Lessons, Week 4, 10-14 February 2014

English 1302

Lessons

Spring 2014

 

Week 4, 10-14 February 2014

 

Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific-and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise
Silent upon a peak in Darien

― John Keats

 

In anticipation of this week’s jollifications please read the longish handout on Keats.  Re-read it.  Mark it with your pen, pencil, or high-lighter-thingie-pen.  Read it a third time.  In addition to “Chapman’s Homer,” which we suffered enjoyed (remember always that teachers are BORING but Keats is fun) last week, we will dissect “Bright Star,” “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” and “Autumn.”

 

Consider the brevity of Keats’ life, and the pathos of his sure knowledge of mortality which informs his work.

 

Read / learn / know the following terms and expressions, all a small part of the equipage of an educated young man or woman:

 

Romanticism (NOT a reference to porno-gothic bodice-ripper novels)

Enlightenment

Negative Capability and the disappearance of the speaker (a poem is about

 something, not about the speaker’s interpretation or perception)

Beauty / the contemplation of beauty

Industrial Revolution

The odious Napoleon, and how he and his murderous ambitions inform the

           Romantics

Greek independence from the Turkish Empire

The inevitability of death

Transcendence

Art as perceived through the five senses

Music / poetry / the immortality (not really, of course) of art

Nature

Similes

Metaphors

The fascination of the Romantic poets with the ancient world

Sonnet

          14 lines

          Iambic pentameter

          Rhyme schemes

          Octet and sestet

          12 and 2

          Volta

          Question / proposition

          Answer / resolution

Conceit (extended metaphor, not a ‘tude)

Enjambment

Alliteration

Poetic diction

Ode

Personification

Lyric

 

From: http://www.how-to-study.com/study-skills-articles/preparing-to-study.asp -

 

 

Preparing to Study: A Good Study Place
You need a good study place to be prepared to study. You should be able to answer YES to all of the following questions: Is my Study Place available to me whenever I need it? Your Study Place does you little good if you cannot use it when you need it. If you are using a Study Place that you must share with others for any reason, work out a schedule so that you know when you can use it.   Is my Study Place free from interruptions? It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or take the phone off the hook.   Is my Study Place free from distractions? Research shows that most students study best in a quiet environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves your mood, keep the volume low.   Does my Study Place contain all the study materials I need? Be sure your Study Place includes reference sources and supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever else you might need. If you use a computer for your schoolwork, it should be in your Study Place. Does my Study Space contain a large enough desk or table? While working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter.   Does my Study Place have enough storage space? You need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure you have enough storage space to allow you to keep your desktop or other work surface clear of unnecessary materials that can get in the way.   Does my Study Place have a comfortable chair? A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.   Does my Study Place have enough light? The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need to see without any strain or discomfort.   Does my Study Place have a comfortable temperature? If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.