First and sixth periods worked on the ballad, determining some of the qualities of a ballad. We’ll be using this information to begin an extended writing using the Schaffer model.

Second and fourth periods went over the prologue to Romeo and Juliet.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

We made a few observations, including the fact that this is a sonnet.

Seventh period used the “Say Something” engagement with the first chapter of Hatchet.

Homework

• First and sixth periods: none.
• Second and fourth periods:
• turn in sonnet tomorrow;
• read Romeo and Juliet act 1 scene 1 to the prince’s extended speech;
• continue working on the Shakespearean language lesson (due Monday);
• study for midterm (on Tuesday 10 January 2012).
• Seventh period:
• finish chapter one of Hatchet;
• complete one reader’s journal entry for the chapter.