http://geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] geoff-chaucer.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-01-10 09:42 am

Creative Writing: Poetry, Lesson One

Tuesday, January 10, 8th period

Just as he was yesterday although 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] oatmanspatient
[livejournal.com profile] teen_twin
[livejournal.com profile] 12parseckessel
[livejournal.com profile] time_agent
[livejournal.com profile] kikidelivers(TA)
[livejournal.com profile] death_n_binky
[livejournal.com profile] sharon_valerii
[livejournal.com profile] future_visions
Auditing: [livejournal.com profile] gotcanewillpoke (What? You tell him he can't.)
sensethevisions: (Default)

Re: SIGN IN

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2006-01-10 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Phoebe signs in.

"I'm Phoebe Halliwell. I'm taking creative writing because I love poetry and writing. Also, because, hello? It's Chaucer!"
sensethevisions: (Default)

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2006-01-10 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Phoebe bit her lip to keep a smile from turning into a giggle. She looked at Geoff and asked, "Not counting yourself, because well, you're one of my faves, but who is your favorite poet and why?"

She then looked at Death. "Death, do you think that there is a way to use poetry as a tool of freedom?"
sensethevisions: (Chin on hand)

Re: READ YOUR POEM

[personal profile] sensethevisions 2006-01-10 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
ROUGE ET NOIR by Emily Dickinson

Soul, wilt thou toss again?
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost, indeed,
But tens have won an all.

Angels' breathless ballot
Lingers to record thee;
Imps in eager caucus
Raffle for my soul.


Phoebe finished reading. "I chose this one because the context of soul and gambling can be viewed in so many ways. We gamble with our hearts and our feelings...and some of us do indeed tend to gamble with our souls."

Re: SIGN IN

[identity profile] oatmanspatient.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
My name is Marty Blank and I'm taking this class to make sure Geoff stops hitting on my girlfriend. ZOMG because I need an English credit.

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[identity profile] oatmanspatient.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Marty points at Kiki. "Kiki? What kind of mileage do you get on your broom? Do you have to recharge it? Fill it up with gas? What?"

Marty then looks at Death "Death? What's the meaning of Life?

Re: READ YOUR POEM

[identity profile] oatmanspatient.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Danny O'Dare by Shel Silverstein


Danny O'Dare, the dancin' bear,
Ran away from the County Fair,
Ran right up to my back stair
And thought he'd do some dancin' there.
He started jumpin' and skippin' and kickin',
He did a dance called the Funky Chicken,
He did the Polka, he did the Twist,
He bent himself into a pretzel like this.
He did the Dog and the Jitterbug,
He did the Jerk and the Bunny Hug.
He did the Waltz and the Boogaloo,
He did the Hokey-Pokey too.
He did the Bop and the Mashed Potata,
He did the Split and the See Ya Later.
And now he's down upon one knee,
Bowin' oh so charmingly,
And winkin' and smilin'--it's easy to see
Danny O'Dare wants to dance with me.


And I picked this poem because I like bears. Especially ones that can do the Funky Chicken.

Re: SIGN IN

[identity profile] kikidelivers.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hi, I'm Kiki Takayama, and I'm not only taking this class, I'm also TAing it," Kiki grins totally not evilly. "Make sure you get your names on the attendance sign-in sheet, because I'll be picking it up at the end of every class and keeping a tally of what classes you've missed. Also," Kiki gestures at a table to the side, "there's coffee and decaf, and some croissants if you want snacks. Help yourself.

"And finally, I'm taking this class simply for the love of the teacher subject."

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[identity profile] kikidelivers.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Kiki, definitely not expecting this question, starts laughing. "Basically," she explains, "it's all fueled by my own magical energy. If I'm tired, or worn down, I can't fly as far or as fast as I can when I'm rested. It's not as strenuous as anything like running, but after some long distance flight I can be pretty tired from the energy needed to keep the broom in the air. I think my top speed is around 40 miles an hour, but only for short bursts. I can maintain a good 15 to 20 per hour if I'm handling the magic right."

Re: READ YOUR POEM

[identity profile] kikidelivers.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Kiki opens, again, her tattered copy of Selected Poems of Robert Service and reads:

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."

Re: ASKING QUESTIONS ASSIGNMENT

[identity profile] kikidelivers.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Kiki looks over at Han. "I'm tempted to ask you about the weird message you left on my machine the other day," she begins, "but instead, I'll ask what is the strangest work of poetry you've ever read in your travels?"

"And Connor, what's your favorite animal?"

Re: SIGN IN

[identity profile] kikidelivers.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're welcome," Kiki smiles, sitting back down.

[*g* NP!]

Re: SIGN IN

[identity profile] anextimeagent.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack signs in.

He looks like not-slept-well hell. "I'm Jack Harkness a complete moron and I'm taking this class because I said I would take a class from Uncle Geoff Professor Chaucer."

Re: SIGN IN

[identity profile] anextimeagent.livejournal.com 2006-01-10 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack groans. That's all he needs, another reason for CJ to be pissed at him.

Page 1 of 3