Block Day, February 1&2 ~ Mad Girls and Commas

WARM UP

SAT Vocab Word of the Day #8:

FORTUITOUS (adj) - lucky

GRAMMAR - commas

• Journal 6 (cont.)
• Bedford p. 376
• Take notes on 32c and 32d
• Complete Exercise 32-2 on p. 378 (a-e) and (1-5)

*West's class will have a journal check while you are taking grammar notes.

POETRY - The Villanelle

Mad Girl's Love Song

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary darkness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said.
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

--Sylvia Plath

Journal 9 - Consider the following and write

• How do you know what the poem means considering the devices and structure? (Find at least five devices that you believe the author intentionally used to emphasize her theme.)
• What is the effect of the refrain (repeating line) in the poem?
• Does the meaning of that refrain line change each time it is repeated?

Extra Credit Opportunity: If you would like to use your own short story or write a Villanelle poem to enter a contest, I will give you up to five points of extra credit upon seeing the work and proof of your entry application. Click here to see a few contests that you could go for.