Week 12, Semester 2, Work Due April 4th

Weekly Usuals

Reminder: bring your A Separate Peace next week.

A. SAT Grammar Concept--skipped this week, will pick up next.

B. Poetry Wall--Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay"

To celebrate spring, we will memorize "Nothing Gold Can Stay."  Be sure you can recite it effortlessly.  Expect a quiz or recitation.

Take and post an original photo that somehow connects to the poem. If you'd rather be artsy and draw/paint and post your piece of art, that works too.

Nothing Gold Can Stay Wall--both classes

C. Poetry Journal 

Print Robert Frost's poem"Birches" (just page one of this four page document) and paste it in your journal. 

Listen to Robert Frost read the poem while you read it. 

Answer the following questions in your poetry journal:
1. Describe what the poem is about literally.  What is happening in the poem, image by image.
2. What is the poem about thematically?  What does Frost struggle with and what does the birch tree symbolize?
3. Write out and explain two similes Frost uses in the poem.
4. Write out and explain a metaphor Frost uses.
5. Why does Frost personify Truth?  What is he contrasting with it?
6. Why do you think Frost italicizes the word toward? What is he emphasizing with this choice?
7. What do you think the last line means?

Other Work

Read A Separate Peace, chapters 5-10 and answer the study guide questions.  You'll turn these in next class.

A Separate Peace is full of Biblical allusions.  Several allusions are drawn from the book of Genesis.  Read the following passages and answer the questions:

Genesis, Chapters 2-3

1. How many rivers are mentioned?

2. What tree does God tell the man not to eat from and why?

3. What reasoning does the serpent use to convince Eve to eat from this tree?

4. What emotions do Adam and Eve experience when they eat from the tree and God looks for them?

5. What are the consequences of their decision?

6.  In what ways is this story reflected in the actions of Gene, Finny and the tree?  What parallels are there between the two?

Another allusion is to the story of Cain and Abel (the sons of Adam & Eve).  Read the following passages and answer the questions:

Genesis, Chapter 4:1-16

1. What is Cain's occupation?  Abel's?

2. What was the cause of Cain's anger?  

3. What is God's response to Cain's anger?

4. What crime does Cain commit?

5. When God asks Cain where his brother is, what is his reply? 

6. Describe the consequences of Cain's decision.

7.  In what ways is this story reflected in Gene & Phineas's relationship?  

8. Why do you think John Knowles chose to weave these ancient allusions into his novel?  What point do you think he is trying to make?

After reading chapters 5-10, I want you to think about is how the following symbols/motifs are used. Write down and briefly identify the significance of each in the novel.  Click on the links to read analysis that will help you think through them.

*Rural Devon

*Finny's broken leg

*Sports/war  (what parallels are there between the two, think about Blitzball and look up Blitzkrieg in WWII)

*seasons 

*Devon River vs. Naguamsett River (read the analysis part of this)

*Winter Carnival 

*the phrase/title "A Separate Peace"

Here are some famous pieces of propaganda inspired by inspired by WWII.

Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms," 1943 based on President Franklin D. Roosevelt's
January 1941 "Four Freedoms" State of the Union Address

"We Can Do It," J. Howard Miller, made for Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing, 1942

Seymour Goff, "This Poster is Published by the House of Seagram
as part of its contribution to the National Victory Effort," 1942