Tuesday, November 29 ~ Waters Decoded

Special schedule today:


No Roots. Finish the story and do the journal instead:

Journal 32: (at least 1/2 page) Near the end of the story, John says, “Perhaps in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast.” What do you think he means? Are we “eating knowledge too fast” today? Explain. 

Discuss "By the Waters of Babylon" and J32. 

Notes: atmosphere vs. tone (please define both in notes).  At first glance, they may appear to be the same thing as they both have something to do with feeling.  But, in literature, there is a distinction.  Atmosphere tells us the way a story makes the reader feel.  Tone tells us the attitude the narrator has toward his subject and us.

Begin Short Story #5 (Probably to be done on Wednesday)
"A Piece of Chalk" by G.K. Chesterton
* Here is a bit of background information to assist you:

• G. K. Chesterton (1874--1936) is staying at a house (perhaps a friend's?) in the country and decides to go out on the downs (rolling grass hills) to draw.  
• He has a few chalks but needs to get some paper.  He likes to use brown paper for chalk drawings. 
• He informs the reader that he is not going out to draw "Nature," which was the common thing to do in that day.  
• Chesterton breaks off onto an idea that though ancient poets might not have described nature as some do closer to his day, it is not because they were less blessed by it.  In fact, they probably drank it in more deeply in times past.
• He realizes he has no white chalk.  
• The color white causes Chesterton to meditate on things many people assume to be blank, void, neutral, unimportant, or dull.  Some people see the color white, sexual purity, and virtue in general as falling into this dull zone.  Chesterton knows otherwise. 

• Chesterton recalls his location, and all is well.  

Journal 33

• Atmosphere: What feelings communicate to you?  Is this a scary environment?  A safe environment?  A jovial environment?  Is this a dull world of walking and chalk?  A wonderful world of walking and chalk? A deadly world or walking and chalk?

• Tone: How does it seem Chesterton feels about what he is writing on?
• What is Chesterton's attitude toward brown paper?  Nature?  The color white?  White chalk?  England, generally?
• How does Chesterton seem to view the reader?  Does he seem to be an intellectually superior Brit?  Does he seem timid?  Does he seem frank?  Do you picture him smiling or scowling or laughing or sneering or blankly staring? 

HW: Rough Draft is due on Block Day.