Julius Caesar: The Musical!

Find a song whose lyrics would be appropriate for a musical version of Julius Caesar. It must deal with some significant aspect of the play: betrayal, deception, over-confidence, women being ignored because they’re women, conspiracy, etc.

Then on a separate sheet of paper, include

1. “Song Title” by ______________________
2. Lyrics (the entire assignment can be printed out in one word processing document with the lyrics pasted in) – sanitize the [bad words]
3. Explanation of connection to the play.
4. Identify who would sing it and when.

Due date: Friday, April 8th.

Example:

“Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays

(What they do!)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
All you fellows who have someone
and you really care, yeah, yeah
Then it's all of you fellows
who better beware, yeah yeah
Somebody's out to get your lady
A few of your buddies they sure look shady
Blades are long, clenched tight in their fist
Aimin' straight at your back
And I don't think they'll miss
(What they do!)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
I keep gettin' all these visits from my friends,
yeah, what they doin to me
They come to my house again and again
and again and again, yeah
So are they there to see my woman
I don't even be home but they just keep on comin'
What can I do to get on the right track
I wish they'd take some of these knives off my back
(What they do!)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Low down... dirty...
(What they do!)
(They smile in your face)
Smiling faces... smiling faces sometimes tell lies
(Back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
I don't need... low down, dirty [fat heads]
(Back stabbers)

This song is relevant to the play because Julius Caesar gets “stabbed in the back” and front and sides by people pretending to be his friends.

Julius Caesar would sing this song as he is approaching Brutus, waiting for that final knife to stab him.

"Harrison Bergeron" Meaningful Sentences

Use all six (6) of the vocabulary words from "Harrison Bergeron" to write meaningful sentences. Sentences that do not conform to the formula will not receive credit. (Due 9/17/2010)

Remember:

• a meaningful sentence is made up of two independent sentences combined with a semicolon (;)


• the first sentence includes a vocabulary word


• the second sentence contains the definition of that vocabulary word


• the first word of the second sentence is not capitalized


• you should underline the vocabulary word and its definition

For instance, if the vocabulary word was:

Cooperate (v): to work or act together or jointly for a common purpose or benefit;

a meaningful sentence would be:

The students cooperated on their project; they worked together to make sure it was turned in on time.

(Hat Tip: Ms. Hildebrandt for her model sentence.)

Story Intro

This week we are writing the introduction to our 6-Weeks' short story project. Please model your intro on Wetherell's "The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant."

There was a summer in my life when the only creature that seemed lovelier to me than a largemouth bass was Sheila Mant. I was fourteen. The Mants had rented the cottage next to ours on the river; with their parties, their frantic games of softball, their constant comings and goings, they appeared to me denizens of a brilliant existence. “Too noisy by half,” my mother quickly decided, but I would have given anything to be invited to one of their parties, and when my parents went to bed I would sneak through the woods to their hedge and stare enchanted at the candlelit swirl of white dresses and bright, paisley skirts.

Sheila was the middle daughter—at seventeen, all but out of reach. She would spend her days sunbathing on a float my Uncle Sierbert had moored in their cove, and before July was over I had learned all her moods. If she lay flat on the diving board with her hand trailing idly in the water, she was pensive, not to be disturbed. On her side, her head propped up by her arm, she was observant, considering those around her with a look that seemed queenly and severe. Sitting up, arms tucked around her long, suntanned legs, she was approachable, but barely, and it was only in those glorious moments when she stretched herself prior to entering the water that her various suitors found the courage to come near.

You need to turn in two paragraphs of exposition, not counting dialogue (you are welcome to write dialogue paragraphs, but they don't count toward the two paragraphs of exposition).

Remember, the story details you will need are:

• Time
• Location
• Antagonist
• Friend for Narrator
• What the Narrator wants
• A secret reason the Narrator can't just take what s/he wants (to provide internal conflict)

Due Friday, Sept. 10.

Quest Storyboards

Using a movie or television show as a reference, complete the six-box quest storyboard chart. (Download here if you lost the copy you received in class.) Each section should be illustrated (to the best of your ability; quality stick figures count) and have a brief sentence or two describing that element of the quest.

The six boxes should be completed as follows:

1. Quester: Who is it that goes on the quest?


2. Destination/Prize: Where is the quester going; what does s/he expect to gain?


3. Mentor: Who is it that provides the quester with the guidance and wisdom needed to successfully complete the quest?


4. Challenges/Trials: Divide this illustration box in half and provide two examples of the obstacles the quester must overcome to succeed.


5. Underworld: What is the quester's brush with death/mortality or other symbolic (sometimes, literal) journey through the underworld?


6. True Objective/Self-Awareness: Regardless of whether the quester achieves his/her goal, what new awareness does s/he gain?

Use Chapter One from Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor as a guide for steps 1, 2, 4, and 6.

This homework assignment is due Friday, Sept. 10.