Present group findings from "The Wanderings of Oisin" hand-out. You will then receive the remainder of the poem. Look for symbols within that one too. Look for differences. Go over other Yeats' poems. Finish Book II.
Thursday:
"Sister Wendy" and the classical, Celtic, and medieval artists and art. Hand-out on J. B. Yeats and W. B. Yeats. Make sure you finish it for Friday.
4th-Period: Slide show on symbolism and the Pre-Raphaelite painters.
6th-Period: Internet Safety slide-show.
Everyone: Finish Book III for Friday.
Next Thursday, there will be an in-class essay. The prompt (or prompts) will be designed to fit one or the other. It will be important that you know the story very well because you will have to show that. I will allow you to use the text, OUR text, not another translation. Sparknotes and similar things will only impair your performance. You need to find a way to connect with these characters. That is what will help you. In some ways, both stories are about a loss of innocence. We have all been through that to one degree or another. In other ways, they are about dealing with the larger world around us and deciding how we fit into that world. Think about aspects of these characters that you can identify with. I like Gawain's courage, for his willingness to stand up when everyone else is scared. He is a patriot too. He acts so that his king doesn't have to act. He also does not, like Wiglaf, demean those who do not stand up--even though they should. And he doesn't resent others after the fact. In fact, they show penitence too--when they wear the belts.
Of course, I love Oisin. He loves his family (the Fianna), and his country. He loves life--hunting and fishing. He loves to fight. He wants to do everything as well as it can be done. He is devoted to one woman and he loves his children. He sacrifices his family ties for this one woman. He is open-minded enough to listen to Saint Patrick and to consider what Patrick says before coming to his own conclusions about what he wants.
If I were writing about either one of these, I would also provide concrete examples (from the text) to prove what I am saying. I would paraphrase particular scenes and use direct quotes.
Do not be deceived--just because the in-class essay is open booked (the texts only--no criticisms or commentary from any other source, including those I have given you), does not mean that you come into class unprepared. You need to be able to find what you are looking for quickly. If you do not prepare, you will be lost. It's not just about putting in a bunch of examples; everything has to fit together and, ultimately, to say something. You will need a clear thesis, concrete examples, transitions between paragraphs, and a logical development of the paper as a whole. You will need a clear conclusion that goes beyond simple restatement of your thesis.
Friday:
6th-Period: Slide show on "The Pre-Raphaelites."
4th & 6th--discussion of "Oisin" and Ellman's excerpted biography of the Yeats men.
