Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. -- G.K. C.

Rip Van Winkle asleep in the woods.

We are delving into the mysterious now. No more reductive, natural law; no more cold materialism. The world is charged with an inscrutable grandeur. There are limits to our understanding, ends to our rationalism. As Chesterton says, "Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. Mathematicians go mad, and cashiers; but creative artists very seldom." As you read today, consider what is inherently Romantic about Irving's story?

Agenda:

1. Lord's Prayer
2. Continue reading "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving (or find it online here; go to "next" at the bottom of each page to get to continue). You can also find it here. Finish this wonder story. Meditate upon it. Savor it.
3. Check American Romanticism Notes (p. 133-145)
4. Review HW:
1. Finish reading "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving (if you did not finish in class).
2. 2012 Presidential Election Essay
3. Vocabulary Unit 5 HW: 
1. Select any five words from Unit 5. Know each word's part of speech. Write a short paragraph that correctly uses these five words, is grammatically correct, and addresses one of the following prompts:
1. Prompt 1: Explain your effort and progress in any class you are currently taking.
2. Prompt 2: Write a paragraph that features some old dude who knows how to build stuff with his bare hands. While you watch him build, you learn about life. 
1. Underline or highlight the words. Note which prompt you choose. Turn it in hard copy.