Introduction to Western Literature, Lesson One

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Monday, January 9, 5th and 6th periods

Professor Chaucer is leaning against his desk in the lovely new classroom he's been assigned to, waiting for his students to arrive. Once they have he walks forward and greets them.

"Welcome to Introduction to Western Literature. I'm Geoff Chaucer, and I'll be teaching the class, in case you hadn't already figured that out. First I want to tell you a few things about the class. There aren't very many of you, so I'd prefer it if you all sat near one another -- in fact, the seats can be moved into whatever configuration we all feel comfortable with, so there's no need for anyone to be stuck off alone in the back. Also, I want to point out the book closet behind me -- you can find all of the texts you need for the assigned readings there, plus some additional materials if you're interested. The books here on the bookcase are also available for reading, but I'd prefer you don't remove those from this wing of the school. My office is just off the classroom here, and I'll be holding office hours at least twice a week, possibly more if I get very bored.

"You can pick up a copy of the assigned readings and grading structure here on my desk as you leave today. Class discussions will pertain to those readings, and participation in the discussions is part of your grade, so please make certain you do the reading. There will be a couple of quizzes given, just to make certain you're all understanding the material, and an end-of term project, which I'll tell you more about later.

All right, let's move on to today's class. There are three things I need you to do for me today.

1. Introduce yourself, and tell the class why you're taking Western Lit.

2. Choose two people in the room and ask each of them a question. Any question, but let's keep things civil. I'm included in the category of 'people in the room'.

3. In roughly 100 words, describe me. Bonus points will be given for favorable use of the following words: articulate, handsome, dashing, droolworthy, charming, intelligent, sexy, magnificent sexgod. There's an opening for the position of TA for this class, and your essay will be taken into consideration if you decide to apply. (This is all in good fun, folks. Have fun with the assignment!) The essay is due by the end of class today.

Once you've finished the above assignments, feel free to use the remainder of today's class period to begin your assigned reading for the next lesson."

Assignment for Next Week: Read Aristophanes' Lysistrata

[OOC: A couple of important points. For people in other time zones and with RL concerns, you'll have until Friday each week to make your comments for class. If you know ahead of time you won't be available for a class, just drop me a note in my voicemail and let me know. You're allowed one unexcused absence without penalty. After that, you'll get at F for that lesson unless you arrange with me for make-up work. I don't assign detention unless there's a real problem, so don't be afraid to come and see me about missed classes.]

Class Roster
ihatedenmark
kawalsky
izzyalienqueen
kitty__fetish
lady_jessica_bg
apocalypsesoon
harried_potter

Independent Study (pending admin approval)
future_visions
kikidelivers

EDIT: This class is in need of a TA. If you're interested, please talk to me during class today or stop by my office hours.

Comments

occ

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

And so the confusion begins...

There's an Isabel (me) and an Isobel. Similar name, same actress. But I'm the one signed up for Western Lit.

I'll actually post ic later, have to go get the little guy at preschool now.

Re: occ

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Whoops! I'll change that right away. :)

SIGN IN

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Sign in and make your introductions here.

Re: SIGN IN

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel walked into the room and smiled at person she assumed was the professor.

Re: SIGN IN

[harried-potter.livejournal.com]

Harry signs in, and once everybody is seated, says: "Hi, I'm Harry, most of you will know that allready. I'm taking this class because my mun forgot to sign the other char up i've never really been into literature, but i thought it would be nice to learn a bit more about it.

Re: SIGN IN

[kitty--fetish.livejournal.com]

Alphonse walks in, signing his name, and picks out a seat.

"I'm Alphonse Elric, a freshman and new to the school. I'm taking this class because I think studying literature would be a nice change of pace for me, especially in a different place. I'm hoping it will be a good experience."

Re: SIGN IN

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

Jessica signs in. She adds, "I'm taking Western Literature because there's no better indication of the nature of a society than their literature. It's the sort of thing I'm interested in."

Re: SIGN IN

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky signed in and, when the time came, introduced himself. "Hey. I'm Charlie Kawalsky. I'm a junior. I'm taking this class because.." He grinned sheepishly. "I need the English credit for graduation."

Re: SIGN IN

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

*Hamlet gets into class a little late. He sees that most of the other students have arrived, and quickly signs in.*

I'm Hamlet. I took Professor Chaucer's creative writing class last semester, although the canon of western literature was the one I truly wanted to enroll in, what with being a part of it and all. I hope that we cover a variety of interesting texts this semester.

Re: SIGN IN

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

"Um. I'm John Connor, and I just kinda fell into this class because the mun was away at an anime convention during 'sign up for classes' weekend. And I think it'd be a good thing to learn lit for better communication. And so I can get those stupid injokes that read-y people make."

ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Choose two people and ask each a question.

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

When it was her turn to ask questions, Isabel looked to Prof. Chaucer first. "This may be a ridiculous question, but then again, most of the ridiculous questions I've asked since I got here haven't been so ridiculous after all, but you're not the Chaucer are you?"

After the Professor answered, she looked at kawalsky. "Okay, I'm going to try a simple one now. Or so I think. Where are you from?"

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

Jessica looks at Professor Chaucer. "Boxers or briefs Do you prefer dramas or comedies when it comes to plays?"

She then looks at Harry. "That's an interesting scar on your forehead. Is there a story behind it or has it always been there?"

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky turned to kitty__fetish to ask a question. "What's your favorite piece of clothing?"

He then asked Professor Chaucer a question. "How do you get your hair to look like that every day?" His own hair just never behaved.

ESSAYS

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Post your essay assignment here.

Re: ESSAYS

[harried-potter.livejournal.com]

Feeling somewhat not-at-ease with this assignment, Harry tries to make the best of it.

Professor Chaucer is someone who, by some people, will definately be considered to be handsome, dashing, droolworthy, charming, intelligent, sexy, and, according to Paige, he is also a magnificent sexgod. I wouldn't know about that last part. Let's find out, shall we? Eh, that would be all.


((Pity the foreigners! I don't know how to use 'articulate' in a sentence!))

Re: ESSAYS

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Based on the tales written by Prof Chaucer that I’ve read previously, I’d describe him as quite intelligent and articulate, with a tremendous ability to create unique characters. Now that I’ve met him in person, I need to add charming and drool-worthy to the list. I wonder who I can ask if magnificent sex-god is true.

His accent is delightful, I wish he would call me sweetheart and I have a feeling that I will enjoy lectures just because of it. In closing, if all my professors are like this, this is going to be a great semester.

Re: ESSAYS

[gotcanewillpoke.livejournal.com]

He'd wandered away from the clinic to catch Geoff's western lit class because he really was curious to see the man in the classroom. Watch how he interacted with the students. It wasn't so much the material that interested him, but the presentation.

Shaking his head at himself, House sat down in one of the desks at the back and scribbled the first one hundred words that came to mind, with a mind to use all the words Geoff suggested:

Geoff Chaucer is a handsome, articulate man. He is charming and intellegent and extremely fascinating to talk with. He is dashing not only in appearance but in truth as well. He carries himself with an air of someone who knows what he wants, and will stand strong in the face of any obstacle. He carries with him a droolworthy smile, reminiscent of a magnificent sexgod. Chaucer has a way about him, even the way he walks is sexy. HIs voice can send chills up the spine of a grown man, and the heat of his kiss could spark a wildfire.

Re: ESSAYS

[kitty--fetish.livejournal.com]

He wasn't too familiar with the Professor, for he had never met the man before today, but Alphonse wrote down his first assumptions about his teacher.

I don’t know the teacher all that well, but so far he looks to be a promising one. He studies literature, so he’s probably a very well read person who enjoys what he does. People who read a lot sometimes come out to be intelligent and enjoyable people to be around, so maybe Professor Chaucer will end up being so as well.

Re: ESSAYS

[lady-jessica-bg.livejournal.com]

Our professor being Chaucer of the Canterbury Tales, I would hesitate to think that he is anything other than intelligent and articulate. Otherwise I would be forced to believe that Western literature isn’t quite as literary as thought.

Having met him, I must admit he is handsome and charismatic. Unfortunately, I cannot attest to his status as a magnificent sex god because Leto is my one twoo wuv, dontcha know, but although I am not qualified to class him as such, no one seems to be too unhappy about being in a relationship with him.

Re: ESSAYS

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

Kawalsky tries to avoid using contractions as much as possible, even though he doesn't know what the word 'contraction' means in this context.

Professor Chaucer is blonde, not really all that tall when you think about it, but has a strong presence and an accent. He knows the English language really well, I think, but I don't do not know how handles modern slang since it's it is really confusing. I have heard he is a good teacher, and since his stuff is still known really well today where I come from, I figure he has to be good at what he does. I do not know what else to say because I do not know Professor Chaucer very well, but I guess I will learn more about him from being in his class.

Re: ESSAYS (Because Phoebe Just *Had* To)

[sensethevisions]

articulate, handsome, dashing, droolworthy, charming, intelligent, sexy, magnificent sexgod

When Phoebe saw the first assignment for Geoff's Western Lit class, she couldn't stop the wide grin that spread across her face at this. Oh, this was going to be fun, mainly because she knew Geoff and liked him. She also knew he would get a laugh out of her essay.

Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the most intelligent and well-spoken men I have had the priviledge of knowing. He is incredibly droolworthy and the only reason I do not ask to be allowed to worship him as a magnificent sexgod is because I fear my boyfriend would kill him---or leave me for him. He is as articulate as he is handsome, and his sexy voice never fails to send shivers up my spine. He is charming and dashing, and he knows exactly how to treat a lady...in so many ways. His poetry leaves you throbbing and craving more contact from him.

TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Ask questions or issue complaints to the professor here.

Re: TALK TO THE PROFESSOR

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"What does the TA position entail, sir?" Isabel asked.

ALL OTHER IC INTERACTION

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Something I haven't covered already in the OCD threads? Put it here.

OOC

[geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com]

Please put your OOC comments right here thanks. :)

Re: OOC

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

A question, only because I want to make sure I get this right. Am I correct in assuming Geoff speaks with some sort of accent? Only because because Isabel needs to react to the voicemail message (http://www.livejournal.com/users/izzyalienqueen/393.html?thread=14985#t14985). Even if it's only to blush a lot and look curiously at everyone else in the room trying to figure out who "sweetheart" is.