AUDIO of ROTL's Cantos

Article 1


Article 2

ROTL CANTO 1 - lesson #2

Context

Pg. xiii  on your own, at some point, please read this that talk about how ROTL is Pope's own version of the Homeric Epic* 

Mock epic – shrinks immense scale to domestic size

Today we started by talking about the story:

Setting 
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The action takes place in London and its environs in the early 1700's on a single day. The story begins at noon (Canto I) at the London residence of Belinda as she carefully prepares herself for a gala social gathering. The scene then shifts (Canto II) to a boat carrying Belinda up the Thames. To onlookers she is as magnificent as Queen Cleopatra was when she traveled in her barge. The rest of the story (Cantos III-V) takes place where Belinda debarks–Hampton Court Palace, a former residence of King Henry VIII on the outskirts of London–except for a brief scene in Canto IV that takes place in the cave of the Queen of Spleen.  
. 
Characters 
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Belinda Beautiful young lady with wondrous hair, two locks of which hang gracefully in curls.  
The Baron Young admirer of Belinda who plots to cut off one of her locks. 
Ariel Belinda's guardian sylph (supernatural creature). 
Clarissa Young lady who gives the Baron scissors. 
Umbriel Sprite who enters the cave of the Queen of Spleen to seek help for Belinda.  
Queen of Spleen Underworld goddess who gives Umbriel gifts for Belinda. 
Thalestris Friend of Belinda. Thalestris urges Sir Plume to defend Belinda's honor. 
Sir Plume Beau of Thalestris. He scolds the Baron. 
Sylphs, Fairies, Genies, Demons, Phantoms and Other Supernatural Creatures

Group 1 summarize Canto 1; Group 2 summarize Canto 1.  Write on board.  Compare.

One of the Summary's: Belinda's guardian sylph sends her a dream warning of the dangers of vanity and man. Belinda wakes up and completely disregarding the dream, puts on makeup and makes herself beautiful.

Highlights of Canto 1:
-divine intervention by Ariel and sylphs
-personification in line 13
-allusion to Arabia on page 49
-page 49:  list
-repetition on page 47
-alliteration on top of 47
-epithets line 48-51 "beautious mold, soft transition..."
-opens in media res
-metaphor on page 49, line 138
-line 120 alliteration
-personification on page 46 & 49
-hamartia: lines 125-127 (hubris=vanity)
-line 113 warning of Ariel
-Theme is introduced at the beginning- 2nd line "What mighty contests rise from trivial things?"
-list on page 45, lines 28-34
-personification on same page!
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In pairs, assign one page and look for examples of epic poem devices and poetic devices (2 or 3 of each).

Opposing concepts are constantly set against each other either in the paired lines or in the halves of a single line. Alexander Pope is the reigning king of the heroic couplet and he uses it masterfully in The Rape of the Lock, enhancing the obvious distinctions between the trifling and the substantial. In Canto I, for instance, he likens Belinda's beauty regimen to a religious ritual, mocking her self-importance and pride with the comparison: "And now, unveil'd, the Toilet stands display'd / Each silver Vase in mystic order laid" (121-122). Placing these lines together in a rhymed couplet makes the opposition glaringly apparent.


In addition to placing opposites together in a rhymed couplet, Pope also puts rival ideas next on one another within the halves of a single line. The pause, induced by the placement of the caesura, dramatically pits the two notions against one another. For example, the first lines of The Rape of the Lock explicitly state the conflict that will continue throughout the entire poem. This is especially apparent in line 2: "What mighty contests rise from trivial things." The caesura occurs in between the words "rise" and "from," leading to a stark contrast between might and trivial. If a person reads the line aloud they will also notice that their tone of voice falls sharply after the caesura. The first half employs a rising meter with a heroic tone while the second half falls and tapers off. It should be obvious to the reader that "mighty" should be taken in an ironic way.
-http://voices.yahoo.com/how-alexander-pope-uses-form-promot

Listen to streamed reading of Canto 2 together as precursor to the weekend's homework.     

ROTL INTRO-lesson #1

History

Alexander Pope

Born 1688

“Tubercular infection that curved his spine, severely stunted his growth, and caused unending pain.”

Catholic in Protestant England:  lived outside of London

“everywhere Pope looked he saw imperfection—own body, institutions, contemporaries’ writing, behavior of citizens

Aim:  to delight as well as instruct

Wit – “not just a truth, but a truth well phrased.”
Wit in many forms—Pope favored heroic couplet (2 lines of rhyming iambic pentameter)

Essay on Criticism “True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,/As those move easiest who have learned to dance.” 

-warns against extremes and counsels humility

Samuel Johnson pronounced it “the most attractive of ludicrous compositions,” in which “New things are made familiar and familiar things are made new.”

Poetic Devices

9 key characteristics of an Epic Poem:

1) It opens in the midst of the story (medas res)

2) The setting is vast and it covers many nations, the world and the universe.

3) It usually begins with an invocation to Muse.

4) It starts with a statement of the theme.

5) The use of Epithets (descriptive terms).

6) It includes long lists.

7) It features long and formal speeches.

8) It shows divine intervention on human affairs.

9) The Heroes embody the values of civilization.

Below are links to answer possible research questions

XH Term Paper assignment

Notecards

OWL

April/May Assignment Sheet

Link to Assignment Sheet

Satire Project by Claire

Social Media buzzes after the release of the Kony 2012 video

March 13, 2012

After the release of the Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 video in early March, social networks exploded with support in an attempt to make the unknown Joseph Kony famous. Through the popularity of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Tumblr, images of the mutilated faces spread along with the video encouraging people to donate their money to the Invisible Children’s organization. The Kony 2012 video has called an enormous amount of attention to the child soldiers in Africa for an extended time of less than a week. For many, this video has educated Americans on not only the location of Africa, but also that there are other countries experiencing poverty worse than their own. “ I never really thought of children being a danger until I watched this video,” said Jordan Welchier shortly after the release of the video. “I guess if you give anyone a gun they can be dangerous. I hope this will never occur in this country.” This groundbreaking video has spread not only through social media, but also by the endorsement of the celebrities and politicians featured in the video. The Invisible Children’s organization continues to thank their audience for taking the time out of their busy, hectic schedules to watch their inspirational video.

Satire Project by Maggie

Heiress, Paris Hilton, donates $20,000 to create the Foundation for Children Without the Chance to Ride Horses 

(FCWCRH for short)! 

After a thoughtful year for our favorite celebrity, Paris Hilton, she has decided to really give back to her community for all of their support. The Hilton Hotel’s net worth is about 2.5 billion dollars, so it is truly amazing how Paris is looking to give so much back! She states, “When I was a six year old, I had three ponies to ride whenever I pleased. But so many kids these

days don’t have the chance to feel the same joy I felt when I would ride, so I feel as though this is the most beneficial use of my money!”

Though Paris is not a part of the management of the Hilton enterprise, she is a major contributor when it comes to her social status. Paris has also been extremely successful in her deep and truly heartfelt work in acting. Some of her famous characters is the “hottie” in The Hottie and the Nottie. She also plays “girl on beach” in the hit, Wishman. But her true fame has come from the notorious show, Paris Hilton’s My New BFF where girls have competed to be her new best friend on reality TV.

Paris’s innovation on and off the set is what truly sets her up to be an amazing role model for all teens out there. When asked about her crazy past, Paris says that every single teenage girl goes through a stage of rebellion, but hers just lasted for about ten years instead of ten months. It is so understandable because of the pressure she goes through with her labor-intensive work. But when it comes to community service, Paris says that charity definitely beats partying. “I just love giving back to my community. Like all the charities out there are like so wonderful and I like want to give out to every single like one of them” Paris says. Paris hasproven herself to be one of the most giving celebrities in the world. News Weekly states that she ranks third on the celebrities giving back right behind Angelina Jolie at first and Oprah at second. Wow!

2 Exemplary "Quote Significance" answers

“It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy it is disposition alone.  Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with each other, and seven days are more than enough for others” (49).

-by Amanda Blank

Marianne attempts to counsel Elinor about love while explaining and justifying her passionate feelings for Willoughby.  Elinor considers Marianne’s decisions to be extremely rash, as Willoughby desires to give Marianne a horse, and Elinor argues that it is too soon in their relationship for such a symbol of love.  However, Marianne exhibits her sensibility, sharply contrasting with Elinor’s careful judgment and common sense, as she explains to her sister that love does not depend on time or circumstance, but on the devotion and fervor of the lovers.  This contributes to Austen’s portrayal of the Dashwood sisters’ relentless struggle between fairy tale romances and practicality, due to their contrasting qualities of sense and sensibility.  Elinor attempts to rein in Marianne’s sensibility, while Marianne encourages Elinor to feel more passion and develop a better understanding of love.  Marianne stresses that each relationship is unique and while careful people like Elinor may have to know someone for years before feeling genuine love, Marianne can experience passion after a short period of time.  Marianne tries to educate Elinor of the beauty of true love and adoration, rather than relationships that are accepted solely because of security in society.  Austen conveys that relationships vary depending on the person, so one should not force their opinion upon others, which is often the cause of the conflicts between Marianne and Elinor.

“When the romantic refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous!”

-By Brittany Phillips

            As Elinor and Colonel Brandon discuss Marianne’s stubborn beliefs, Elinor expresses her chagrin, hoping Marianne will grow out of her immature and wishful thinking. Colonel Brandon however disagrees because he admires Marianne’s independence as something different from the monotony of common thought. Colonel Brandon is saying that unique opinions and values should be treasured rather than repudiated in favor of universal views. He calls these common thoughts dangerous because when one loses their opinion they lose their personality as well. Colonel Brandon’s words foreshadow his dark and tragic past as his reminiscent tone shows he speaks from personal experience. The quote is important because the vapidity of commonness is mocked throughout the novel through the characters of Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Middleton. Austen is satirizing the insipidity of “proper” thoughts, ideals, dreams, and people. Austen’s words ring of “carpe diem” urging not only romanticists, but all the young to seize their youth and to value their free minds. 

Hightlights from Act V

answers are written backwards:)

It has only been hours (not days) since the shipwreck!  What is Gonzalo's doing at the beginning of this act?  (gniyrc) Who first has sympathy for him? (leira) Does Prospero show tenderness? (sey)

lines 27-40 are important!
Which is rarer? Virtue or Vengeance?  Define Virtue.

What was Prospero's sole purpose in all of his actions?  Now that those who have wronged him are ______________ (tnetinep)  he will stop the charms adn "their senses restore."

What does Prospero give up?  lines 59-66

Prospero forgives all, but he definitley has a few words to say to the 3 who most injured him.  Make sure you go back and relook at lines 66-200 (note that he first speaks to them while they are still "charmed" then addresses them after he releases their spells.)

what is significant about Miranda's lines on page 159 (lines215-218)?!?! (first period class talked about this, but not second period).  chat with each other about it!

What is Caliban's reaction when he is "caught" in his foul conspiracy?  lines 351-355.  I would call that back-peddling or sucking up. You all may  have a more current term for his behaviour.  If so, do share!

What was Prospero's/Shakespeare's sole project as share in the epilogue?  lines 13-14

What frees us of our faults, according to Shakespeare? (line 16=reyarp) What will free Prospero of his despair?  (esualppa)

The last word of the play is "free."  We talked about this and the significance it played in The Tempest.  Makeda "got it" and worded it beautifully. Ask her to repeat.  I can't say it as well as she did.

Highlights from Act IV

pg. 121 l. 15-24  shakespeare's imagery of marraige as a garden bed, blessed by above with dew or weeds

pg. 125 l. 56-60  "strongest oaths are straw to th' fire i' th' blood"  fire i' th' blood=lust here but could also mean greed, revenge, etc.

pg. 131 l. l62-180  "Are melted in air, into thin air;/And like the baseless fabric of this vision...We are such stuff/As dremas are made on,..."  Meaningful!  What does it mean to you?!  (thanks for the many great responses)

pg. 135 l. 211-216  nature vs. nurture

pg. 141 l.291-295  Prospero has all the control at this point.  What will he do?!