Peru & the Incas: Royal Hunt of the Sun

By -
llamas overlooking Machu Picchu

Work on the lab this morning (40 minutes) to continue writing your Magical Realist story. For those of you who need a deadline, please write your story draft (1st draft, etc.) by Monday, Feb. 4.

A short story does not have to be long. In fact as long as the story is compelling, it can be as short as a page. Many magical realist stories are longer due to the establishment of setting and character. But if you recall the works of Julio Cortazar or Borges or any of the short stories we have read for South America, you might get the right kind of length for your draft. Don't sweat it. A good story is a good story--no matter the length.

At the end of period one, please read the following about Peru and the Incas. As you read, open another tab and listen to some Peruvian pan flutes...

Then we will pick up The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer and return to room 238 to begin reading it together in class. 

HOMEWORK: More information about Peru can be found here (and about the Incas) as a starting point. Please read these links, take notes, and consider how Shaffer as a writer was able to use history and culture to get an idea for his play. Learn a little about the author and take a look at the production shots from the links above and consider the elements that make this play theatrical. Bring your comments/connections to next class for discussion.

Look! Inca Mythology! Inca tales! If you become inspired while reading about Peru, write a pastoral (a poem about nature) while looking at pictures of Peru's landscape or while listening to some pan flute music...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Namesake Analysis/Discussion Chp. 1 & 2; How It Feels To Be Colored Me

By -
Image
Let's go back to examining  The Namesake , Chapter 1 this morning to continue examining the writing style going on here. Take a closer look at these passages: Pg. 3 (1st full paragraph) to 4 (end of 1st full paragraph): How is Ashima's character compared/contrasted with the American women in the hospital? What do you notice about the sentence structure of this paragraph? What does the use of dialogue in this paragraph provide for the reader? What literary devices do you notice? Can you find figurative language/metaphor/alliteration or other elements of imagery? How are the sentences similar to a contraction (the action in the scene)? Pg. 10-12: how is Ashoke's character presented? How does his story parallel or contrast with his wife's? How is Ashoke different from the other American men in the waiting room? What details do we learn about him?  Pg. 13-14: Nickolai Gogol and the short story "The Overcoat" is alluded to here. Just notice it for now. This al...
Read more

How It Feels to Be Colored Me & Writing Prompts

By -
Image
"How it Feels to Be Colored Me" is an essay by  Zora Neale Hurston . Take a moment to read a bit of information about Zora Neale Hurston, then we'll read the essay in class. Look closely at how the article opens (the hook, lead-in, thesis), and how it develops (the body, topic sentences, argument), and notice the sentence structure (length, diction, syntax). After studying some of these elements respond to the article in writing. ESSAY PROMPT: What defines you? What single physical, mental, emotional trait defines you? Why? What is the significance of this trait?  ESSAY PROMPT: Think about your own educational experience. How multicultural has your experience been?  ESSAY PROMPT: Is there value in having a common culture (for example stressing the idea that we are all 'Americans' over fragmenting our culture)? Why or why not? ESSAY PROMPT: Does this idea of multiculturalism need updating? Is this issue still important--and, if so, why? ESSAY, PLAY, or M...
Read more

Mythology Prezi Projects

By -
Myths. Watch the following short videos concerning mythology. W hat makes a hero ? Anti-hero of One's Own A Host of Heroes Due at end of class , please complete your mythology Prezi project.  You should know the major gods/goddesses of your chosen mythological subject. Create a slide or two where you discuss/list who are the major gods/goddesses in your chosen mythology and what they represent You should know the creation myth that goes with that tradition. In a few slides tell the story of that creation myth through videos, pictures, text, etc. [note: most cultural mythology traditions have more than one creation myth. Pick the one you'd like to use.] You should identify key cultural traditions/beliefs that are represented in the myths of this culture: for example: arête (strength) is a common cultural quality examined in many hero myths. Find examples of some others. At least one slide should include the cultural tradition--note that this slide could come before ...
Read more