June's Novels

I am finally back to reading 100 + pages a day, which means it is officially summer break, and I can read anything I want!

In all honesty, it took me quite a while to read my first summer novel, Adam & Eve, due to the fact that I was still in AP Lit mode and close read the entire text! All of it, which took forever! I kept underlining the patterns of alliteration - euphonic, cacophonous, combinations thereof, and somehow kept circling back to the author's use of anaphoric asyndeton and cumulative syntax. Once I finished this tedious read, I determined to not allow a pen near me during reading time, which has, for the most part, helped me to just read.

Hence, when I picked up Varina by the extraordinary writer Charles Frazier, I restrained myself, still mentally noting all of the enumerative polysyndeton and all the characterization passages probably for next season's AP Lit, and became part of the literary world that only Frazier can write. Charles Frazier is my second favorite author - that must surprise some of you who only know my passion for nineteenth century Britannia and everything Bronte. He is the man who created Inman and Ada, the protagonists of Cold Mountain, my second favorite novel of all time. I figure I should have a whole separate blog on my love of his writing, so that shall be in the near future.

By the time I was in The Tea Rose and Anno Dracula, the pen has completely disappeared! And, funnily enough, both novels involved Jack the Ripper. The former is more of a Romance; the latter is more of a test of allusions regarding Dracula, the Ripper, 1890s literary figures, artists, pop culture oddities, and the British  monarchy.

And to end the month, I read a hard-boiled detective novel centered around Elvis & Marilyn. I did take a hard-boiled class in grad school, and these mysteries are not my cup of green tea, but I did enjoy all the clever similes.

I hope all of you - past AP Lit students and future ones - are reading a great deal this summer! I recommend, of course, the top 101 novels for college students to read, anything by the Brontes, George Eliot, and Jane Austen, Cold Mountain, The Dogs of Babel, and any of the fabulous mysteries by Carol Goodman -  such as The Lake of Dead Languages - her works center around literature and languages.

Time to head back to the pool for my 100 laps and my 100 pages of reading. My favorite spot to read in sitting on the second step of the pool (only dropped 3 books in the water so far and, after some serious air drying, all survived).

If I Can Dream

Farewell, my literary interlocutors! The time has come for you to read literary works for pleasure (although, I'm sure I have ruined birds, windows, and other motifs for you). If you are so inclined, I highly recommend reading Brave New World, which time did not allow us to begin. It is modern, it is a dystopia, it is futuristic yet written in 1932. Whatever the case, you know where I am if you need me.

I hope that all of you fight for your dreams and help others to attain their dreams. You all have the capacity to make the world - here, there, anywhere) better. Here is a link to the song I played in class for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwqbuus8QPU&start_radio=1&list=RDiwqbuus8QPU.

And, lastly, here are the Birds of Paradise in all their glory:

The End

We finished up Wuthering Heights today with both classes completing the final discussion of AP Lit. Afterwards, we posed for our group photos - some serious, some surprisingly flexible - and started watching the 1992 version of the film, which we will finish during the next class.

Second hour, I read through your silent discussion board and left some comments if you feel the need to read my observations - just one more time.

Reminders:

1. Still would like to have your portfolio back for sample copies.

2. If you are hoarding any novels from the class, I need these NOW as fines will be assessed on Monday. Save you, me, and the front office from hassles.

Almost the End

First off, don't forget to wear you snazzy AP Lit original t-shirt tomorrow for our group photos. With all the testing on Friday, we may have some missing faces, but we definitely want a remembrance of the class.

As mentioned in second hour today, we are short on several of the books from AP Lit. This includes your big green textbook, Grendel, King Lear, The Cherry Orchard, The Metamorphosis, Frankenstein, and Wuthering Heights. With senior fines due prior to your exit next week, I will be fining students who want a keepsake from the class.

We wrapped up the alternative assessment today and grades are posted. There are only 2 grades that will be added to fifth hour (ch.12-14 close reading and Friday's participation); there are only 3 grades that will be added to second hour (ch.12-14 close reading, Thursday's silent discussion board - fabulous thoughts from you all - and Friday's participation). Of course, I will also be adding extra credit for those of you in the top 37. That will not be until after AP Lang finishes their reviews, so for those of you who spent quality time with  me during lunches and after school will have to wait for that component. Technically, you can still come to reviews if you want.

See you tomorrow - with a lot of textbooks - and we will finish our analysis of Wuthering Heights and start watching the movie. I can't believe we only have 2 classes left in this vintage of AP Lit!

The Winning Shoes

Well, I'm going to blame Edna for this one.

Here are the top 5 pairs voted on by your AP Lit class. I think it is only fitting that the Birds of Paradise was the victor because if it wasn't windows, it was birds in cages populating our motifs.

1: Charlotte Olympia's Birds of Paradise, which does make perfect sense with all the bird motifs flying through our literary developments. Yes, it costs that much. Yes, it is still in my size. Yes, I will be on a budget for the rest of the month since I usually buy everything on deeply discounted sales.  https://www.charlotteolympia.com/en/purrrfect-10/birds-of-paradise-multi-colour-V009958CDL0960.html?cgid=category_collections_purrrfect10#page=1&start=2

2 (tie): Charlotte Olympia's Eve, which I'm glad to see that a lot of you are a fan of my favorite shoe designer. I need to organize my shoe room, or rooms at this point, but I have about 20 pairs of her shoes at this point. I do keep count of the order that I buy her shoes. Weird, quirky, strange sense of organization? Probably all three. Plus, my dad loves Charlotte Olympia since we visited her London store and were completely pampered by their staff. After our trip, he now sees himself as an expert on Charlotte Olympia, Christian Louboutin, and Keats. Imagine my expression right now. https://www.charlotteolympia.com/en/purrrfect-10/eve-green-V009961SUK0300.html?cgid=category_collections_purrrfect10#page=1&start=3

2 (tie): Rupert Sanderson's Eden, and I am sensing a theme here with the previous shoes. I should have found one named Adam or apple or something likewise biblical. I don't have any shoes by Sanderson as of yet, so I don't have the ethos to communicate comfort or durability. https://www.zappos.com/p/rupert-sanderson-eden/product/9015641

4: Castaner Bee Platforms, which of all the shoes in the top 5 just went on sale! With Brooke's love of bees, I was surprised this did not receive more votes, but I know the bee shoes from last year were more of a favorite. As soon as they pop up in a 39.5 on the RealReal, I will have them! https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/women/castan-er-embellished-bee-platforms-item-12692243.aspx?storeid=9870&from=listing

5: Charlotte Olympia Belinda, which I have a version in Goodness Gracious Coral Reef and is the leading contender for AP Lang with a week to go. Technically, my exact size is sold out, so I may go for another pair for AP Lang - you know, one that is on sale. Nothing wrong with being pragmatic. https://www.charlotteolympia.com/en/collections/campaigns/bridal/belinda-ivory-B001141SUE0110.html?cgid=category_collections_bridal#page=2&start=22

As I mentioned in a very contrived, possibly corny toast this morning, you did enter AP Lit as baby Grendel, curious about literature, wanting to learn about poetry, not having the language to clarify interpretation. From your initial Awakening into the literary world, you amassed characterization, a return to themes (not purpose, former AP Langers), an author's milieu, figurative language. As you began your Metamorphosis into poetry, you came into contract with strange language like dactyl, anapest, hexameter, caesura, volta, and villanelle - all of the feet, meter, poetic elements that help you to understand the quirks of poetry. And then, you shed the identity of the Creature and became an Adam (or other name we picked for him) able to read, connect, and apply the great pieces of literature. After this class, I hope you continue to read - classics, beach reads, anything really that will continue your journey through the pages of creativity.

Twas the Night Before the AP Lit Test

Twas the night before the AP Lit test, when all through the 404 fam,
Not a spondee was stirring, not even an iamb
The prompts are awaiting for your eye
Ready to grant you a scintillating five
So my bibliophiles of this year or two,
Prior to our breakfast and, of course, coffee too
Hearken to the novels, the lens, the meter, the feet
Remember the voltas and the characters we did meet
Attack those multiple choice passages even if not so fine
And write about poetry, prose, and free response to score all nines.

Sorry that was not up to the level of your reading abilities at this point after a year of AP Lit (I probably disappointed Keatsy there), but I am very proud of all the work you have done this year in Lit - look at all the novels, plays, and poems that have helped you aggrandize into literary critics, ready to slash through a poem for its enjambment, its caesura, its stanzas, its meter or delve into the characterization - hey, don't forget those character types - of minor details, dialogue, and conflict. Yes, it is important to review the terms (and spelling for some of you) and to remember that you underline novels and plays and place quotation marks around poems. However, you have the ethos now for the occupation hand and will do the best that you can! Oops, the rhyming continues. Thanks for taking AP Lit and putting up with me. I hope you have learned a lot for not just the AP exam but your future endeavors.

Breakfast will be ready around 6:45, our toast at 7:10, and our walk to the foyer at 7:20!

P.S. Fifth hour shirts are here, and they are darling! Fingers crossed that second hour arrives tomorrow!

2 Days

Since lunches and after school have revolved around preparations for the AP Lit exam on Wednesday, I feel that I am ready for the test. Are you? At this point, you should have all your terms down, be able to break down poetry and prose prompts, and sculpt a free response with those critical lenses. All of this information will be part of our review lunch and 3 hour AP Lit cram on Tuesday, which would behoove all of you - taking the actual or alternative exam - and your comprehension of the skills needed for success on the last MC and writing prompts.

In class, our order is simple: MC, poetry prompt, prose prompt, free response prompt, toolbox cards, and buzzers for the ultimate in competitive knowledge.

I'm off to work with AP Lang and then our after school study session and then maybe make lists on the board of everything you should know at this point. That's going to take a while, and I hope it's worth it!