E. Quinson

Room D-201

English 9H, period 1

 

Monday, September 22, 2008

SWBAT:  analyze the juxtaposition of comedy and horror in Great Expectations.

DO NOW:  Write a DO NOW entry:  Discuss Herbert Pocket and Pip as foils for each other.  How are they similar? Different?  Consider their love lives?

DEVELOPMENT:

1.      Discuss DO NOW entry.

2.      Discussion Questions:

a.       Chapter 30:

                                                   i.      Orlick and his threatening presence.  How does Pip get even with him? What may happen as a result of Pip getting him sacked?

                                                 ii.      Why does Pip refer to the codfish and barrel of oysters he sends to Joe as "penitential"?

                                                iii.      Why does Herbert use the nick-name "Handel" for Pip?

                                               iv.      Why does Herbert accuse Pip of "looking into our gift-horse's mouth with a magnifying glass"?

                                                 v.      N.B.:  Vocabulary: "sour grapes" is an allusion to a fable by the Greek Aesop (c. 620-c. 560 BC) in which a fox consoles himself for a crow's unwillingness to help him obtain a bunch of grapes. The term indicates Herbert's wide reading, and suggests that he feels Pip is deluding himself about being intended for Estella.

b.      Chapter 31:

                                                   i.      Wopsle!  Humourous, but hamless?

                                                 ii.      How does Pip's night at the theatre only increase his anxieties instead of easing them?

c.       Chapter 32:

                                                   i.      Why does Dickens include a picture of Newgate Prison?

                                                 ii.      How does Estella appear to Pip in contrast to his visit to the prison?

                                                iii.      Estella and Pip – both pawns in Miss Havisham’s sick fancy

d.      Chapter 33:

                                                   i.      Why has Estella come to London?

                                                 ii.      Why is Pip so full of misery after seeing her?

                                                iii.      N.B:  Vocabulary: "Moses in the bulrushes" is certainly a humorous way of describing the small quantity of butter in relationship to the surrounding parsely. In the Old Testament, Pharaoh's daughter discovers the infant Moses in a basket by the margin of the Nile River (Exodus II: 3-6).

3.      Review/summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Great Expectations:  Chaps. 34 – 37, pp.294-324.  2.  Write two pages in response.  Free choice of topic and technique!  Choose one from the 66 ways or make up your own  But no summary!  Delve deeper! Show your thinking!   3.  Final summer reading assignment posts are due Friday,  9/26/08.

 

 Tuesday, September 23, 2008

SWBAT:  discuss the theme of guilt and shame in Great Expectations.

DO NOW:  Complete Writer’s Notebook Self-Evaluation.

DEVELOPMENT:

1.      Collect notebooks.

2.      Discussion Questions:

·        Chaps 34 and 35:

o                   Why does Pip feel guilty?

·        Chaps 36-37

o                   When Pip turns 21, Pip becomes and adult and he comes into his fortune. 

o                   He thinks Miss Havisham intends for  him to wed Estella.  What do you think?  Why?

o                   What good deed does he decide to do?  (How does this mirror what has happened to him?   Unknown benefactor?)  What does this say about his character?  Is he improving at all?

o                   What does Wemmick say of his plans?  Why is his advice different at the office than it is as the castle? 

o                   Who is Miss Skiffins?

3. Review and summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Chapters 38 and 39, pp. 325-350.  2.  Write two pages in response.  Free choice of topic and technique!  Choose one from the 66 ways or make up your own  But no summary!  Delve deeper! Show your thinking!   3.  Final summer reading assignment posts are due Friday,  9/26/08.

 

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

SWBAT:  Review the turning point to which Pip refers at the end of Chapter 37.

DO NOW:  Write an entry:  Discuss the quotation on the plasma screen.  “Look’ee here, Pip. I’m your second father. You’re my son—more to me nor any son. I’ve put away money, only for you to spend.” Who said this?  What is its significance?  Explain!  Explain!  Explain! 

DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Return notebooks.
  2. Class discussion:
  • Chapter 38
    • Who is now courting Estella?
  • Chapter 39!!!
    • What important developments???  Who is really Pip’s benefactor?
    • What foreshadowing could have forewarned us?
    • What of Joe, I thought he was Pip’s father figure?  Aha!  Another foil!  This is a study in contrasts!
    • Why is there a storm?  Does this have symbolic significance?  What of other weather situations in the novel:  rising mists seem to symbolize confusion!!!

3.      Review summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Great Expectations:  Chaps. 40 – 42, pp.351-378  2.  Write two pages in response.  How are Joe and Magwitch foils for each other?  3.  Final summer reading assignment posts are due Friday,  9/26/08.

 

Thursday, September 25, 2008

SWBAT:          Discuss foils in Great Expectations.

DO NOW:       Pop Quiz!  You had to know I would strike again!  I want to be sure you all have been keep up with and understanding the reading. 

DEVELOPMENT: 

1.      Discuss DO NOW.

2.      Possible Pair-share?  List as many foils or contrasting sets of characters as you can and explain why you think they are foils for each other?

3.      Discussion questions

  • What or whom does Pip trip over in the hall way?  Who might this be?
  • How are Joe and Magwitch similar?  They both love Pip and want only the best for him, and they both embarrass Pip, with bad table manners and rough speech.
  • What plan do Herbert and Pip hatch to protect Magwitch?  Why do they want to protect him anyway?
  • What is Magwitch’s story?  Who was the “other” convict, after all?
  • What connection does this have to Miss Havisham??? Tah dah!

4.      Review and summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Great Expectations:  Chaps. 43 – 46, pp. 379-408.  2.  Write two pages in response.  In what way are Pip’s feelings for Magwitch conflicted?  What similar conflicts has Pip faced in this novel? 

 

Friday, September 26, 2008 – computer lab, summer reading assignments, blogging! 

H.W.:  1.  Read Great Expectations:  Chaps. 47 – 50, pp. 409-438.  2.  Write two pages in response: Why won’t Pip spend any of Magwitch’s money?  What problems does this present? Do you agree with Pip?  Why or why not?

 

Monday, September 29, 2008

SWBAT: analyze plot developments as they converge in Great Expectations: 

DO NOW:  Write an entry in your writer’s notebook:  How are different elements of Pip’s life converging?

DEVELOPMENT: 

1.      Return Pop Quizzes.

2.      Discuss vocabulary.  Will be tested with unit test.  Have you been coming across these words more than once?  In the text?  In real life?  A lot of Dickensian vocabulary is no longer used, but a lot of it is!!!

3.      Discussion Questions:

  • Why does Pip feel that he must leave Estella forever?
  • Whom does Estella plan to marry?
  • What has Wemmick learned about Magwitch and his pursuer?
  • What plans do Herbert and Pip concoct to protect and save him?
  • Previously Pip has always seen his life as split:  life as a blacksmith and his lower self, as contrasted to Miss Havisham, Estella, and his life as a gentleman.  Now these things seem to be coming together as one. 
  • How might this change Pip’s world view? 
  • Our world view? 
  • Is there a real difference between the classes?
  • Review last Friday’s lesson in word construction:  roots, prefixes and suffixes.
  • Who is Estella’s mother?  Whom does Pip suspect and why?
  • What is Molly’s story?
  • How and why has Miss Havisham changed? 
  • What dramatic events occur at Satis House?
  • While bandaging Pip up, Herbert shares more of Magwitch’s story.  Now, what new plot lines are converging?

4.      Review/summarize.

H.W.:  1.  Read Great Expectations:  Finish the novel!  Chaps.51-56 , pp.439-521. 2.  Make sure you read both endings.  Write two pages in your w.n.:  which ending do you prefer?  Why?

 

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