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Jack London.

Today we are finishing our inquiry of London's chilling narrative. 

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Finish "To Build a Fire" by London
3. Reading Journal (2/6): London's "To Build a Fire" 
1. Contrast the dog and the man in the story: What motivates the behavior of the dog vs. the man? How do the man and the dog differ in their approach to the cold?
2. Cite 3 quotes that show London's Naturalistic philosophy. Check the Lit Book's definition in the "Elements of Naturalism" (p. 393).
3. Based on the questions above, what moral conclusion do you think London wants us to draw from this story?
4. Review HW:
1. Be perfect.

"The trouble with him was that he was without imagination."

Today we will read well written story. But it is not a story that is without argument. It contains what is perhaps the most clear and persuasive defense of the philosophy of Naturalism.
 
Agenda:

1. Pater noster
2. Intro to Jack London: read his bio in the Lit Book (p. 479)
3. Read "To Build a Fire" by Jack London (p. 481 in Lit Book)
4. Review HW:
1. Be perfect.

Heroism and David's Mighty Men

We are picking up where we left off in our study of Crane's "A Mystery of Heroism." All stories and poems make some kind of argument. The Realists of the late nineteenth century are no different. Crane has a particular agenda; he is positing a very deep question in this story, one that reaches to the foundations of knowledge, or the branch of philosophy we call "epistemology" (i.e. - How you know what you know?). For the Realist, any Transcendent assumption is called into question, since we can't falsify or prove it. So much is implied even in the title of the story, and a Christian must be critical of Crane's argument and purpose.

Agenda:

1. Our Father
2. Reading Journal (1/17): "A Mystery of Heroism"
1. Read 2 Samuel 23:8-17 (click the audio button to hear it narrated).Compare and contrast the two narratives. Based on the reading, what might Crane be arguing against or attacking?
3. Review and discuss the rhetorical argument Crane makes.
4. Review HW:
1. Be perfect.

End of Realism, End of Huck

Today we are officially ending our time in and discussions of Huck Finn. In fact, we are concluding our entire study of the epoch of Realism and moving on past the turn of the century. 

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Huck Finn Quiz: Chapters 36-The Last
3. Read the Publisher's Weekly article on the "Bowdlerization" of Twain's Huck Finn. 
4. ICE (2/9): Racism & Huck
1. When the novel first appeared, elementary school teachers hated it because of its use of poor grammar. Sunday school teachers hated it because of Huck's poor choices and moral idiocy. Today the novel is banned from all public libraries and schools because of its racially offensive language and derogatory depiction of black people. Write a well-developed response to this issue that answers the following questions: 
2. To formulate your Thesis: 
1. Is it good for a publisher (such as NewSouth Books) to revise a new edition of Huck Finn that expunges the "N--" word and other racially offensive language? In other words, do you agree or disagree?
1. Other questions to consider in your essay:
1. If a novel is to teach young people by exemplifying wisdom and eloquence, then why on earth should we read Huck Finn? 
2. Is Mark Twain racist? 
3. Is Huck racist?
2. Guidelines: 
1. Use 5 Vocabulary words from Unit 8 in manner that demonstrates their proper meanings. Word bank is on the wall. Underline vocab words. 
2. 3-4 paragraphs.
3. Underline your Thesis. Highlight your quotes.
4. 3 quotes total to support your point of view taken from the following sources:
1. 2 from Huck Finn the novel
2. 1 from either T. S. Eliot's Introduction or the Publisher's Weekly Article
5. Review HW:
1. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Vocabulary Unit 9 HW:
1. Pick any five words from Unit 9. Know each word's part of speech. Write a short paragraph that correctly uses these five words, is grammatically correct, and addresses of the following prompts:
1. Prompt 1: Describe your experience in the lunch line here at MV, compared to last year.
2. Prompt 2: What do you think is the value of Spiritual Emphasis Week? How was last week's? What like about it? What did you totally not like? 
3. Finish Huck Finn (for your own sake, if you've not already). 
4. Be perfect.

Bowdlerizing Huck Finn

"To be or not to be; that is the bare bodkin."

Today we dealing with a very controversial topic, the censuring of Twain's masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which also exposes the State's misunderstandings and the weakness of the public school system. You are, of course, entitled to disagree.

Agenda:

1. Pater noster
2. Read the Publisher's Weekly article on the "Bowdlerization" of Twain's Huck Finn. 
3. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Begin working on it.
4. Review HW:
1. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Study Bedford 11 and Vocab Unit 8.
3.  Be perfect.

Mr. Clemens, what is man that you are not mindful of him?

Today is an assessment day. There are several recurrent themes we have discussed in relation to Huck Finn, and in order to get greater understanding of the novel we will begin the first of three analytical essays.

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Discuss Reading Journal on Jack London's "To Build a Fire" 
3. ICE (2/2): Huck Essay #1
1. Recently, you read Twain's essay, "The Lowest Animal" and found his view of mankind to have "descended" from the other animals. His sarcasm is clear enough. From that essay and from T.S. Eliot's introduction, show Twain's "misanthropy" in the novel Huck Finn. Point out specific places in the text of Huck Finn (use quotes) that reveal Twain's low view of mankind.
1. Guidelines for this Essay: 
1. 4-5 paragraphs / MLA Format
2. 3 Quotes Total: 2 from Huck Finn / 1 quote from "The Lowest Animal" 
3. Highlight your quotes.
4. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Begin working on it.
5. Review HW:
1. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Study Bedford 11 and Vocab Unit 8.
3.  Be perfect.

"Man is the only animal that blushes."

Today we are looking looking into Mark Twain's acrimonious view of mankind; he finds fault with the Darwinian theory and instead posits The Descent of Man. It is, of course, that Twain's bad theology and mocking behaviors transformed him into a bitter man. As we shall see Twain takes a "low" view Man, and he is no Humanist. There is one virtue in his characterization, however; he reminds us of that Biblical doctrine of the radical corruption of mankind, that is, man is a sinner.
Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Study, review, and discuss Huck Finn
3. Huck Finn Quiz: Chapters 36-The Last 
4. Read "The Lowest Animal" by Mark Twain (p. 469 in LB) 
5. Review HW: 
1. Do Vocab HW (due 2/5) for Unit 8: Pick any 5 words from Unit 8. Know each word's part of speech, etc. Write a short paragraph that correctly uses these 5 words, is grammatically correct, and addresses one of the following prompts:
1. Prompt 1: We have been reading about Huck's adventures. Explain a time when you made a decisive change your life or embarked on an adventure of your own.  
2. Prompt 2: Explain your ideal government and civilization and why.
2. Read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn --
   DO THE READING!
1. Check out the Reading Schedule.
2. Study the Huck Finn Reading Questions
3. Get a free audio version: Lit2Go and LibriVox. Both are available as Podcast. Also, some audio versions are available on Youtube. Grover Gardener is a wonderful reader of Huck Finn. You need someone of the south. Regionalism depends on it.

Note the more accurate versions:

When churchyards yawn in customary suits of solemn black...

Today we are still moving with Huck along the inscrutable and majestic river. T. S. Eliot says, "Huck Finn must come from nowhere and be bound for nowhere." Such is also is the essence of Huck's many adventures. The troubles Huck faces emerge and disappear almost as in a dream, and perhaps it is this quality of fantasy that gives the novel is buoyancy to transcend the boring Realist novels of its time. Twain might be a Realist and a Pessimist, but he knows how to tell a good story.  

Agenda:

1. Pater noster
2. Read Huck Finn
3. Lecture and discuss significant parts of Huck
4. Review HW: 
1. Do Vocab HW (due 2/5) for Unit 8: Pick any 5 words from Unit 8. Know each word's part of speech, etc. Write a short paragraph that correctly uses these 5 words, is grammatically correct, and addresses one of the following prompts:
1. Prompt 1: We have been reading about Huck's adventures. Explain a time when you made a decisive change your life or embarked on an adventure of your own.  
2. Prompt 2: Explain your ideal government and civilization and why.
2. Read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn --
   DO THE READING!
1. Check out the Reading Schedule.
2. Study the Huck Finn Reading Questions
3. Get a free audio version: Lit2Go and LibriVox. Both are available as Podcast. Also, some audio versions are available on Youtube. Grover Gardener is a wonderful reader of Huck Finn. You need someone of the south. Regionalism depends on it.

The Mystery of the Big Muddy - Part II: Rollin' on the River

Today is sort of a review day, a corporate discussion of where we were, where we are now, and where we are going. By now, you should be with Huck rolling on the river, where the "adventures" of the story truly begin. We will discuss the river more later. And next week we will spend more time discussing Huck Finn in light of Twain's other writings. Today we are doing more review of Realism and of Huck Finn.

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
5. Finish reading Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
6. Reading Journal (1/28): Life on the Mississippi
1. What is the extended metaphor that Twain uses to describe the process of learning to navigate the river up and down the Mississippi?
2. At the end, Twain laments, "All the grace and beauty had gone out of the river." Why does he say this? How does this concluding thought place this story belongs in the period of Realism? 
3. How does Twain's descriptions of the river inform the adventures of Huck Finn?
7. Review HW:
1. Read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn --
   DO THE READING!
1. Check out the Reading Schedule.
2. Study the Huck Finn Reading Questions
3. Get a free audio version: Lit2Go and LibriVox. Both are available as Podcast. Also, some audio versions are available on Youtube. Grover Gardener is a wonderful reader of Huck Finn. You need someone of the south. Regionalism depends on it.
2. Be perfect.