A Good Tuesday

I'm sure you thought it was good--no quiz or assessment today!  Please take care of make-ups promptly if you were absent either Friday or Monday:  be here by 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, after school on Wednesday, or for the DECA folks just returning tomorrow, after school on Thursday.

Other important reminders:

• Thursday--Final draft of the personal essay.  Have all parts together, with the cover sheet, and turned in to turnitin.com before submitting materials to me.
• Friday--Resume and typed response to Question #1 in to the Career Center.  I have to sign you off on it first.

TODAY IN CLASS
Hand-out with the opening 85 or so lines of Beowulf.  Traits of a good king, the relationship between success as a warrior and status in society (and even immortality), the trade-offs of "open-handed" treasure and loyalty, the tradition of richly-laden funeral ships, the importance of genealogies in heroic texts, the Anglo-Saxon assumption that Fate can be tweaked, and the blending of pagan and Christian traditions (as evidenced by familiarity with the Bible) were all explored as we discussed these early lines. 

We also got started on the part where your book picks up, with the introduction of Grendel--what sparked his irritation, continued evidence of the poet's familiarity with Genesis, and the explanation of Grendel's heritage (balancing the genealogy of kings with the genealogy of evil, opposing forces).

FOR TOMORROW
Read p. 39-to the top of p.46 in your book:  The Wrath of Grendel and The Coming of Beowulf
(Of course, if you were in class, the first 20-some lines are review).

Also on Wednesday--4th period will receive Participation Cards; in 6th, be sure to get one if you were absent today.