The Shoe Vote Concludes

Well, not that many people voted this year, so normally while I do have the top 5, I had to edit down a bit since there was a 8-way tie for third place. Overall, the shoes having some symbolism to them - flowers, crowns, and butterflies. As always, the winning shoe doesn't mean the purchased shoe. I'm still trying to figure out which one it will be since $$$$ does play a part in my decision-making skills.

1: #73 The Dolce & Gabbana Kiera Lily Sandals, which indicates your love of flower imagery and symbolism and very high tastes: https://www.farfetch.com/az/shopping/women/dolce-gabbana-kiera-lily-embroidered-sandals-item-14211943.aspx.

2: #45 The Dolce & Gabbana Sunflower Sandals, which shows you like your Italian footwear and more flower symbolism: https://www.farfetch.com/az/shopping/women/dolce-gabbana-sunflower-print-platform-sandals-item-14088126.aspx.

3rd place options:
-  The Sophia Webster Riva Butterfly Wedge, which on the candidates form was the lower heel; the higher one is growing on me plus this is the least expensive choice out of the top 5 presented here: https://www.sophiawebster.com/product/25793/riva-espadrille.
-The Sophia Webster Royalty in Ivory, which has been featured in pink and black on previous voting forms: https://www.sophiawebster.com/product/16385/royalty.
- The Aquazzura Papilion Sandal, the second butterfly option, which also comes in a lovely yellow: https://www.aquazzura.com/en/boutique-online/woman/shoes/sandals/papillon-sandal-105-jungle-green-suede-leather-pplhigs0-snl-jgr.html.

I'm going to think it over this evening and pray for a sudden sale tomorrow to decide which will be the 2020 shoe. Thanks to those of you who voted :)

'Twas the Night Before the AP Lit Test

After our lovely pre-test brunch this morning, I think we can all agree that our book club has paid incredible dividends in analytical ability, written expression, vocabulary eminence, and community bonds. From our first assignment looking at 2 Helen poems to our last regarding the alliterative Peregrine Pickle, you have metamorphosized into stunning college thinkers and engaging adults. While our test is not in the normal environment, I hope you know that I will be doing my traditions the entire time.

You may remember our menagerie of AP test mascots, which began with the Proxy Penguin and Gianini Giraffe, the following year with the Omniscient Owl and the Zenith Zebra, and last year with the Close Reading Racoon and the Halcyon Husky.

Here is your 2019-20 AP Lit mascot - the Five Flamingo!

And since I can't do this on my board in Room 404 - 

The Best Wuthering Heights Film

There are so many versions of Wuthering Heights. The most hallowed is one of its firsts: the 1939 version with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier. Now while it does have the setting of the moors and the angst of Cathy and Heathcliff, this film version, as do many of them, do not tell the entire novel, ending the film with Cathy's death, Heathcliff's mourning, and no second generation, which is half of the novel. 

Now the best version, the one that I saw first when I was 16 and before I had read the novel, is the 1992 version entitled Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, starring two of the best actors in the world, Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes. While it's not a perfect representation of the novel, it's the best one that I've seen thus far. 

And, in exciting news, MPLEX is showing Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights tomorrow, Saturday May 9, at 9:25 a.m. and 5:10 p.m. So for those of you wanting the visualization of this extraordinary novel and you have this channel, here is your chance. Happy viewing! 

Shirts & Shoes

Beyond Wuthering Heights and Prose Prompts, there are two fun items on the docket currently:

1. T-shirt designs will be accepted through Friday. As the majority of our poll respondents wanted one this year, here is your chance to have one! You may submit as many designs as you like in the Shared Drive in the T-shirt folder. Don't worry about colors at this point as I figure we will eventually have 2 options to be determined later. Right now, the image and words are most important. 

2. The shoe vote for AP Lit has begun! The form allows you to vote for 5 pairs a day, and you can submit the form every single day until May 13 to help your favored shoes win. On the Scholar Quiz team? You can submit two forms a day. 

All of this, of course, is optional, but these are traditions of my classes that I hope you will take part in. 

Ergo, design and vote! 

AP Lit Test Poem

I was looking through my old blog posts and found this poem that I wrote the night before the AP Lit test in 2018. Unfortunately, most of this will not be accurate with our testing this year.

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.

Twas Almost Shoe Voting Time

The Shoe Voting Update Folder on the Shared Drive is complete with the past AP shoes delineated and the 88 candidates for this year's shoe vote ready to go. I do have a form created, which I will be sharing with you in the upcoming days.

For those of you new to the shoe voting fun, a colorful display of shoe candidates are displayed to the front board for the weeks leading up to the AP exams, and each day, you vote on which shoes should represent AP Lit. Since we won't be in the physical room 404, you have the digital version of shoes and a form that you can vote for up to 5 shoes a day until May 13.

Something fun to do if you like the break from serious AP test prep and end-of-year class requirements. Participation is not required. If you want to take a look at the candidates, they are available now :)

National Theatre's Frankenstein on Youtube!

I can't express my excitement right now that the National Theatre will be airing the stage version of Frankenstein next week!

Here are the details: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/nt-at-home-frankenstein.

I'm completely biased on which version to watch - Jonny Lee Miller's version of the Creature (on May 1) is the best I have ever seen: he starts off for several minutes just figuring out how to walk on wobbly legs after "his birth," he brings gravitas, loneliness, and heartbreaking agony to the role, and the wedding night scene juxtaposes utter sadness of societal expectations with cruel suffering. I'm going to watch Benedict Cumberbatch's version of the Creature too, but I think he takes Victor's hybrid of curiosity, vanity, and utter discombobulation to the best performance. I guess that means I will see Jonny Lee's version of Victor too then!

Anyway, I highly recommend watching - it's free - and for a limited time!