Thur/Friday

SUMMER READING Library page link: Shakespeare, Joyce, Austen, etc.

HOMEWORK:  Read The Bean Trees to page 189 for MONDAY (I'll give you time in class)
You are going to have to hustle to finish this book. As I said before, I'll give you some reading time in class and we will discuss

1.547 SAT words  Quiz 

Words: malign, pensive, ulterior, superfluous, prodigal, ignominious, caustic, implicit, nemesis, dearth, esoteric,  ethereal
2. Finish Of Mice and Men Questions. Write 1/3-1/2 page answers to each of the following four questions. Find specific examples from the book to support your answers. Work in groups but each person must write answers.

• What is the significance of the title of the novella? 
• How does it relate to themes in Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse"?  Click the link To a Mouse, Original and Modern Translation, and read the poem. Then discuss why you think Steinbeck chose this title (be sure to discuss parallels between the themes in the book and themes in the poem). Pay particular attention to the following lines
• "the best-laid schemes of Mice and Men go oft awry (away from the planned course).
  "I'm truly sorry Man's dominion has broken Nature's social union"
  "Still, friend, you're blessed compared with me! . . . Only present dangers make you flee
• What does this book have to say about corporate America/Capitalism/big business? 
• What does this book have to say about social responsibility (how we should treat our fellow human beings)?
• What does this book have to say about the American Dream

3. Final project for the semester: film a scene from one of the novels studied this semester. In addition to the scene, you will create a director's commentary concerning the artistic choices made to develop themes in the book/movie. Fun! WE WILL WATCH THESE MOVIES DURING THE FINAL EXAM PERIOD

Movie Project

BEAN TREES Final reading comprehension test Thur/Friday 9th/10th. Final vocab 9th/10th