Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Class Work

1. Share the history of your wall with the others at your table.

A. Was your wall a result of or a part of war?
B. Was your wall created for the sake of beauty?
C. Was your wall functional - served a purpose. For instance, was it big enough to keep wild beasts away?
D. Was your wall erected to keep something or someone inside?
E. Was your wall "successful"? What good is a wall anyway?

Let's return to "Mending Wall." (Summarize)
We ran out of time before you had time to create a dialogue between one of the wall menders and a "someone" at home.  Take the next 10 minutes to create a conversation between you and one other person. Either play the role of the neighbor who believes that "good fences make good neighbors," or play the role of the narrator who believes that "something there is that doesn't like a wall."

Have the chosen character have a conversation with someone who was not out helping to mend the wall. Stick to your chosen character's point of view in the conversation. The other participant in the conversation may be either a hostile or a friendly audience. That is, that individual may either disagree or agree with you.

(Share with the class.)

So, do "good fences make good neighbors," or not? That is the topic of our next essay.

Now, let's think bigger. What kinds of walls or fences exist that are not necessarily tangible? (Discuss)



Go for the lyrics or for a poem - here is an example:
A winter's day

In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;

by Simon and Garfunkel

As you look at the lyrics, what words and phrases create a "picture" of this personal "wall?"

Here is a chart to use to help you figure out what to include in your essay. Let's talk first. What has your experience been?

Walls/Barriers: Do good fences make good neighbors? Prove it!

Quotations about walls or barriers.
Famous poems or song lyrics about walls or barriers. Are there any famous walls in movies? Name and explain.
Facts about walls, yours specifically.   A.      Time to build B.      Cost both in money and human effort C.      Size D.      Etc. You have much of this on your “wall” report.
How effective is your wall? How effective are walls in general? In short, are they worth the effort? Prove it with facts/statistics.
What is your personal experience with walls/barriers?
Do you recommend walls/barriers either physical or methaphorical? Explain.

Homework:  Conduct more wall research. Complete the chart either on paper or electronically. You can recreate the chart in a Word document if you so desire. Bring it to class on Thursday.

Also, write about a personal experience that included a barrier or wall. This can be a physical or metaphorical wall. One page - just "quick write" and share the story. Due in CANVAS by Thursday. (25 pts.)