Last Thursday before Winter Break!

Block A:  Today we watched Act 2 of Macbeth and started to read Act 3 - we only got to the end of scene 4 - we will finish Act 3 in January.

Bock C:  Today we finished The Tempest!!! Well-done to all the readers today! I handed out the assignment for the final Tempest project. It is not required that you work on it over break - but I wanted you to have it so that you could at least start thinking about it.  Here are the questions for Act 5:

1. What do you think of the ending of the play and the epilogue?

2.  If you had written the play, would you have ended it differently? Explain your answer.

3.  What ironic comment does Prospero make when Miranda marvels at the "brave new world" (5.1.186)? What do you think he means by this comment?

4.  What significant gesture does Antonio not make at the end of the play? What might Shakespeare be saying about the power of art by this omission?

5. In many ways, Prospero is similar to a god. In other ways, he is not. List characteristics that make him seem both like and unlike a god. Then decide what Shakespeare thought about Prospero's godlike status. Use the evidence you list to support your position.

6.  Prospero forgives all of the men who have wronged him, even those who have not repented. Was he right or wrong to forgive all of them? Previously, we discussed experiences about forgiveness. Apply your answer to real life. Under what circumstances should be convicted of crimes or paroled or pardoned?

Block D:  Today we continued watching Act 2 of the movie Romeo and Juliet, then we joined with Mr. Mah's class for an awesome game of Pictionary. Congratulations to Mr. Mah's class for a hard fought game - well done!