AP English Lang. and Comp.
Brit. Lit. et al – Spring 2014
AED Williams
Third Term
January 7-10 – Week One: Cavalier and Metaphysical Poetry, AP Prep
Tuesday – Pass back papers
Talk about AP Exam
Pass out Hamlet
Begin John Donne and metaphysics
Define cavalier and metaphysics
Discuss the concept of carpe diem
Introduce Robert Herrick
Listen to dramatic reading of “To the Virgins”
Wednesday – Discuss “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick
Find evidence of “carpe diem” theme in the poem
Listen to dramatic reading of “To His Coy Mistress”
“To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
Find evidence of “carpe diem” theme in the poem
Compare the two poems – style, theme, and argument
Watch clip from Dead Poet’s Society – “Gather Ye Rosebuds”
Thursday – Shift to Metaphysical – compare to cavalier style
“The Flea” by John Donne
Read poem a stanza at a time – discuss both argument and narrative
Watch short video on “The Flea”
HW: Pass out “Canonization” by John Donne – explain assignment due Friday
Friday – Turn in “Canonization”
Group assignment – compare cavalier and metaphysical arguments using “The Flea” and
“To His Coy Mistress” using both imagery and the three part argument that both authors
employ
HW: Pass out “The Broken Heart” by John Donne – explain assignment, analysis due
Tuesday (APR grade)
January 13-17 – Week Two: Cavalier and Metaphysical Poetry, AP Prep, Vocabulary, Hamlet
Monday – Rhetorical Terms Quiz #13
Pass back Argument Essay
Discuss performance and misreading
What happens when students misread an exam essay question
AP Scoring Worksheet
Return “Canonization” HW
Discuss problem areas
Answer questions about “The Broken Heart” assignment
Begin Group presentations of argument comparison
Tuesday – Finish group presentations if necessary
Turn in “The Broken Heart” analysis
Listen to a dramatic reading of “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”
“A Valediction” by John Donne
Discuss the elaborate conceits Donne uses
Watch the compass as Donne does what the compass does
Compare to conceit in “The Flea” and to the three part arguments of “The Flea” and “Coy
Mistress”
Wednesday – Begin Discussion of Hamlet, Act I
Discussion of parallel plots introduced early in the play
Scenes I and II
Students act out the murder of King Hamlet
Students pick out important quotes and discuss what they reveal
Thursday – Vocab. #10 due
Analysis of first soliloquy
Watch first soliloquy – Kenneth Branagh
Discuss how and why his delivery is effective
Friday – Scene iii – Polonius’ Precepts
Group assignment – students interpret Polonius’ advice to Laertes and depict the most vivid