A Witches' Gathering and a Battle to Begin

Macbeth opens with two short scenes, one in which the witches chant and comment on a battle that Macbeth is fighting against invading forces and a second in which we see the battle and its events in very bloody detail.  The witches refer to the battle as "the hurly-burly" and Macbeth is described first as a warrior.  What reasons might Shakespeare have for beginning the play with these two events: the gathering of witches and a battle in which Macbeth uses "brandished steel" to cut down his "enemies" who are traitors to Macbeth's King?  Moreover, what do you make of the witches and the characters in the opening scenes?  Please respond to these questions in no fewer than 10 SENTENCES (thoughtful and well-constructed, of course).  Most importantly, DO NOT USE SPARKNOTES or outside guides.  Read the passages carefully and try and offer your best insight into what happen.  We're only a few pages into the play -- now is the time for creative suspicion about what might happen and why Shakespeare has made certain choices.  Excited to read your reflections.

The Power of Predictions

Has there ever been a time in your life when someone told you that something improbable would happen and it did?  Did the fact that the event was "predicted" cause you to behave differently than you would have otherwise and make it more likely for the event to occur?  Or did the event simply seem to occur without any assistance from you?  Recall what happened and include your feelings when you heard the event predicted and when it occurred.

Analyzing the Rhetoric of Justice

During the past two days, we've analyzed King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" for signs of ethos, logos, pathos, and direct references to his oppositions' arguments.  As we've concluded, King initially relies heavily on logos and some ethos with short bursts -- and one extended explosion -- of pathos for several reasons.  With that said, consider the rest of King's speech.  What elements of rhetoric does he rely on?  Does he primarily use logos again or does be begin to increasingly use pathos?  Why does he take the rhetorical path that he does?  Please write at least 7-10 sentences and use at least three examples from the text of the speech (you can find it online easily if you left it at school) to prove your point.  Thank you and excited to read.

The Beauty of "Letter from Birmingham Jail"

One of the most cited documents in contemporary American letters, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" features line after line of memorable prose.  Which section did you enjoy most and/or find most appealing?  Why?  Please be sure to cite at least one line and explain your reasoning in detail, using 7-10 sentences.

Walks in the Woods

In class on Thursday, we discussed the variety of ways in which forests can convey meaning in a short story, novel or play.  Clearly, forests or woods feature prominently in both "A Worn Path" and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."  So, what is their figurative significance in both stories?  How do they function as critical settings in both works?  Please respond in at least 10 thoughtful sentences with citations from each work.

"A Worn Path" in the Woods

When you think of forests as potential settings in short stories, what first comes to mind?  In other words, what do you associate with the forest as a setting?  Moreover, what is the significance of the forest as a setting in Eudora Welty's classic "A Worn Path"? Please respond in 7-10 thoughtful and well-written sentences.

"You, who so well know the nature of my soul..."

In Poe's classic short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the narrator addresses a famous or infamous "You."  Whom do you think he is addressing? Why and how does your judgment affect your overall interpretation of the story and the motivations of the narrator?  Please complete the post in at least 10 thoughtful sentences.