What to do for Tuesday, March 4^th:

Women Issues during the Victorian Era:

1. First, write your thoughts about these gender issues:

1.      Do you think men and women are equal today?

2.      Question for the men: What kind of woman do you admire and prefer?

3.      Question for the women: What are your thoughts on the choice between pursuing a career vs.staying at home to raise kids and, perhaps, take care of the domestic needs of a man.

4.      Does it follow any natural order for men to go out into the world and for women to stay in the home?

5.      Are women more apt to counteract the evils of the world? Would we be better off with women leaders? Why do you think America has never had a woman president (Pakistan has, and India, and Sri Lanka)?

2. Read…
1. Pages 1719-1739;
2. Mark your Yeeehaaas;
3. Keep on the lookout for your theme;
4. After each of the 7 writers, free-write/free-draw for a little bit.

• Gerard Manley Hopkins
• Bio (1648)
• “God’s Grandeur” (1651)
• “The Starlight Night (1651)
• “The Windhover” (1652) (Forget about understanding this poem; just read it aloud and feel it.)
• “Spring” (1652)
• “Pied Beauty” (1653)
• “Binsey Poplars” (1654)

• As usual, respond to each of these poems with a free-write / free-draw for 5 minutes or so; and then at the end, respond to all of Hopkins’ poetry.

Essay:  Your next essay will be due on Thursday, March 18^th.  The topic is up to you: perhaps look closely at one poem or essay from the Victorian Era; perhaps look at some trend that crosses over among many of these writers; perhaps you’d like to compare some element of this era to something in the Romantic Era. Whatever you do, look closely at the language and use the language to support your ideas.

Let’s not go creative on this one. I need to make sure everyone leaves this class with the ability to write an essay, so let’s just write a straightforward essay this time. Plus, I have some creative ideas upcoming that will satisfy the leaping puppy in our right brain.