Please note changes to homework assignment!!!
In yesterday's class we stumbled through a thorough annotation of Act1 Scene1 of Hamlet.
I am hoping that this gives you a general idea of the extent that you are to annotate your text.
Something important to keep in mind:
If you are flying through your text as if it were a fun or casual reading.... Then you are doing it Wrong!!
When you begin the process of annotating, it WILL be time consuming. You will be reading and rereading the same verses 2-10x. You WILL be flipping back and forth between the original text, modern text and a dictionary. You will be making predictions and/ or assumptions, making notes in your margin, reading ahead..., only to flip back 2 pages to make another note or verify a prediction.
It will take practice and effort on your part, but this is why we will work slowly through the book. You will not devour the text... But will take small bites. You will chew and chew and chew on the material... Only to chew it again before digesting. Eventually, the process of annotating will become easier. You will process things faster... And it will become far less cumbersome.
If you have ANY questions as to whether or not you are being thorough enough, refer to the annotation check list in your text!!!! REMEMBER, the amount of highlighting and notes in your text is completely dependent on the substance of the text. As a general rule of thumb... Simple one-line dialogue will have a lot less annotation than a monologue of several verses.
Materials needed For Annotation
- Pen/pencil ( different colors if preferred)
- Highlighter (several different colors)
- Colored pencil (if preferred)
- Alert mind
- A color coded key of your own choosing which indicates the purpose of each highlighter color (optional)
- Dictionary
- Annotation checklist
- List of literary devices to look for
- Book
For this week:
Assignment 1
Please annotate the rest of Act 1 Scene 1 as well as Act 1 Scene 2.
Your annotations will be checked. You will not receive a grade for annotation this week but for all future classes, we will be using the annotation rubric discussed in class to evaluate your annotations.
For those of you brave enough and eager for a bonus that would replace 1 major quiz/essay grade with an A+
Please fully annotate the following verse from Act 1 Scene 1
And explain the wittiness and genius of the language used. This must be turned I prior to class on a separate sheet of paper.
Hint: remember that the modern translation is simply a translation with general meaning and does very little to accentuate the clever use of literary devices and artistry in the text.
HORATIO
A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye.
In the most high and palmy state of Rome,
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,
The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets
As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun, and the moist star
Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.
And even the like precurse of feared events,
As harbingers preceding still the fates
And prologue to the omen coming on,
Have heaven and earth together demonstrated
Unto our climatures and countrymen.
Assignment 2
Please outline and write a short essay on the character development of any character of your choosing from
The Once and future King .
Your essay should be 3-5 paragraphs ( preferably 5)
And consist of an intro, 3 main points and a conclusion.
Your essay will be graded primarily on content.
Your outline for the essay is due January 14th and must be turned in prior to class
The essay will be due on January 21st.
