Friday, 12/11/15

Due Today
Moby Dick: Madness/Insanity Questions

Agenda

Final Exam Review
Today, I passed out study guides to help the students review for the final exam. I also went over a PowerPoint presentation for further review. You can find the PowerPoint here: http://www.slideshare.net/secret/9wUUyKscym4uIZ

Thursday, 12/10/15

Due Today
Moby Dick: Fate & Free Will Questions

Agenda

Moby Dick Theme #3 - Madness/Insanity
Today, we discussed the theme of madness and insanity as it applies to Moby Dick. Then, students were to answer the following questions about madness/insanity:

(1) Why does Melville specifically emphasize that Ahab’s madness is a form of "monomania" (obsession with a single thing)?
(2) In what respects is Ahab sane? In what respects is he insane?
(3) How does Ahab’s monomania interact with his status as a tragic hero? Does it make him more heroic or more tragic, or less of either?
(4) Would we understand Ahab’s character differently if he had had a straightforward psychotic break rather than a madness that develops slowly, over a long period of time, after his encounter with Moby Dick?

Homework
Finish the madness/insanity questions due tomorrow, 12/11/15.

Wednesday, 12/9/15

Due Today
Moby Dick: Revenge Questions

Agenda

Moby Dick Theme #2 - Fate & Free Will
Discuss the theme of fate and free will as it applies to Moby Dick. Then, students are to answer the following questions about fate and free will:

(1) Do the characters in Moby-Dick have unavoidable destinies? Consider especially (a) Ahab, (b) Ishmael, and (c) Starbuck.
(2) Why does Ishmael alone escape the wreck of the Pequod? Is there something that marks him out as different from the rest of the crew, or is it simply blind chance?

Homework
Finish the fate and free will questions due tomorrow, 12/10/15.

Tuesday, 12/8/15

Agenda

Moby Dick Theme #1 - Revenge
Today, we will discuss the theme of revenge as it applies to Moby Dick. Then, students are to answer the following questions about revenge:

(1) Why are the characters in this novel, including Ishmael, so easily caught up in Captain Ahab’s revenge quest?
(2) Can a person take a revenge upon an element of nature?
(3) Is Captain Ahab’s quest for revenge on the White Whale doomed to failure from the start?
(4) What is Ahab actually taking revenge for—the loss of his leg, his suffering, his anger, something else, all of the above?
(5) How do Starbuck’s objections to Captain Ahab help us gain perspective on the revenge quest?

Homework
Finish the revenge questions due tomorrow, 12/9/15.

Monday, 12/7/15 - Minimum Day

Due Today
Moby Dick Debate Questions (due at the end of the period after the debate)

Agenda

Moby Dick - Class Debate
Students were split into two groups and had debate whether or not Captain Ahab is a tragic hero.

Friday, 12/4/15

Due Today
Moby Dick Summary (p. 36-370)

Agenda

Moby Dick - Discussion
Today, we discussed p. 366-70.

Moby Dick - Class Debate
Have students answer (in writing) and review the following questions to prepare for Monday’s debate:

• Pro Tragic Hero Questions
• What was Captain Ahab’s tragic flaw?
• How does he display hubris?
• What brings about his downfall?

• Anti Tragic Hero Questions
• Why do you think Captain Ahab does not have a tragic flaw?
• Why do you think he does not display hubris?
• What kind of man do you think Captain Ahab was?

Homework

Debate questions due Monday, 12/7/15

Thursday, 12/3/15

Due Today
Moby Dick Summary (p. 361-365)

Agenda

Moby Dick
Today, we discussed the previous day’s reading. Then, students were to read p. 366-370.

Homework
Write a short summary of p. 366-370.  Be sure to include characters and setting in your summary. Due tomorrow, 12/4/15.

Wednesday, 12/2/15

Due Today
Moby Dick Summary (p. 354-360)

Agenda

Moby Dick
Today, we discussed the previous day’s reading. Then, students were to read p. 361-365.

Homework
Write a short summary of p. 361-365.  Be sure to include characters and setting in your summary. Due tomorrow, 12/3/15.

Tuesday, 12/1/15

Agenda

Moby Dick
Students were to read p. 354-360 in class.

Homework
Write a short summary of p. 354-360.  Be sure to include characters and setting in your summary. Due tomorrow, 12/2/15.

Monday, 11/30/15

Agenda

Herman Melville
As an introduction to Moby Dick, students were tasked with finding 10 facts about Herman Melville using their textbooks (p. 352) or the Internet. To be turned in at the end of the period with tragic hero notes.

Tragic Hero Notes
Students took notes from the Tragic Hero ppt. To be turned in at the end of the period with the Herman Melville Facts.

Tragic Hero Exercise
Students were given a list of modern day tragic heroes.  If they saw a name on the list that they were familiar with, they were to explain why they thought that person was a tragic hero.