8th Graders Gettin' Crazy in the Woods: End of Summer Video

Enjoy! Thanks for an amazing summer!

Mischief Go! Puck's Music Video

The grass grows green in the woods tonight

Not a mortal to be seen

A kingdom of nymphs and fairies

And it looks like Obe’s the king

The trees are swaying like the swirling storm inside

Couldn’t keep it in, Zeus knows I tried

Don’t let them in, Don’t let them see

Be the messenger you always have to be

Conceal don’t feel, don’t let them know

Well now they know

Mischief Go

Mischief Go

Can’t hold it back anymore

Mischief Go

Mischief Go, go and girdle the whole world

I don’t care, what Obe’s going to say

Let love juice knave on

His wrath never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how some distance

Makes everything seem small

And the fears that once controlled me

Can’t get to me at all

It’s time to see what I can do

To test the mortals and break through

No right no wrong, no rules for me, I’m free

Mischief Go

Mischief Go

I’m a mad spirit passing by

Mischief Go

Mischief Go, I’ll laugh when you cry

Here I stand

And here I stay

In the woods of Athens

My power flowing through flower into their eyes

My soul is spiraling in love potions by and by

And one Athenian mistakes my fairy glance

I have to quick go back

True love has come and passed

Mischief Go

Mischief Go

And I’ll go look, how I go

Mischief Go

Mischief Go

Swifter than an arrow

An honest Puck

With a love to fright

Let bewitching on

They call me Merry wanderer of the night. 

You are a Donkey Act 3 Scene 1

"You are a Donkey" by Bell 3 of Breakthrough 2013

Act 2 Scene 2 Slides to Accompany the Guided Notes

 Puck enters the scene. He is in search of Demetrius (the disdainful Athenian youth who is mean to the Athenian lady, Helena). Through the forest have I gone, But Athenian found I none On whose eyes I might approve This flower's force in stirring love. (He sees Lysander.)

Night and silence! Who is here? Weeds of Athens he doth wear. This is he my master said Despised the Athenian maid. Puck sees Lysander, but he believes it to be Demetrius. Oberon only told him to look for a man in Athenian weeds (Athenian clothing). This would mean he was wearing a toga. 

Furthermore, Lysander is lying alone on the dark and dank ground. Hermia told him to lie further off and not lie so near. Thus he moves away from Hermia and lets her sleep alone. Because of this, Puck believes the couple looks like they do not love eachother. This makes him believe that it is indeed Demetrius and Helena.

He annoints Lysander's eyes. Churl, upon thy eyes I throw All the power this charm doth owe. (He annoints Lysander's eyelids with the nectar.)

When thou wak'st, let love forbid 

Sleep his seat on thy eyelid.

So,awake when I am gone, 

For I must now to Oberon.

Puck puts the love juice on Lysander (who he thinks is Demetrius's) eyes. 

Enter Helena and Demetrius. Stay on thy peril. I alone will go. (Demetrius exits.)

Demetrius leaves Helena in the woods as he continues to pursue Hermia and Lysander. 

Hermia is exhausted; she can't take this rejection anymore.

O, I am out of breath in this fond chase. 

The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace (the more I try, the more he hates me)

Happy is Hermia, wheresoe'er she lies,

For she hath blessed and attractive eyes.

How came her eyes so bright? Not with salt tears.

If so, my eyes are oftener washed than hers. 

Helena says here that Hermia has beautiful eyes. She wonders how she came to have these beautiful eyes. She says Hermia could not have gotten them from salt tears, for Helena has "washed" (cried) her eyes many more times than Hermia because of her sorrow over Demetrius.

What happens when Lysander is awakened???  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RcAT24Wesk

Not good. Not good at all. Lysander now madly dotes on fair Helena. 

Content with Hermia? No, I do repent

the tedious minutes I with her have spent. 

Not Hermia, but Helena I love.

 He compares Helena to a dove (right) and Hermia to a raven (left)

This is a metaphor. Helena is a dove. 

He says that he is like fruit that has now grown ripe and with this growth, he has grown reason.

His reason is telling him that Helena is the worthier maid.

Helena, however, is appalled at Lysander's behavior. She thinks he is mocking her:

Wherefore was I to this keen mockery born? When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?

Is 't not enough, it 't not enough, young man, 

That I did never, no, nor never can

Deserve a sweet look from Demeetrius' eye.

She thought that Lysander was a kinder and more gentle man than the one she is currently seeing and is very disappointed in him. Hermia is her best friend, how could he do such a thing?

Read the final ten lines of Act 2 Scene 2 when Hermia awakens to Lysander gone and to a bad _______________.

Read Lines 152-163 Hermia wakes up in the wood.  

Helena's Monologue Act 1 Scene 1: Love is Blind

Helena's Monologue Act 1 Scene 1


I found this awesome version of Helena's monologue in Act 1 Scene 1. The performer sums it up perfectly, "Instead of attacking her 'bf' (Hermia), Helena attacks the concept of love itself."

Watch it when you have a free minute!

Key and Amy Absence Video

Watch this video and fill out Guided Notes #26 

Thanks,

                 Kristie 

I Know a Bank Where the Wild Thyme Blows... King Oberon Remix

Midsummer Story Song

Midsummer Story

We were both young, when I first saw you

I close my eyes and flashback starts

We’re standing there

On a balcony in midsummer air

See the lights, see the wedding of Theseus

See you make your way through the woods

And say hello

Little did I know

That you were Lysander, you were throwing love vows

And my daddy said stay away from HERMIA

And I was crying on the staircase begging you please don’t go

And I said Lysander meet me somewhere we can be alone

Let’s run away to your aunts, they’ll never know

You’ll be the duke and the duchess

It’s a love story

Baby just say yes

So I sneak out to the woods to see you

We keep quiet cause we’re dead if they knew

But I told Helena

And she has a big mouth outh

OH OH

Cause She’s in love with Demie and wanted his attention

But my daddy said stay away from Demetrius

But he was everything to her and you were begging her not to go oh

And I said Lysander meet me somewhere we can be alone

Let’s run away to your aunt's, they’ll never know

You’ll be the duke and the duchess

It’s a love story

Baby just say yes

Lysander, save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel

This love is difficult, but it’s Shakespeare

Don’t be afraid, we’ll make it out of this mess

Midsummer Night’s Dream, Baby just say yes.

Oh Oh Oh

I got tired of waiting

Wondering if he was ever coming back

My faith in him was fading, when I met him on the outskirts of town

Lysander save me, I’ve been feeling so alone

I’ll keep waiting for you but you  never come

Is this in my head, I don’t know what to think

I had a bad dream, but he pulled out a ring and said

Marry me Hermia, you’ll never have to be alone

I LOVE you, and that’s all I really know

The course of true love never did run smooth

Midsummer Night’s Dream, baby just say yes

Metaphors and Similes

Metaphor:
A comparison or analogy stated in such a way as to imply that one object is another one, figuratively speaking.

 Simile:
An analogy or comparison implied by using an adverb such as like or as.

Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur

Video: Oral Story Telling of Myth of Theseus

Watch video and think about the following questions:

1. Why is Theseus so respected after he becomes king of Athens?

2. What is the dynamic between gods and mortals in this story?
          Think about Dionysus and Theseus' mutual love for Ariadne and who comes out the victor?
           Think about Poseidon's revenge for not being honored on the island Crete

Character List
-Theseus (King of Athens, son of King Aegeus)
-King Minos (son of Zeus and Europa)
-Pasiphae (daughter of Sun God, wife of King Minos)
-Daedalus (architect for Minos; designed palace, wooden cow, maze, and escape plan from the maze)
-Ariadne (daughter of Minos, saves Theseus by giving him string in exchange for his love)
-Minotaur (half human, half bull; son of Pasiphae; revenge by Poseidon)
-Dionysus (god of wine; steals Ariadne from Theseus)

Introduction to Shakespeare: The Context of his Theater

16th Century England:

          -Shakespeare was born in 1564 (over 400 years ago!) 

          -Queen Elizabeth was queen during William Shakespeare's career

           -Queen Elizabeth was daughter of Henry VIII and was a supporter of the theater

Changes during the 16th Century:

         1. Reformation: the Catholic Church split into the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church     during this time. For three monarchs, England switched back and forth between Catholic and Protestant


          2. Printing Press: Johannes Gutenberg invented a machine that could print books so no longer did scribes or monks have to copy by hand the bible and other notable texts. This made for wider access to books, bibles, and other literature. It also increased literacy.

          3. Expansion: Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The 1500s or 16th century marks the beginning of colonization in the western world. The world just grew double its size for no one knew of the North and South America before exploration of the 15th and 16th century. 

William Shakespeare:

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in his lifetime of three genres
        1. Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing
        2. Tragedies: Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Hamlet
        3. Histories: King Henry and King Richard series of plays  


Shakespeare the Hip Hop Artist: 

Flyin’ High – Hip Hop

“Touch the Sky” by Kanye West

I gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra fly For the day I die, I'mma touch the sky.

Flyin’ High – Shakespeare

Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet 1.4.17-18

You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound.

Our Classroom

8th Grade Literature is a theater, reading, literature, literary devices, grammar, writing, and analysis class! 

 We want to explore Shakespeare's works as someone in the 17th century would have done in Shakespeare's Globe Theater. We have prepared our exploration by learning about Greek Mythology's characters, heroes, and gods. We have learned about the oral tradition of Greek Mythology by presenting myths as the Muses would have done as well as oral story tellers.


 We have begun to act out A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as watch professional actors act it out.

 Classroom Structure

Greeting at the Door: Students in each class compete against one another by racing to see who can come into class and be prepared to begin the fastest each week. (Shake my hand, come in, take out binder, stand for the chant). 

Class Chant: We begin each class with a chant that allows us to forget everything that was going on before we entered our classroom. This chant allows us to get excited to learn as well as focused and prepared. 

Here in this class

We work hard to excel

The expectations are high

But we will apply

Ourselves.

I came to learn

I came to soar

I came to do more

Than the minimum.

My head is up

My shoulders are back

My confidence is right on track.

Are you ready? 

Are you ready?

We're ready.

Let's go! 

Swag Tags: Each week, classes compete against each other to get the most swag tags through home practice completion (on time and complete), meeting expectations in behavior, enthusiastic participation in the classroom chant and closing monologue, and in outstanding or insightful comments or assignments done by students. 

Home Practice; Students take out their home practice to be collected. Students are given their graded home practice back and file it away in their Literature Section and Table of Contents. 

-If all students in a class complete their home practice, we sing the home practice song while each student puts a "Swag Tag" in their class's jar.  

Shakespeare Starter: Students begin each class with a Shakespeare Starter that is a short review of yesterday's lesson or the home practice from the night before. 

Lesson/Practice:

Closing Monologue: We end our class in the way of Puck (Robin Goodfellow) ends A Midsummer Night's Dream: 

If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended:

That you have but slumb'red here,

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,

(Oh) No more yielding but a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend:

If thou pardon, we will mend. 

And, as I am an honest Puck,

If we have unearned luck

Now to scape the serpent's tongue,

We will make amends ere long;

Else the Puck a liar call:

So, good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin shall restore amends. 

Contact Me

Email ............................ kjones@norfolkacademy.org


Phone ............................ On your contact information sheet at the beginning of your Literature Tab


Class Blog ....................... btna8gradelit.blogspot.com