40 Unit 4 – Discussions
Module 11: Poetry
Discussion – Poetry: Annotations
See Annotation and You and How to Annotate and follow the steps to submit an annotation of one of the poems in Module 11. You can annotate it by hand and submit photos of it in this discussion for credit. Alternatively, if you are tech savvy you can annotate it using Google Drive / Microsoft word or another program and submit it as a pdf.
Reflect on your annotation and include in your post here 250 words or more where you make claims about the themes and meanings of the poem (Step 8 from How to Annotate)
Respond to the annotations of at least two classmates by doing either of the following:
- Suggesting a new annotation (new figurative language, historical or classical allusion they may have missed— or —
- Helping them nuance their claims based on their annotations or your own observations.
Module 12: Poetry II
Discussion – Poetry: Comparative Close Reading
Using the annotations you and your classmates developed in Module 11 Poetry: Annotations, identify two different poems where you see at least some commonality or difference (use of tone; images; rhyme; subject matter; theme; speaker’s attitude etc.).
Do a close reading where you quote from each poem and explore that commonality or difference. See An Introduction to Close Reading for a refresher.
Post your close reading here and respond to the posts of at least two classmates.
Module 13: Drama
Discussion – Drama: Database Dive
For this database dive, you will explore the voluminous resources for Hamlet and Shakespeare in general on the Web and share two of them that you found most interesting and useful with your peers here.
Afterward, be sure to follow the links that two other peers have posted and discuss how they provide context for the play and or assist in your understanding.
Following is a list of some websites and collections to get you started but you are not limited to searching through these sources.
- New York Public Library Best of the Web https://www.nypl.org/weblinks/2633
- Shakespeare Unlimited (Podcasts) https://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited
- “Approaching Shakespeare.” Oxford University . 48 lectures. https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/approaching-shakespeare
- Online Resources for Shakespeare https://www.folger.edu/online-resources
- 96 Incredibly Useful Links for Teaching and Studying Shakespeare http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/12/16/100-incredibly-useful-links-for-teaching-and-studying-shakespeare/
Module 14: Drama II
Discussion – Drama: Close Reading
Choose a scene from “Hamlet” that focuses on one important theme in the play.
Perform a close reading of that section of the play and post it here for your peers. See An Introduction to Close Reading for a refresher.
Respond to the posts of two of your peers.
