Grendel in Acts 6-12

Since we are now acting out Grendel's final chapters, it makes sense to consider this text in acts like a play. All classes are in the midst of prepping for performance or performing scenes from Gardner's interpretation of Grendel as his kismet leads closer to Beowulf (ever notice how Grendel is just as much in awe of the B-man as the majority of humanity?).

Since I have checked outlines for the New Historicist essay, that means the first draft is next on the docket, due for Thursday's class as a Google doc for peer review. On the block day, we will go over the Works Cited page and recap MLA format so that you may put the final touches on your first draft - and do so correctly! The due date for the final draft of the essay is Friday at 3:45 p.m. Hard copy only unless absent for the entire day (with expectation of digital sharing by the given time). This is the last major grade & assignment for first quarter, so the completion of this essay - whatever its state - is mandatory if you want to maintain or raise your overall grade.

2: Groups have a chapter and the hour focused on clarifying 5 observations (with evidence and analysis, of course) from the given chapter and deciding on the most important scene in the chapter and prepping a performance of it for next class. For the absent students, you have chapter 12, which means you need to have observations and ideas for a performance ready to go for next class. While groups were deeply concentrating on Grendel and his cohorts, I checked your essay outlines to make sure you were on the proper track for the essay. 

4: I'm typing this up prior to class today, so this should, for the most part, be accurate of all the dramatic happenings. First, I checked your essay outlines while you finished your last minute performance preparations. There happens to be a prop already in my room for your class, so I'm assuming that will involve a dramatic reenactment of Grendel's "conflict" with Unferth or another mere human. The class completed the performance portion first and then jumped into the observations from each chapter. Whatever was not completed today will be on Wednesday.

7: We started off class talking about the Dragon and his role in Chapter 5, which was our last old-fashioned discussion of the novel's proceedings. Then, for the remainder of the hour, you worked with your group to prepare 5 observations on a chapter and the plans for a performance of the most significant scene of the chapter. Depending on how much time the aforementioned items occurred in class, we may or may not have prep time on the block day. If absent, you will be added to a group next class, so if you are up-to-date on your reading and notes, you should be fine. However, you will be jumping into the fray very quickly! While prep timed was going on, I checked your essay outlines, which should be the guiding force in your essay.