Literary Analysis "The Gift of the Magi"

How to Write about Irony in a Literary Essay

Look over this article about how to write about irony found in a story.  Next, read "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry.  Write an analysis of the story based on the author's use of two literary devices, irony is one device and you may choose the other. 

Merry Christmas

What does AP Literature want for Christmas?

The True Meaning of Christmas

A Doubtful Christmas is a story about the value of hard work.  Read this enjoyable, true story and answer the following question:  Have we lost the true meaning of Christmas? Choose a side and argue it.

Conflict

"Odour of Chrysanthemums"

Read this short story and talk about the conflicts in the story.  Then, discuss with your classmates your ideas for conflict in your own short story.

"And So It Began"

It is time to jump into your short story! Write the introduction to your short story. In addition writing YOUR introduction, you also must comment on EVERYONE else's introduction. Give the writer some feedback and suggest one change. Everyone has to respond to every post this week. To ensure there is ample time for comments, please try and complete your introduction and post it by Saturday.

The Necklace

After reading "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, discuss what makes it a good short story. What elements does it contain? Think about the stories plot and structure. React to the characterization. Consider the theme. What about the point of view? How does the author's decision on point of view effect the story? And finally, what role does irony play in the success of the story?

All Saints Day

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2013/10/homily-for-november-1-2013-all-saints-day/ Follow the provided link to a homily given by Deacon Greg Kandra. If the link is not working, you will have to type in the url. In the homily, he gives examples of "unlikely saints". Respond to his homily noting any literary devices he uses. At the same time, think about what he is saying and discern what actions and thoughts you have exemplified this week that have gotten you closer to sainthood. You may share or not share those thoughts in the blog. Also, include an example of an "unlikely saint" who has been canonized by the Catholic Church.

Happy Halloween!

Tell the story of Halloween from the perspective of a piece of candy.

A Tale of Two Cities

http://www.chicagonow.com/being-catholic-really/2010/12/a-tale-of-two-cities/

Read this article and respond to how you might apply the lessons from A Tale of Two Cities to your world. 

Ha! Ha! Ha!

We had the luxury of hearing a professional comedian in school on Friday.  Give examples of how "Bubba Bradley" used some or all of the four elements of satire in his routine.  Some were more obvious than others.  Do your best to analyze his routine using those elements.  He also talked about using humor to advance your ideas and opportunities.  I might argue that writing satire is one of the most difficult genres and requires a lot of discipline as well as creativity.  End your post with a joke.  It can be original or borrowed, but it must be clean. 


Q: What do you say when you are comforting an English teacher?
A: There, Their, They're

Paradox, Overstatment, Understatment and Irony

 Read "The Last Leaf" and tell us how it fits into the chapter dealing with figurative language in terms of paradox, overstatement, understatement and/or irony. 

Something Old, Something New

I would like for you to reflect this week on how far you have come in AP Literature.  What have you learned, in what ways are you still struggling and what skills do you most look forward to mastering?  Sometimes an honest self assessment is the best way to move forward!

Poetry Presentations

What an adventurous week with poetry!    Your task for this blog is to write an overview of the week, focusing on what you believe to be the most educational moment for you.  Support your moment with evidence.  Then, what is it that you learned from each group that helps you to know more and to understand more the interpretation of poetry? Be sure to show your appreciation and satisfaction in the presenters. 

Simile and Metaphor

This week in class, we talked a lot about similes and metaphors.  Find three examples of metaphor or simile in the New American Bible.  Present all three in the blog and choose one that resonates with you and tell us why. 

Today in class you read and analyzed Seamus Heaney's poem Sonnet #5 from Clearances.  In the email I sent to you this morning, the poem is analyzed by two different people in very different ways.  To which interpretation are you drawn?  and why?  Or did you have a different interpretation of the poem?  You may include any interesting poetic devices you or your group discovered today using TP-CASST or FRACTIONS. 

One week down, a whole lot of thinking to go.  Read the following story and relate it to "THE DARK FOREST" in Things Fall Apart.  Is it possible for a place to be overtaken by evil?  Think globally about how good and evil battle it out, specifically in a place or location.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/church-turned-abortion-clinic-now-a-pro-life-haven/

Summer

Testing
What is your favorite book?