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fandomhigh2006-01-10 09:42 am
geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-01-10 09:42 am
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Creative Writing: Poetry, Lesson One
Tuesday, January 10, 8th period
Just as he was yesterdayalthough none of you know that, Geoff is leaning against the front of his desk and waiting for his new students to arrive. Once everyone is assembled, he greets the class.
"Welcome to Creative Writing: Poetry. As you've probably already figured out by the fact that I'm standing up here and you're all sitting in chairs, I'm Professor Chaucer. 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. As this is a class on writing poetry, there will also be frequent writing assignments, as well as an end-of-term assignment on which I'll go into more detail 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 Creative Writing.
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. Hopefully you all saw my notice and brought a poem with you to class. If you didn't, take a minute to step up to the bookcase and find yourself one. I'd like each of you to read your poem aloud to the class, and then tell us why you chose that particular poem.
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 the first ten poems in Petrarch's Canzoniere and Shakespeare's sonnets numbers 13, 18, 20, 35, 71, 75, 83, 89, 96, 130, and 137. Choose one sonnet by each author, and come prepared to discuss a comparison of them in class.
[OOC: A couple of important points. For people in other time zones and with RL concerns, you'll have until Saturday 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
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
oatmanspatient
teen_twin
12parseckessel
time_agent
kikidelivers(TA)
death_n_binky
sharon_valerii
future_visions
Auditing:gotcanewillpoke (What? You tell him he can't.)
Just as he was yesterday
"Welcome to Creative Writing: Poetry. As you've probably already figured out by the fact that I'm standing up here and you're all sitting in chairs, I'm Professor Chaucer. 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. As this is a class on writing poetry, there will also be frequent writing assignments, as well as an end-of-term assignment on which I'll go into more detail 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 Creative Writing.
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. Hopefully you all saw my notice and brought a poem with you to class. If you didn't, take a minute to step up to the bookcase and find yourself one. I'd like each of you to read your poem aloud to the class, and then tell us why you chose that particular poem.
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 the first ten poems in Petrarch's Canzoniere and Shakespeare's sonnets numbers 13, 18, 20, 35, 71, 75, 83, 89, 96, 130, and 137. Choose one sonnet by each author, and come prepared to discuss a comparison of them in class.
[OOC: A couple of important points. For people in other time zones and with RL concerns, you'll have until Saturday 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
oatmanspatientteen_twin12parseckesseltime_agentkikidelivers(TA)death_n_binkysharon_valeriifuture_visionsAuditing:
gotcanewillpoke (What? You tell him he can't.)
Re: READ YOUR POEM
The Junior God
The Junior God looked from his place
In the conning towers of heaven,
And he saw the world through the span of space
Like a giant golf-ball driven.
And because he was bored, as some gods are,
With high celestial mirth,
He clutched the reins of a shooting star,
And he steered it down to earth.
The Junior God, 'mid leaf and bud,
Passed on with a weary air,
Till lo! he came to a pool of mud,
And some hogs were rolling there.
Then in he plunged with gleeful cries,
And down he lay supine;
For they had no mud in paradise,
And they likewise had no swine.
The Junior God forgot himself;
He squelched mud through his toes;
With the careless joy of a wanton boy
His reckless laughter rose.
Till, tired at last, in a brook close by,
He washed off every stain;
Then softly up to the radiant sky
He rose, a god again.
The Junior God now heads the roll
In the list of heaven's peers;
He sits in the House of High Control,
And he regulates the spheres.
Yet does he wonder, do you suppose,
If, even in gods divine,
The best and wisest may not be those
Who have wallowed awhile with the swine?
"There's something about the wisdom in this poem," Kiki says, "that appeals to me every time. It says something about the value of experience, that even doing something that could shock others can give you a new perspective on the world."