Sophomores 2020

Freshmen Literature 2020

What Should the Blog Look Like?

What should the blog look like?

One student, will be responsible for writing a blog each day which includes:

                    Title

• Student's Assigned Blogger # (ex. Blogger #2)
• Student's full name
• Class period, 
• Date

MOST IMPORTANT:

• The Aim
• Notes for the day, incorporating class discussions 
• Attempts to incorporate multimedia (ex.  images, video, links, etc...) to aid classmates and those who read the blog (You should try to incorporate original materials whenever possible).
• Student reflection of the day's lesson: (One of the most important components of the blog) should address the following questions:
• What did I learn?
• Why did I learn it?
• How will I use what I learned?

**Blog Masters MUST make sure the LABEL of the student blog is posted using the appropriate label:

• Freshman Lit 2022 OR
• Sophomores 2022

REMINDER:

1. Students are responsible for keeping track of when it is his/her time to blog, via the blogger sheet.
2. Students are to comment and respond to one another, including asking questions or asking for clarification.
3. Blogs will be published on the world wide web, so we must practice digital citizenship and remember that our audience is GLOBAL, so our tone is always FORMAL.

Sample of Excellent Blogs

NOTE: You should not report about the pandemic. The last component should be the Reflection!

• https://msjpetersonsblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/blogger-23-adelia-ng-period-5-5142021.html
• https://msjpetersonsblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/blogger-8-john-lee-period-1-2262021-day.html
  
• https://msjpetersonsblog.blogspot.com/2020/12/blogger-30-sophia-zhu-period-6-day-b.html

Sample of Excellent Blogs (They had different requirements)

• https://msjpetersonsblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/blog-55-steven-mantello-period-7-6132020.html
• https://msjpetersonsblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/blog-61-caroline-seifen-period-7-6132020.html
• https://msjpetersonsblog.blogspot.com/2020/06/blog-65-sarah-vafiadis-period-9-6132020.html

What does your blog grade mean?

• MASTERY (MAX): Great work, you nailed it! You covered an amazing multimedia summary of the day's lesson (Multimedia is a form of communication that combines different content forms such as text, audio, images, animations, or video into a single interactive presentation, in contrast to traditional mass media which featured little to no interaction from users, such as printed material or audio recordings) of what happened in class using a clear, easy-to-read format. Most importantly, you absolutely included fantastic reflection which clearly draws connections to what you learned with real-life applications.
• APPROACHING (APP): Your summary got the general gist of what happened in class, but could definitely use some elaboration and perhaps provided some multimedia,  OR your formatting is not aesthetic (ex. meaning it's running off the page) OR your reflection may be basic (such as just reflecting on how it can be applied in your schooling instead of the real world).
• DEVELOPING (DEV): You probably didn’t include a reflective aspect at all let alone multimedia or limited multimedia was included, or your summary was so minimal it was hard to have any idea what happened in class.
• NOT YET (NY): Incredibly basic/incomplete and/or the tone was rude, offensive, or inappropriate for a school, public blog.
• M: No blog written on your assignment day.

Can I fix my blog grade?

• Blogs will receive a grade within approximately 7 days of publication based on the guidelines above.
• Blogs may be revised, edited, and updated if the student would like an opportunity to improve his/her grade, however, they MUST do so within 7 days of receiving their blog grade.
• All revised blogs must be resubmitted to the original Blog Master who posted the blog, so they can swap the revision for the previously-published blog.
• IF the student does opt for a revision, he/she MUST EMAIL ME, via by responding to the original PupilPath message that was sent, coupled with a direct link to the NEWLY UPDATED ORIGINAL published blog (after the Blog master has published the revision) to inform and notify me to check the blog again.

Blog #50 Modern Mythology 2020

Aim: How does Beowulf’s battle with Grendel demonstrate the murkiness of good and evil?

In the beginning of the period, we took our short-answer quiz on Beowolf for around 15 minutes. Afterwards, we reviewed the answers as a class and utilized peer grading to mark each other’s quizzes.

PAIR SHARE - THE BATTLE WITH GRENDEL

1.     Does the fact that Grendel eats men change our perception of him?

2. Why could none of their weapons pierce through Grendel? What about if we consider the metaphorical representation of what he is?
3. Why is it significant that Grendel does not die at Herot?

1. We discussed that Grendel had pretty evil characteristics besides eating men. He is a descendent of Cain, who killed his own brother and whose descendents became embodiments of evil, and he killed warriors in the Herot as they slept. Thus, this fact doesn’t significantly change our perception of him. As Victoria said, we didn’t really have high expectations to begin with. However, this characteristic considered alone does not make Grendel evil or a monster. In a sense, a monster “eating men” isn’t that much different from our diet choices. As Jun pointed out, it could just be his preferred nature. However, the evilness in this is that instead of going to other sources for food, like animals or farms in the society, he chooses to eat humans and even more, grabs and targets warriors in the mead hall while they were eating.

2.     None of the Danes and Geats’ weapons could pierce through Grendel because he cast a spell on all of their swords. Grendel as a metaphorical representation could be the inherent evil within human society. The fact that weapons could not defeat him symbolizes how persistent and long-lasting evil can be. Evil, in a sense, is not really an object or being, but more of a force. The need for hand to hand combat shows how eradicating it requires more than just brute force. 

3.     It is significant that Grendel doesn’t die at Herot, but instead, dies offscreen. This shows that his physical death is less important and emphasizes the meaning of his death instead. It also conveys the theme from question #2 again and how evil is persistent and hard to get rid of completely. Anling then introduced a comparison of how just like Cain killed Able and had to endure a terrible life, Grendel had to endure through life with one arm after being defeated by Beowulf.

The picture shows Beowolf ripping off Grendel’s arm. Hanging it on the wall most likely represents Beowolf’s victories and serves as a trophy and celebration of the victory. However, besides to show pride and accomplishment, it is also used as a warning sign against other evils. 

We drew a connection to the story of Macbeth. In the beginning of the story, Macbeth meets MacDonald, cuts his head off and puts his head in the middle of the battlefield to send a threatening message to others that think of or dare to challenge him.

How do you feel about the voyeurism associated with crime and punishment? Would you go to a public hanging today? Does it function as intended, as a warning, or does it do something more?

We all, of course, said that we wouldn’t go to public hanging today. In America’s history, public lynchings were held to execute criminals. We said that people back then may have just went to adhere to the societal norm, not necessarily due to desire to see violence. There is a degree of peer pressure and an expectation to go. Jun pointed out that it was also a source of entertainment back then since there was not much to do at the time. 

These hangings were also used as a warning, like the trophies mentioned previously. Also, just like in Salem, where they held witch trials and executed witches. The trials functioned as a warning for the public to not practice witchcraft and to stay obedient. In our modern society with crime and punishment for recent public crimes like the college scandal, our form of a “warning” is imprisonment, public courts where people can witness, and the force of media spreading information. 

Reflection:

The bell rang before we could officially and directly address the aim about how Beowulf’s battle with Grendel demonstrates the murkiness of good and evil, but from the Do Now review and critical thinking discussions, I was able to understand a lot more about the symbolisms behind Grendel’s character and the reasoning behind a lot of the plot choices in Beowulf. I learned that the battle, while at first I thought was simply just a demonstration of Beowulf’s strength and heroism or a portrayal of good defeating evil, actually had many underlying themes. The twist that no weapons could defeat the monster, only hand to hand combat, illustrates how complex and persistent evil truly is. It is not a straightforward entity that one can easily eliminate with a sharp sword. Hand to hand combat is much more complex, requiring skill, coordination, and agility without a weapon to rely on, reflecting the murkiness and intricacies of evil.

Blog #48 Beowulf Lesson 3

January 16, 2020

Timothy Yao

Aim: How are themes of loyalty and kinship developed and contrasted against jealousy and pride?

Do Now:

What seems to motivate Beowulf to come assist the Danes?

Beowulf's father pledged loyalty to the King of the Danes since the king helped him resolve a large conflict that had occurred as a consequence of his own actions, that pledge was inherited by Beowulf.

Unferth's challenge:

When Beowulf arrived to assist the Danes, a celebration was held in his honor, but a jealous man named Unferth challenged Beowulf's honor by telling a story of when Beowulf lost a swimming contest, implying that his failure then made him unfit to tackle their issues.

Beowulf responded by stating that he only lost because sea monsters slowed him down and he was too busy fighting them to focus on the competition and then tells a story about how Unferth murdered his own brothers, which Unferth had not refuted.

Group Discussion:

How are Beowulf and Unferth characterized?

Beowulf is characterized as heroic and honorable, Unferth is characterized as shady and cowardly.

Why did the Danes welcome Beowulf and the Geats?

The Danes welcomed Beowulf and the Geats since they agreed to help in slaying Grendel, a monster which had been terrorizing them.

How are Beowulf's and Unferth's boasting different?

Beowulf's boasting elevates himself while Unferth's boasting undermines others.

Reflection:

In this lesson we see scenes of kinship and loyalty through the interactions of Beowulf and scenes of jealousy and pride through Unferth, we see how Beowulf, and by extension the Geats, is able to establish unity with the Danes and how people like Unferth, blinded by jealousy and pride, are unable to see the bigger picture and try to disrupt others for petty and selfish reasons.

Blog #48 Beowulf Lesson 2

15 Jan 2020
Victoria Pimenta Reyes

Aim: How does the construction of Grendel as a monster indicate and embody the fears of the Nordic people during the Early Medieval Period?

DO NOW
The Old Gods and The New
Explain how the narrator describes the tactics the Danes used to try and drive Grendel away from their lands. What can we ascertain about civilization, judgment, and righteousness?

The narrator describes the Danes efforts as cowardly, saying "then each warrior tried/ To escape him, searched for rest in different/ Beds, as far from Herot as they could find". This failure for the Danes to rid of Grendel for 12 years sets them up as desperate and in need of a hero like Beowulf. The only safe space in Herot is the throne of Hrothgar, as it is protected by God.

Dark Ages

• Scandinavia was the most resistant to convert to Christianity in Germanic Europe
• Anglo-Saxons were people from Great Britain but were originally Germanic tribes which migrated to the island

Evolution of Language: Compare opening lines of Beowulf in Modern and Old English

English has changed vastly since the writing of Beowulf. This older version uses very different words and different letters 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH-_GwoO4xI

Figurative Language

Metonymy- a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated

Ex. "the pen is mightier than the sword" "lend a hand"

Kenning- characteristic rhetorical device of Old English poetry. its typically a compound in which each element identifies an attribute through metaphor, synecdoche, and metonymy

Ex. Sword -> "battle-light" (metaphor- metonymy)

human body ->"bone-house" (synecdoche- metaphor)

•  Found in "The Monster Grendel
• "By hell-forged hands" (64)
• "mankind's enemy" (79)
• All the kennings used to describe Grendel have negative connotations and are related to the monster being damned. This makes sense as Grendel is a descendant of Cain, the first sinner on earth

Caesura- A rhythmical pause in a poetic line or sentence. In modern language, it is usually indicated with punctuation. the purpose the natural occurrence of taking a breath.

Group Work: 

1. Metaphorically, Grendel can be described as a demon sent to damn the Danes 
2. This makes sense as the Germanic people wanted the Danes in Scandinavia to convert, so a story about Danes being terrorized by a demon is not surprising
3. It forces you to look at historical context as well
4. This assertion influences lines 83-86 because it describes how Grendel cannot touch the throne of Hrogthar because it is protected by God. This is just one of many of the biblical allusions found in Beowulf

Whole Group Discussion: Beowulf's poet characterizes Grendel as evil incarnate. What are your thoughts about this characterization?

This characterization makes sense in the historical context of Beowulf. Scandinavia's resistance to Christianity resulted in a narrative where they need to be saved from a demon, Grendel, by God, or someone godly, like Beowulf.

Reflection:

During this lesson, we learned more about the historical context of Beowulf, as well as the unique aspects of the piece of literature. As we continued to read Beowulf, Old English influences began to make appearances as kennings, metonymy, and other figurative languages. We also used figurative language to begin characterizing the antagonist, Grendel. This lesson is important because it's a foundation for the developments that lie ahead in the story.

Blog #47 Modern Mythology 2020

1/14/20

James Pannone

Period 1

Aim: How did the medieval Anglo-Saxons use figurative language to develop the oral tradition?

Do Now: What connections can be drawn between the Norse and Beowulf’s history? They are very different. Norse mythology really focuses on the Gods, stories of Loki and Thor. In Beowulf, the story is more focused on actual people. These books were not in a sense Christian, they both survived the burning of books. In way of the origin, both types of stories originate from Scandinavia, differing from many other religious stories.

Stock- Epithets adjectives that point out (hyphen enhances the word)

Kenning- ex) my two-year-old rambunctious puppy

Used to narrow the meaning and focus. Lots of figurative languages, you may need to guess what is being said. Different from Norse Mythology which is straight forward

Illusion- A reference to something else.

It is everywhere, in Taylor Swift songs and in the picture above of Adam and Eve.

Cain and Abel- Adam and Eve kicked out for eating the forbidden fruit. They had two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain grew food, and Abel brought baby flocks. Both gifted their products to God, but he only thanked Abel. Abel told him to be patient and love God. Cain killed Abel and he said, “Am I my brother's keeper.” God forbade him from growing crops and forced him to be a homeless wanderer. Cain left the Lord’s presence and made a city Enok. 

1. Abel’s sacrifice is more valuable, the first of the flock is much more than what Cain pulled out of his mill. 
2. Cain was very angry and threatened to kill Abel. Abel was very righteous and the lesson is to fear God and trust him. 
3. There is retribution because they started fresh and they had the chance to make up for what Eve did. They became successful farmers and shepherds and were given the chance to make up for their mother's sins.

A List of Characters and Places

Geat- A tried in Southern Sweden during that time

Major importance to the traditions. The drinking of wine and the grand hall is a mimicking of Valhalla on Earth. Gifts attained on the battlefield are shared with his men. It creates a strong brotherhood of loving servants because of how sharing and giving they are.

A brief summary of what we learned was a prologue to Beowulf. We learned about the background of the story, and the history of it. Some examples are, the country it was written in, how a monk was possibly the one who wrote it, and how it is believed to have survived a burning of books period. All this was taught to prepare us in our reading of it. Knowing the background is always positive when reading something. I will use what was learned in my reading of the story. Keeping it in mind and making connections to it whilst reading.