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Happy Halloween! Storytelling

Share some "Bloodsucking Fiends" stories and enjoy donuts and cider!

HMWK:  Read the poems in "Mandolin " for Wednesday.  We'll be reviewing and responding to them.

Reader Response to a Poem:
Select one of the poems in "Thomas and Beulah". How does the poem make you feel? In what ways can you relate to the poem? What has Rita Dove done with imagery, form, theme, rhythm, language, etc. to make this poem work? Any lines that particularly strike you as interesting or powerful? Think about poetic technique: enjambment, caesura, metaphor, simile, alliteration, assonance, consonance, linebreaking, stanzaic form, apostrophe, onomatopeaia, etc.


Begin working on Poetry Cycle assignment:
Similar to Thomas and Beulah, consider some characters in your own life, imagined characters, or actual historical characters. Imagine the significant chronological dates in their lilves--high points and low points. consider how to construct a series of 8-10 (preferably more) poems that tell a story (narrative poetry) and explore these key moments and occasions.

• a. Your poetry cycle should consist of 8-10 poems
• b. Your poetry cycle should be accompanied by a chronology to support the key dates and occasions you chose to write about.
• c. At least two of the poems should explore the same event from two different perspectives or viewpoints (like "Courtship" in Thomas and Beulah). These poems can have the same title.
• d. Place one poem per page, single-spaced, 12 point type in a clean font and be sure to title each poem. you may want to title the entire cycle as well. Use italics for dialogue, songs, memories, etc as you observe in Rita Dove's work. Experiment with different stanzaic forms and poetic styles.
• e. Poems can, of course, be narrative or lyric, but remember that the overall cycle is a narrative and must tell a story of a life or lives although we only see "fragments" or moments/snapshots of those lives.

Rita Dove/ Thomas and Beulah/ RPO Poems

Begin reading aloud Thomas and Beulah
Check out link to her web site!
www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=6719
Critical article: personal.georgiasouthern.edu/~jpellegr/articles/dovearticle.html
www.suite101.com/article.cfm/african_american_lit_retired/62567

The poem cycle set to music:
www.amazon.com/Thomas-Beulah-Rita-Amnon-Wolman/dp/B000065CWO

Listen to Gabriela Lena Frank's "Three Latin American Dances"
1. Introduction: Jungle Jaunt
2. Highland Harawi
3. The Mestizo Waltz

Links:

about the composer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriela_Lena_Frank

Harawi: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harawi

Mestizo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestizo

Check out images of Peru, Andes, etc.

STUDIO TIME:
Finish your Bloodsucking Fiends stories for Monday!  On Monday, we will have some Halloween goodies and share some stories.  I encourage to think about reading your story to the class.

Also, a reminder:  FIRST COFFEEHOUSE READINGS   THURSDAY, NOV. 3  7 pm
As always, 20 points extra credit for readers,  10 points extra credit for attendees

Bloodsucking Fiends wrap-up

With a partner or two, discuss the reading guide questions.   Choose 3 of the questions and post a very insightful comment with your partner for classwork credit.

Answers to classwork BSF Quiz #3 Ch. 17-24:

Chapter 17 and 18
1. c. 2. a. 3. d. 4. b. 5. d. 6. c. 7. d. 8. c. 9. c. 10. c. 11. c. 12. b.
Part 2, Nesting: Chapter 19, Jody's Delicate Condition and Chapter 20, Angel
1. b. 2. d. 3. d. 4. a. 5. b. 6. d. 7. b. 8. c. 9. b. 10. b. 11. d. 12. c.
Part 2, Nesting: Chapter 21, Angel Dust and Chapter 22, A Nod to the Queen of the Damned
1. c. 2. d. 3. b. 4. b. 5. a. 6. c. 7. b. 8. d. 9. a. 10. d. 11. a. 12. b.
Part 2, Nesting: Chapter 23, Mom and Terrapin Pie and Chapter 24, The Return of Breakfast
1. a. 2. b. 3. b. 4. d. 5. a. 6. d. 7. b. 8. a. 9. b. 10. b. 11. b. 12. c.

If you have not done the last two quizzes for classwork, be sure to pick up a copy and complete it on your own now that you have (we hope) finished reading the book!

We will be picking up Rita dove's Selected Poems today.


Continue to work on your stories for Bloodsucking Fiends--DUE Monday, HALLOWEEN!

Work on contest entries for contests that are due NOV. 1--Bennington, Hollins, etc.


RPO Poems (Bolero) due at end of week.  PLEASE, please try to do this.  EXTRA CREDIT AVAILABLE!!!

RPO Project and Contests

The next RPO project/contest is for the November concerts.  These have a Spanish/Latin theme.
Please listen to the following recordings and think about creating poems inspired by the music.  The winning poems will be read at the concerts, just like the postcards in September.

 Arild envisioned the poetry to flow off of the Ravel Bolero and/or the Gabriela Lena Frank Three Latin American Dances (Spanish/Latin elements).


Bolero
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4J5j74VPw


Gabriela Lena Frank Three Latin American Dances 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mavn0xKNcEs

And don't forget Hollins, Bennington, Scholastic, New England /young Writers Conference, etc.

Scholastic Haiku contest

www.scholastic.com/dellhaiku/?eml=SMP/e/20111018//txtl/DellHaiku/0/ContestDeadline/SL1//////&ym_MID=1373091&ym_rid=6224539

Answers to BSF quiz #2:

Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 7, Suiters and Chapter 8, Dinner with the Vampire
1. a. 2. b. 3. a. 4. a. 5. d. 6. c. 7. c. 8. d. 9. b. 10. b. 11. d. 12. d.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 9, He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good, So You'd Better... and Chapter 10, Walking, Talking, and Bumping in the Night
1. c. 2. d. 3. c. 4. a. 5. c. 6. a. 7. b. 8. a. 9. a. 10. c. 11. c. 12. b.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 11, Lather, Rinse, Repent and Chapter 12, Fashionably Doomed
1. b. 2. b. 3. d. 4. b. 5. c. 6. b. 7. b. 8. c. 9. d. 10. d. 11. b. 12. b.

Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 13, To-Do List of the Fashionably Doomed and Chapter 14, TwoLosts Do Not Make a
Found
1. d. 2. a. 3. d. 4. a. 5. d. 6. a. 7. b. 8. c. 9. d. 10. a. 11. c. 12. a.
Part 2, Nesting: Chapter 15, Learning the Licks and Chapter 16, Heartwarming andUL-Approved
1. a. 2. a. 3. a. 4. a. 5. c. 6. b. 7. c. 8. a. 9. a. 10. a. 11. a. 12. b.

Bloodsucking Fiends Writing Assignment

Continue reading Bloodsucking fiends and finish by Friday this week.   We'll be moving on to Rita dove and some poetry.


Finish short writing assignments for me and for Ms. Hoffmann.

And here's your next assignment (actually we've been working towards this):

NEW ASSIGNMENT a/la Bloodsucking Fiends (it's that time of year!)
Write a short story that involves an encounter with an "imaginary being" --a little touch of magical realism, here.  Your short fiction piece can be funny, sarcastic, spooky, or "deadly serious."  What would it be like to talk to or perform an action  with a ghost, a werewolf, an angel, a zombie, or yes, a vampire?  Or any mythical or fairy tale character--fairy, leprechaun, Minotaur, satyr, ogre, troll, etc.?


Other things:  Writing contests--Check out Bennington's writing contest and The Blue Pencil online. 

Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 1, Death and Chapter 2, Death Warmed Over
1. d. 2. b. 3. b. 4. b. 5. d. 6. c. 7. c. 8. a. 9. d. 10. a. 11. d. 12. b.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 3, Oh Liquid Love and Chapter 4, Blooms and the City of Burned Clutches
1. a. 2. a. 3. a. 4. c. 5. b. 6. a. 7. b. 8. c. 9. d. 10. c.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 5, Undead and Somewhat Slightly Dazed and Chapter 6, The Animals
1. a. 2. a. 3. b. 4. d. 5. c. 6. c. 7. b. 8. a.
11. d. 12. c.
9. a. 10. d. 11. a. 12. d.

How well did you do?

Ms. Hoffmann: On Vampires and Parody

1. Gallery Walk
2. Readings
3. Presentation
4. Writing Exercise

The Inner Workings of Parody

par·o·dy

   /ˈpærədi/ Spelled [par-uh-dee]  IPA noun, plural -dies, verb, -died, -dy·ing.

noun 

1.   a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing: his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.

2.   the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.

3.    a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.

4.   any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.

5.    the use in the 16th century of borrowed material in a musical setting of the Mass (parody Mass).

verb (used with object)

6.   to imitate (a composition, author, etc.) for purposes of ridicule or satire.

7.   to imitate poorly or feebly; travesty.

Source: www.dictionary.com

GENRE: A type or category of literature or film marked by certain shared features or conventions. The three broadest categories of genre include poetry, drama, and fiction. These general genres are often subdivided into more specific genres and subgenres. For instance, precise examples of genres might include murder mysteries, westerns, sonnets, lyric poetry, epics, tragedies, etc. Many bookstores and video stores divide their books or films into genres for the convenience of shoppers seeking a specific category of literature.
CONVENTION: A common feature that has become traditional or expected within a specific genre (category) of literature or film. In Harlequin romances, it is conventional to focus on a male and female character who struggle through misunderstandings and difficulties until they fall in love. In western films of the early twentieth-century, for instance, it has been conventional for protagonists to wear white hats and antagonists to wear black hats. The wandering knight-errant who travels from place to place, seeking adventure while suffering from the effects of hunger and the elements, is a convention in medieval romances. It is a convention for an English sonnet to have fourteen lines with a specific rhyme scheme, abab, cdcd, efef, gg, and so on. The use of a chorus and the unities are dramatic conventions of Greek tragedy, while, the aside, and the soliloquy are conventions in Elizabethan tragedy. Conventions are often referred to as poetic, literary, or dramatic, depending upon whether the convention appears in a poem, short story or novel, or a play.

Source: http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/index.html

Mini Writing Exercises

1.      Write a paragraph that describes a monster (whether it be a vampire or another magical being that you know well).  Make sure that this description fits with the conventions of the genre to which the being belongs (i.e.—a vampire might have fangs; a zombie might eat brains, etc.).  Use rich language and adjectives to create a vivid image for your reader.

2.     Parody a vampire attack (or a part of one) in a paragraph.  Use the Moore reading as well as the more serious, short readings from class for ideas of conventions you might want to twist. 

Bloodsucking Fiends

As the book begins, Moore effectively creates and develops the setting of his story. Setting the scene for an entire book can
be a difficult task, but by using descriptive language, and contrasting images, the setting is memorable.
1) 1. Moore uses the contrasting beauty of the San Francisco skyline and a homeless man to set the stage for his tale. How do these contrasting images work to create a feeling of mystery? Why does the image of the Emperor lead the reader to believe that things are not always what they seem in San Francisco?
2. Writing exercise: Using Moore's first chapter as an example, write an introduction to a short story in which you establish the setting. This exercise should be no more than one page in length.
3. Explain why setting the scene in a story such as Blood Sucking Friends is important. Would the book still be as interesting if the author did not take the time to establish the setting for his interesting characters?

or

After Jody wakes up in the dumpster, she is surprised to discover she feels completely changed. After traumatic experiences, we often must change to cope with what has happened to us. Everyone deals with it differently, and Jody is no exception. The change can be for the good or make one's life worse, but pushes us to accept change.

1) 1. Rewrite Jody's experience waking up in the dumpster. As you rewrite the passage, try a different tone than Moore's. What type of tone did you choose to address this passage? How does it differ from Moore's tone?

OR
Journal Entry: Describe an event in your life that has helped to define the person you are today. How did the event change you, or make you more direct on your path to self discovery?

Chapter Abstracts
Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of the text for either a student or teacher.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 1, Death and Chapter 2, Death
Warmed Over Abstract
* The story begins with the Emperor, a wise homeless man, looking over San Francisco. * The Emperor is upset because a vampire is killing people in his beloved city. * As Jody walks home, she is attacked by a strange man.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 3, Oh Liquid Love and Chapter 4,
Blooms and the City of Burned Clutches Abstract
* Her attacker bites her and then makes her drink her blood. * Jody wakes up in a dumpster with a burned hand. * Jody finds that her shirt is full of money * Jody takes the bus home, thinking her boyfriend will be worried about her. * Instead, she finds him complaining about her on the phone.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 5, Undead and Somewhat Slightly
Dazed and Chapter 6, The Animals Abstract
* Kurt is upset with Jody but does not ask her if she is okay. * Jody becomes very upset and throws a plant at Kurt, which knocks him out. * She then drinks Kurt's blood because she cannot resist the blood. * Jody realizes she is a vampire and needs to find a safe place for the day time.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 7, Suiters and Chapter 8, Dinner with
the Vampire Abstract
* The story shifts to Thomas Flood, a country boy in the big city. * Tommy lives in a small apartment with five other men in Chinatown. * As the chapter ends, Tommy meets the Emperor who helps Tommy find a job.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 9, He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good, So You'd Better... and Chapter 10, Walking, Talking, and Bumping in the Night Abstract
* Jody suddenly regains consciousness when the sun sets. * She hates waking alone; she's lived with ten men in five years. * Jody counts the money her attacker left her, almost seventy thousand dollars. The attacker must have turned her into a vampire on purpose. * Jody gets a call from someone she does not know who tells her she can be killed.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 11, Lather, Rinse, Repent and
Chapter 12, Fashionably Doomed Abstract
* The night workers at the Marina Safeway are known as "the Animals" because of their rowdy behavior. * The Animals are Simon, Clint, Christian, Jeff, Drew, Troy Lee, Gustavo, Barry, and Lash. * The new night manager turns out to be Tommy, who all of the Animals seem to like. * Jody walks by the store and is hit on by Tommy and Simon. She accepts a date with Tommy.
Part 1, Fledgling: Chapter 13, To-Do List of the Fashionably Doomed and Chapter 14, Two Losts Do Not Make a Found Abstract
* The workers put the Safeway stock room back together. * Troy Lee and Tommy go to Chinatown and Troy Lee explains that Tommy's roommates want to marry him to gain citizenship. * Tommy cannot say no to a panhandler.

Chroistopher Moore on Vampires and Writing

Read and respond with a comment to Christopher Moore interview.  What is your experience with contemporary vampire fiction?  Classical vampire fiction (Dracula)? Have you read Twilight or Anne Rice?
www.chrismoore.com/writing_vampire.html

Read first chapter online:

http://www.chrismoore.com/writing_vampire.htm

http://www.chrismoore.com/interviews/writing-the-vampire/

Watch the following videos and the videos on the video bar.
http://watchmojo.com/index.php?id=8330

http://watchmojo.com/index.php?id=8357 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bhb744dw18

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/the-new-vampires-9-possib_n_620202.html#s103541 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBsNmM3ADp0&feature=related


Read to pg. 117 for Tuesday

Finish Fugitive Pieces/Bloodsucking Fiends

Fugitive Pieces Stories are due.  View end of movie.

New book: Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
Reading Group Guide

Questions for Discussion

1. Everyone has been exposed to Vampire lore, either through books, movies, or television. How does Jody's transformation into a vampire differ from how you always thought someone became a vampire? In what ways is it similar?

2. Jody and Tommy's relationship moves at a rather alarming pace, and within a week of meeting each other, they are in love. Is love at first sight possible? Or in their case, at first bite? Why do they connect so instantly?

3. The book is filled with religious connotations, whether intentional or not — from the mention of "the pyramid" (The TransAmerica Tower), to the use of crosses to ward off vampires, to the Animals being referred to as "Crusaders." How intentional do you think this was on the part of the author? What do these add to the story?

4. The book touches upon the idea of euthanasia — the practice of ending the life of a terminally ill person in a painless or minimally painful way in order to limit suffering — in that Elijah Ben Sapir, the vampire who creates Jody, only kills those who are about to die or whose lives are limited in some way. What are your feelings about "mercy killings"? Do vampires have an ethical standard?

5. When Simon threatens Jody after she refuses to turn him into a vampire, she ends up killing him in the front of his truck. Jody then blames the killing on Elijah, however, and never confesses it to Tommy. Why not admit to it when Elijah has been restrained?

6. Why are Jody and Tommy "set up" as the culprits in the recent crimes? What would it mean if they were caught? Why do these crimes need to be pinned on anyone? Couldn't the criminals cover up thecrimes in another way?

7. By the end of the novel, both detectives — Cavuto and Rivera — begin to believe in the supernatural and that vampires could exist. To what extent do you believe in the supernatural, either vampires, ghosts, or even just that some people may or may not have psychic ability?

8. Tommy uses Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat, which of course is fiction, as his "Owner's Manual" for learning about Jody and her new powers. Discuss the author's use of fiction within fiction in order to tell a story. Have any members of your group read The Vampire Lestat? How do the two books compare?

9. Once Jody becomes a vampire, she finds that she has many new and different abilities, including superstrength, heightened senses, and superspeed. Which do you think is her most needed new superability?

10. Though Jody finds herself immortal, she also retains many of her normal human characteristics and failings, including vanity, fear, anger, and disgust. Discuss how even though she has become immortal, and can protect herself from many of the regular dangers of everyday life, she is still unable to disassociate herself from normal human emotion.

11. At the end of the book, the reader is left with the impression that Jody is about to turn Tommy into a vampire. If she does change him into a vampire, how do you imagine their story continues? How would it continue if she does not?

Enhancing Your Bookclub

1. Would you be willing to give up your normal life — being able to go out in the daylight, not being immortal — in order to become a vampire? You'd be able to live forever, have superstrength and -speed, among many other different gifts. Would it be worth it? Why? Why not?

2. To read more about vampires, take a look at the following titles: The Society of S by Susan Hubbard, Vamped by David Sosnowski, The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula by Tim Lucas, and Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Costa.

3. Learn more about vampires: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampires.

Christopher Moore is the bestselling author of You Suck, A Dirty Job, The Stupidest Angel, Fluke, Lamb, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Bloodsucking Fiends, and Practical Demonkeeping. Visit the

official Christopher Moore website at www.chrismoore.com.