The omnipotent power of hands...

In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Jonathan Edwards creates via great imagery the wrath of God upon sinners. Which image, metaphor, simile, personification, etc., did you find to be most effective in conveying Edwards' message? Explain how it made you feel and how you think the members of the congregation must have felt hearing this. (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Saturday, September 15, 2012.)

The Puritan Pen...

Although most of the Puritans shunned the fanciful and lived simplistic lives of spiritual denial, the poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor reveals much creativity and use of figurative language.  Likewise, the diary of William Bradford contains figurative language.  Which of the pieces--"Upon the Burning of Our House," "To My Dear and Loving Husband," "Huswifery," or The History of Plymouth of Plantation--did you find to be the creatively written yet strong in theme?  Give a line or passage from the work that you found most vivid or expressive.   THERE IS A CATCH HERE; YOU CAN'T GIVE THE SAME LINE/PASSAGE AS THE PEOPLE WHO POST PRIOR TO YOUR POST.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight Thursday, September 13, 2012)

This land is my land...

Having read two selections by European explorers to America--Christopher Columbus and John Smith--we have discussed their focus upon abundance, religion, wealth, and hospitality of Early America.  Time has changed these concepts of America in many ways. Which of the four aspects(abundance, religion, wealth, and hospitality) has remained basically the same throughout American history?  Which has changed the most?  Explain.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012.)

Wishing you and your families all the best at this time...

I hope that all of you are doing well and that you and your families have not had great losses.  We do not have school until Tuesday, September 4th.   Please check in here and let me know you are ok.  Miss you lots.

Tell me about the rabbits, George...

I sincerely hope that each of you enjoyed Of Mice and Men.  It was a pleasure to discuss this novel with you.  You are all so bright and complex thinkers that I am looking forward to further discussions with you about American literature.  I am proud to call you my students.  Here is a picture of our Of Mice and Men quote wall.  Some of you picked such thought-provoking passages.  I have enjoyed reading what intrigued you. 

Something that happened...

When Steinbeck first finished the manuscript of this novel, he entitled it Something That Happened. Then he remembered the Burns' poem he had always loved: "To a Mouse," and he changed the title to Of Mice and Men. Which title do you think is best? Why? What part of the novel conveys this title choice best? (This post closes at midnight, Saturday, August 25, 2012.)

Land of Misfit Toys: "They left the weak ones here..."

Chapter Four provides a look at the "misfits" of the ranch. Even among "their kind," these four-Crooks, Lennie, Curley's wife, and Candy--show both the human need for acceptance and the desire for dominance. Explain how so. Through which of these characters did Steinbeck best convey these conflicts in the human condition? Explain specifically. (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight August 22, 2012.)