to be passed back. Just FOUR more weeks until grades will be finalized. Late work from the first 10 weeks will no longer be accepted at this point.

Students were able to use the rest of the period to complete the Gothic short story comparison that we began on Thursday.

Don't remember it? Click HERE.

If you were absent, you need to get copies of the stories from Mrs. Evans at school.