Month: January 2011

  • Not only marble, but the plastic toys

    “Not only marble, but the plastic toys” by Wendy Cope is a parody of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet LV”. Theme: Creative works cannot endure. Techniques: Sonnet structure, comparison, parody, allusion. Issues: See Shakespeare’s “Sonnet LV”. Summarize this sonnet in your own words using your summary of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet LV” as a starting point or model. Do you…

  • Sonnet LV

    Not marble, nor the gilded monuments Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme; But you shall shine more bright in these contents Than unswept stone besmear’d with sluttish time. When wasteful war shall statues overturn, And broils root out the work of masonry, Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn The living…

  • As in the Beginning

    “As in the Beginning” by Mary di Michele is a grimly realistic retelling of events that express regret, anger and bitterness. Theme: A person’s loss of limb can never be adequately recompensed with money; when someone we love is injured, his/her pain can become ours. Techniques: parallel structure simile alliteration personification understatement Issues: What makes…

  • Response to Novel or Story

    Create a sculpture of a character. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture. Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity…

  • A Red Red Rose

    O my luve is like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June; My love is like the melodie That’s sweetly played in tune. As fair art thou, my bonny lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry. Till a’ the…

  • Life in Our Village

    “Life in Our Village” by Matei Markwei is an easily understood, childlike , loosely rhyming poem, that expresses a universal truth about youthful love. Discussion Questions: Theme: What is the universal truth in “Life in Our Village”? Boys and girls will do what comes naturally; love cannot be forbidden or exiled. Technique: What techniques does…