Midsummer, Redux

Choose one of the following three prompts and respond to it in a thoughtful comment.

1. Imagine yourself as either a commoner or noble during the early 1600s. Which parts of the play would you have enjoyed the most, and which would you have not understood? Why?

2.Even though this play was first staged hundreds of years ago, do you find the lessons on love it holds still relevant today? Which lessons? Why?

3. At the end of the play, Puck says:

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

Would you have applauded or hissed at the end of this play? Explain.

Lysander Got A New 'Stache

Insults!

Find an insult in A Midsummer Night's Dream and translate it for a modern audience.

Tim O'Brien and Homer

Make one connection between The Things They Carried and the Odyssey. The connection can be about character, plot, theme, style--anything. Please explain for us the connection you see and why. Refer directly to the text(s) if possible.

Blind love?

In your opinion, is Helena's view of love in her monologue still true today? (Act I, Scene I, Lines 232-257) Explain your reasoning.

Week 10 Vocabulary

Tell us how you feel about one of the following topics: homework, parents, art, sports, or dessert. Use at least 4 vocabulary words to do so.

Instruction Rather than Silver, Knowledge Rather than Gold

(How many of you have noticed that the photo at the top of this blog comes from the movie, The Tree of Life?)

At this point in our studies of the biblical Wisdom Literature, which type of wisdom to you find most convincing, the wisdom of Proverbs and Psalms or the wisdom of Job and Ecclesiastes? Explain.