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Little Woman
Jane Eyre
The Picture of Dorian Grey
Prejudice and Pride -
Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s lesson we began our work on Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, focusing on uncovering the history and context behind this book. The students discussed the things they enjoyed and the things they did not, before moving on to consider the impact of the context of the American Civil War and 1860s gender roles on the plot of the novel. We concluded the lesson by discussing whether the book is a feminist one, and what message Alcott was sending to young women at the time. Everyone worked beautifully today- so many great ideas and contributions particularly with regards to thinking about the position of women in 19th century America! Well done everyone and I will see you all next week 😊
Here is the homework article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/09/little-women-louisa-may-alcott/565754/
Here is a helpful link that will tell you more about the author and background of the book: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/littlewomen/context/
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Thank you splendidly for the aw-agnificent class!
Hope you have a wonderful September and onwards 😉
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s lesson we continued our study of Little Women, thinking about some of the key literary elements of the book such as the themes, motifs and symbols. We started by thinking about the significance of the preface of the novel, considering how the moral messaging functions in the book and looking at Louisa May Alcott’s reluctance to write a book that instructs women how to be in society. We spoke about the connection between burning and non-conformity in the book and finally the class wrote a beautiful review from the perspective of a 19th century reader, carefully dissecting how someone from the 1800s would have felt about this novel and its characters. Everyone worked beautifully today, I really enjoyed hearing all about the vivid and imaginative 19th century characters they had dreamed up. Fantastic work guys, keep it up and I’ll see you next week ! 😊
Here is that article that is very critical of the book which we read a bit of in class: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/22/little-women-bbc-version
Video on the preface: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmCSF3lJYok
Homework
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s lesson we completed our study of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, focusing on creatively reinterpreting the text and discussing the characterisation in the novel. We looked at mirroring Alcott’s style when adding to character descriptions of the March sisters whilst using foreshadowing and symbolism to deepen the meaning of the passage. We then moved on to thinking about perspective, and the class gave some wonderful debate style arguments on whose perspective the novel should be told from. Finally, we looked at the notion of modernisation, with the class encouraged to imagine their own updated version of the book, particularly considering how female anger and emotion would function differently. Everyone worked splendidly today- I was super impressed by everyone’s work and the sophistication of their written and spoken thoughts. Amazing guys, keep it up and I’ll see you next week 😊
Homework
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Hi Beth,
I really enjoyed the wonderful lesson! 🙂 My homework is attached below. Hope you have a lovely day! 😀
yichen
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s lesson we began our work on Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, covering the historical context and central setting of the novel. We spoke about the rigid class system of the Victorian era and where its influences can be found in the book, alongside thinking about the role of gender and pseudonyms. The class began with an in depth evaluation of what they enjoyed and did not enjoy about the book, fitting that into the wider background of the novel and its author. Finally, we completed some comprehension work focused on identifying Jane’s characteristics early in the story and thinking about Bronte’s floral and intricate writing style. The class wrote some gorgeous diary entries from Jane’s perspective, thinking about how to bring her character ‘up to date’. Overall, really fantastic work today everyone, there were some really original and inventive ideas flying around in class- well done and I look forward to hearing all your ideas on genre next week 🙂
Video on context: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s07XJ6yXCU
Homework
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Dear Beth,
If 3 siblings ever had miraculous writing power, it was the Brontes.
Bronte Family
- Anne Bronte ->Agnes Grey
- Emily Bronte -> Wuthering Heights
- Charlotte Bronte-> Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre is one of the many complicated, sugary ‘Luke-proof’ novels Charlotte Bronte composed.
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s lesson we continued our work on Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, thinking more deeply about the genre and atmosphere of the book. We learnt about the genre of gothic horror, which the class then used to help them decode a section from the book regarding how Bronte had created tension and suspense. We spoke about imagery and pathetic fallacy which the class thought about beautifully. The students then wrote their own versions, changing the genre to see how it would change the atmosphere of the scene. Everyone worked brilliantly today- really well done guys! Your writing was fantastic and the way you dissected the Red Room scene was outstanding- keep it up, I am really impressed by your work! 🙂
Gothic horror video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg9fmNhgzww
Homework
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Dear Beth,
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me”
This famous declaration is considered as one of the most emotional quotes in Jane Eyre, but feminism isn’t all that meets the eye.
Bertha’s existence in the novel prompts the reader to consider why they are reading the book; her madness makes the reader feel mad and sanity in the book is a jewel that is out of reach.
Thank you for the e’claron lesson! My little bird twitters with joy…
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Summary for Lesson 6
In today’s lesson we completed our work on Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, finishing our three lesson course of the book on a discussion based class where we unpicked some of the central themes, images and narratives that run throughout the novel. We began with a debate on whether this book can be construed as feminist, using the ideas the students had come up with for homework to analyse the role of gender in this work. We then closely analysed the thematic and symbolic landscape of the story, which the class spoke on with great maturity and passion. Finally, we thought carefully about the role of madness and what it and isn’t considered ‘mad’ within the world of the novel. Everyone worked beautifully today, there was so much lively, impassioned discussion which was fantastic to see. I thought you all came up with such impressive analyses and ideas and loved hearing you all bounce ideas off each other and debate the subjects we considered. Well done everyone, keep it up! 🙂
Theme video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ZOpsKi7ds
Homework
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Dear Beth，
Moonlight drifts from far away,
Let’s all dance and go a-sway!
Lunatic howl and werewolf bee,
Little moon and her sea.
Thank you for the moon-glistening class! (>wink<)
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for the spectacular lesson! Have a wonderful day! 🙂 My homework is attached below.
Yichen
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s lesson we began our work on The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. Today’s class revolved around getting a sense of who the author, Oscar Wilde, was and why he might have written a book such as this one. We spoke about the historical context of the aesthetic movement- art for art’s sake- and how this conflicted with Victorian moral standards, whilst also thinking about how Wilde’s controversial and exuberant life is mirrored in Dorian’s. The class offered some fantastic thoughts on elements of the book they liked and disliked and were also able to deconstruct the notion of the ‘double life’ in both the novel and Wilde’s personal life. Excellent work today everyone- well done 😊
Helpful website with context information I said to read: https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-art-ethics-and-the-artist
Dorian Grey summary video: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p079s1jq
Life of Oscar Wilde video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvAttYhwqCs
Trial of Oscar Wilde video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8ATVxvli7Y
Homework
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Dear Beth,
…As the curtain rose, the audience hence applauded, apprehensively awaiting the first stroke of the artist’s brush.
<p style=”text-align: center;”> The Picture of Dorian Gray </p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”>A novel concerning art and blemishes</p>- “All art is at once surface and symbol”
-Oscar Wilde
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Thank you for your trilling lesson, it was a masterpiece that is highly appreciated.
P.S. Why does the bird sing in its cage?
Because its creator was Wilde
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s lesson we continued our work on The Picture of Dorian Grey, thinking in greater depth about the events and themes of the book. We began by discussing what the book reflects of Victorian society, thinking about the dissent present in the book and why Wilde may have included it. We then moved on to mapping the themes of the novel, speaking about ideas such as corruption, narcissism, death and aestheticism. Finally we discussed the role that death plays in the novel, carefully dissecting the purpose of each character’s death and how it moves the plot of the novel forward, before turning our attention to the characters of Sybil and James Vane and what they represent as symbols or plot devices in the book. Today’s lesson was fantastic, full of impassioned debate and wonderful ideas from the students. Excellent work everyone, I really enjoyed listening to all your thoughts 😊
Video on themes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH64DYGJxGs
Homework
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Some famous Oscar Wilde quotes to have a look through:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/graphic/2012/nov/27/oscar-wilde-epigrams-quotes-infographic
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Dear Beth,
A chill crept along the passage, leading to the brass door that was engraved with the stony lead letters of mourning.
The Grave read,
<p style=”text-align: center;”>DORIAN GRAY</p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”>the un-aging one</p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”>The Only way to yield to temptation is to Yield to it</p>
Wilting white flowers bloomed in the air of secrecy. It was a weird place for a tomb, in an upper room in a mansion.But it was Dorian Gray’s final resting place. His body was a prune to deal with and the Head Of Cremation had to pry off the wrinkles before the bonfire.Oh how Dorian would laugh at such a thing if it were on another person!
But on him? No! IF one fathom of his soul had not been sold to the devil, then it would have been pillaging the village by sunrise.
The quiet attic room surged with cool deathly paleness.
And was that a flicker of ice…? Was that a twitch of a pallid mouth? A strain of bony hands?
And he was standing there, solid as meat. And no one was there to stop him.
…except himself.
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s lesson we completed our study of A Picture of Dorian Grey, focusing on the deeper symbolic crevasses of the novel and thinking about the intertextuality Wilde uses. We began by discussing the narrative arc of the book, thinking about what our opinions were on the inciting incident, climax and resolution of the novel, before moving on to speaking about the notion of a Faustian bargain and how it pertains to Dorian Grey. The class discussed this notion wonderfully, linking it to the idea of catharsis, and thinking about the similarities and differences between the story of Faust and that of Dorian Grey. The students then wrote some excellent ‘what happens next’ for the novel, before finally debating the notion of whether books can ever be ‘moral’ or ‘immoral’. Really outstanding work today everyone, I really loved hearing your debate, discussion and conversation around some really complex notions. I look forward to hearing about your modern film adaptations and will see you all soon 😊
IMDB page for the original film to help with homework: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037988/
Homework
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Faust video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C8SY8UF4C0
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Dear Beth,
A whizzing hectic day of film-making is never a simple thing:
1. script ( Once Upon a painting…)
2. puppets ( Dark-Angel:“Why don’t you give your soul to the devil?” Dorian: ok)
3.Record! (Lights, Camera, art!)
—>Why didn’t the orangutang leave peels outside its cage?
=>Because the sky was Gray.
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。
See ya in the Bennet household!
(🧤😀Thank you for an entire hoard of glittering classes)
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s lesson we began our study of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, focusing on the historical context of the book in order to understand Austen’s point of view on the society she lived in. We began by discussing Austen’s life and how the kinds of stories she chose to write correlated to her own experiences (i.e., remaining unmarried) before moving on to conducting some research on the Regency Period. We analysed the social conventions of the 1800s, particularly in reference to the pressure on women to be a certain way, and used a clip from Austen’s Emma to facilitate this. Finally we discussed the genre of satire, thinking about the difference between Horatian Satire and Juvenalian Satire and applying this to the novel. Excellent work today everyone, it was fantastic to hear all your ideas about how the history of the 1800s can be read into the book, and about the ways in which you thought satire functioned through Austen’s eyes. Keep up the great analysis and I’ll see you soon 🙂
Homework
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Satire video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io58hl1Z0TY
Emma clip that we watched: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/mastem14-ela-lit-emma2/emma-2-love-and-marriage/
Austen’s biography video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIYiThAyY8s
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Dear Beth,
Gratitude for a ✨sparkling✨ lesson.
Number One third Person Writer’s Finalist: Pride and Prejudice.
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What thing flies like a bird, yet is not a bird, speaks like a human, yet is not a human, expresses like a kitten, yet is not a kitten and lives like diamond, yet is not a diamond?
Answer: a book.
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Summary for Lesson 11
In today’s class we continued our work on Pride and Prejudice,thinking in depth about Austen’s writing style and characterisation. We began the lesson with a discussion on themes, thinking about how to frame the novel in terms of the subjects Austen is interested in, before moving on to refreshing our ideas on satire. The class analysed a passage from the text, thinking about what makes it humorous, and spoke beautifully about how she subverts and mocks society’s expectations. We then worked on characterisation, discussing the female characters in the novel before the class came up with some fantastic examples of their own Austen-esque female characters. Finally, the class came up with things about the modern world they would satirise, which they can further explore for homework. Everyone worked excellently today, there were lovely discussions, ideas and pieces of writing from the students- amazing work everyone 😊
Austen writing style video we watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSL55lOwznU
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Please find my homework for lesson 1, as attached. sorry for the delay.
Have a fabulous weekend!
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Dear Beth,
Intentionally blank space.
Thank you for a floating, fabulous lesson. (-^0^-)
Marshmallow-ish, caramel tinted ice cream slathered week to you!
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Summary for Lesson 12
In today’s lesson we completed our autumn reading course with our final class on Pride and Prejudice. We spoke about symbols and motifs in the novel, thinking about how they reflect the core themes, before the class moved on to preparing discussion pieces based on their response to debate questions. We discussed the place of moralism in the book, thinking about whether Austen had a discernible moral philosophy that can be seen in the messages in all of her work, before finally ending with some thoughts about the title of the book. Everyone worked beautifully today, as per usual I was really impressed by the calibre of discussion they all provided. Amazing work guys, it has been lovely working with you all over the past twelve weeks- keep it up and I’ll see you in the winter term 🙂
Symbols video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHNUgFiTPIA&t=1s
Motifs video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ48h49JsjI&t=1s
Themes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cJ8TJlozeQ
Class and Marriage video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlLts5IRmm4
Homework
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Dear Beth,
<p style=”text-align: center;”>The Daily News</p>
_________________________________________________________We have had extensive reports on the activity going on with the unearthing of Jane Austen’s extensively debated expression on feminist views. Our reports have seen immediate action on the home she had supposedly left for(located in Bath).
~&~
I have posted a small poster below that I made on Pride and Prejudice. Thank you for an mouth-watering class📚🔍📝
Happy December!🎊😁
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