E. Quinson

D-201

9H, period 1

 

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

SWBAT:  begin our discussions of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton.

DO NOW:  Get a computer, log on, go to our blog and begin writing about the adage, “Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.” What do you think it means? Do you follow that piece of advice? Why or why not?

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Students write on blog.
  2. Screens down.  Discuss what you wrote.
  3. During table discussions, I will distribute copies of Ethan Frome, Reading Schedule, and hand out about Edith Wharton.
  4. Begin discussion as outlined in Study Guide
  5. Remind students that I chose to read this book at this particular time of year.  Why?
  6. Review/summarize

H.W.:  1.  Read beginning of Ethan Frome  to pp. 14.  2.  Blog it!   Describe our narrator.  Who is he?  What is he doing in Starkfield? Can we rely on his judgment?  Why or why not?  What does the narrator learn about Frome from other characters? What effect does this knowledge have on the narrator?

 

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

SWBAT:  Discover what the townspeople say about Ethan Frome and why he captures the narrator’s attention. 

DO NOW:  Get a computer, log on, go to our blog and begin writing about Starkfield, Massachusetts as you visualize it. Pretend that you are describing the place to someone who has not been there. Feel free to use the descriptive words from the activity as  well as others that may occur to you.

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Students write on blog.
  2. Screens down.  Discuss what you wrote.
  3. Begin discussion as outlined in Study Guide
  4. Review/summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Chapters 1 and 2.  2.  Blog it!  What does the final scene of Chapter II imply about the relationship between Ethan and his wife, Zeena?

 

Thursday, March 5, 2009

SWBAT:  find out what happens when Ethan and Mattie find themselves alone for the first time.

DO NOW:  :  Get a computer, log on, go to our blog and begin writing:  Recall an instance when you were tempted to do something that you might later have regretted. What prevented you from doing it? How did you feel afterwards?

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Students write on blog.
  2. Screens down.  Discuss what you wrote.
  3. See Study Guide for discussion questions and activities.
  4. Review/summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Chapters 3, 4, and 5.  2.  Blog it!  Zeena’s cold, quarrelsome, complaining character might be associated with the wintry Starkfield landscape. Using Mattie Silver as Zeena’s foil, describe the season that you would associate with Mattie’s personality. Use examples from these chapters to support your point of view.

 

Friday, March 6, 2009

SWBAT: discover what motivates Ethan Frome to make a very difficult decision.

DO NOW:   Get a computer, log on, go to our blog and begin writing:  Is Ethan Frome to blame for his plight—that of being trapped in a loveless marriage and having to give up his aspiration to study engineering, or is he a victim of circumstance, bound by family tradition? Does Mattie Silver represent his last chance to attain happiness, or does his liaison with her represent another instance of poor judgment on his part? You will later debate these issues in your groups.

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Discuss H.W. and DO NOW entries.
  2. Activity:  choose groups for short debate:  Is Ethan Frome to blame for his plight—that of being trapped in a loveless marriage and having to give up his aspiration to study engineering, or is he a victim of circumstance, bound by family tradition? Does Mattie Silver represent his last chance to attain happiness, or does his liaison with her represent another instance of poor judgment on his part?
  3. Review/summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Chapters 6, 7 and 8.  2.  Blog it!  In this section of the novella, both Ethan and Zeena make separate references to things or ideals that they value most. Write a paragraph that compares and contrasts these things. What does this indicate about the characters and their relationship to each other?

 

Monday, March 9, 2009

SWBAT:  discover how our core values change our decision making and how this phenomenon plays out in Ethan Frome.

DO NOW:  Get a computer, log on, go to our blog and begin writing:  For which character do you have the most sympathy?  Why?

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Discuss H.W. and DO NOW entries.
  2. See Study Guide for discussion questions and activities.
  3. In particular, discuss making decisions in an “impossible” situation.
  4. Review/summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Finish the novella.  2.  Blog it!  Who or what is responsible for the outcome of this novella? Write a few paragraphs explaining who or what caused the conditions that the narrator observes in Ethan Frome’s house.

 

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

SWBAT:  discuss denouement of Ethan Frome and analyze 3 examples of literary criticism about the novella.

DO NOW:  Get a computer, log on, go to our blog and begin writing:  Were Ethan and Mattie actually meaning to commit suicide?  Why didn’t Ethan aim more carefully for the tree?  What is it the author actually sees at the end? What meaning are we to make of this frame narrative, after all is said and done?

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Review H.W. and DO NOW entries.
  2. Then whole class discussion: 

·        Were Ethan and Mattie actually meaning to commit suicide?

·        Why didn’t Ethan aim more carefully for the tree?

·        What is it the author actually sees at the end?

·        What meaning are we to make of this frame narrative, after all is said and done?

·        Frame structure.

·        How did the narrator learn about Ethan:  Herman Gow, Mrs. Ned Hale (Ruth Varnum), his own experience, and from going over the threshold….  What do you mean, going over the threshold?  Was simply being in the house enough?????  How can that be?

  1. Analyze literary criticism:

·        Barbara White:  setting.

·        Blake Nevius, character – hero/protagonist/antagonist

·        Marlene Springer – style, psyche

Students will read and respond to each extract and then discuss them in small groups.

  1. Review summarize.

H.W.:  Finish lit. crit. Because we certainly will not be able to get it done in class.  Re-read novel, well, as much as you can.

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

SWBAT:  analyze 3 examples of literary criticism about the novella.

DO NOW:  Write an entry:  How does reading other people’s opinions of this novella enrich your understanding of it?

DEVELOPMENT:

1.      Review H.W. and DO NOW entries.

2.      Analyze literary criticism:

·        Cynthia Griff Wolff – narrator as ghastly guide

·        Elizabeth Ammons – fairy tale

·        Lionel Trilling – a dead novel – no moral question

3.      Students will read and respond to each extract and then discuss them in small groups.

4.      Review summarize.

H.W.:  Study for test.  Vocabulary and short answer.  Re-read novel, well, as much as you can.  The test will cover vocabulary and 10 short answer questions. It is not one critical lens essay.  In some ways, it requires greater command of the novel than that. 

 

Thursday, March 12, 2009  — Essay Test?   — or multiple choice?  Or

 

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