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