Tuesday, September 13th

Francisco Goya, Spanish painter "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters"

In German folklore Walpurgisnacht is believed to be the night of a witches' meeting on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz Mountains,

TODAY'S GOALS

1. Analyze the themes of transcendentalism and justice in TNTSJ to better understand the final scenes of the play
2. Help each other understand the main arguments Thoreau puts forth in his essay, "Civil Disobedience"

Starter #8
Thomas Edison once said, "Restlessness is the first sign of discontent and discontent is the necessity of progress. Show me a truly satisfied man, and I'll show you a failure"

Answer 2 of the 3 of these prompts:

• What does this quote mean to you?  Do you agree with it? Why or why not?
• How does it apply to the contrast between Thoreau and Waldo in TNTSJ?
• Does this quote relate to the idea of being v.  living in anyway? 

CLASS BIZ
1. Picture re-takes
2. College counseling announcements (see whiteboard)  
3. Did we already discuss whether or not seminars should be graded?
4. Homework for the week (Let's look at the "Homework" page, shall we?)
5. Our Class Definition of Transcendentalism
An early 19th century philosophical movement spearheaded by Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson that stipulates individuals have the ability to think beyond their body, and prioritizes self-reliance, nonconformity, spiritual connection through nature, and not believing in God as the traditional religious figure, but finds a God in nature, and believing that everything is connected (we are all a part of a universal soul).  (THAT'S A MOUTHFUL!)

AGENDA
1. Pair-share starter responses 
Waldo: "You are a very difficult man!"
Henry: "Good. The world is too full of easy men"

Lydian: "Waldo wants to collect his thoughts"
Henry: "What is this, the winter of our content? By the time he 'collects his thoughts,' they'll be dead as dandelions under the snow"

2. What are Walpurgisnacht  and "The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters"?  (Goya-esque) p. 93

3.  ACTING TIME!!
Scene 1: Waldo and Thoreau's argument (pp 83-88)

• Think about how the binary of "being v. living" is further explored in this scene AND compare the perspectives of Waldo and Thoreau regarding justice and the individual's role in creating a more just society.  How does society/Waldo view Thoreau's methods? How do you? 
• Roles: Waldo and Thoreau

Scene 2: The strange battle scene (pp. 92-96)

• Think about the symbolism in this passage-- why did the author's choose certain characters in the play to represent specific historical figures?
• How does this scene showcase the conflicting societal perspectives on the Mexican American War that we've studied thus far? 
• What does it seem like the AUTHORS are suggesting as the best way for us to fight injustice??!
• Roles: Henry, Edward Emerson as Drummer Boy, Sam as Sergeant, Deacon Ball as General, Bailey, Various Voices, Mother, Waldo as President,.

4. Whole Class discussion: 

• Why did the author's choose certain characters in the play to represent specific historical figures? (Waldo as President? Williams as Mexican solider? Edward as the little drummer boy? Bailey? 
• How does the scene we acted out represent the divergent viewpoints on the war outlined in the primary source documents we read last week?
• What is significant about the broken bell on page 92? What might the bell symbolize?
• How would the playwrights or perhaps Thoreau answer this question: Is the individual's fight against injustice futile (useless?)
• What, according to the end of the play, IS the best way for the individual to make change?
• Why does Waldo say he almost loses his identity on page 91 
• Do you think Thoreau is too judgmental of Waldo? 

 5. "Civil Disobedience" Seminar Coaching

• Summarize the main idea of each paragraph-- helping each other to clarify any confusions or questions you may have had about Thoreau's vocabulary or main points.  I'd writing notes in the margins of the essay as you go along.
• After you've finished, decide what you think Thoreau's main argument in this essay is and find a  quote that captures that.  Then, on the BACK of your reading write it down but please set it up like this:  Thoreau's main argument in Civil Disobedience is ______________.  He expresses this idea as he writes, "QUOTE" (4).  

• What was a passage or line from Civil Disobedience that you do not understand or that confuses you? Please set it up like this:  I was quite confused when Thoreau writes, "QUOTE"(3). 
• Come up with 3 thought-provoking seminar questions and write them down on a sticky note and give to Ashley.  At least one question should come from the essay, "Civil Disobedience" and at least one should come from the play,  TNTSJ, and you should aim to have the question reference a specific quote or passage. 
• HONORS:  Once you are done, meet with each other to summarize and clarify confusions about the Thomas Hobbes reading.