Advanced English 12

Advanced 12 English is an Honours English Course at ARHS which offers students of proven ability(80%+) and motivation (it is optional) a chance to test more fully their talents. This course (like 441) is a “survey of English literature” course which intoduces the student to a sizeable number of literary landmarks. In addition to a selection of fifty or so poems, the novels Heart of Darkness and Great Expectations, a thorough review of the language of grammar, a shortcourse in personal essay writing, a Shakespeare play, and research essay writing, the Honours course requires outside reading in a chosen poet (e.g. Keats, Browning, Blake, Hopkins, Frost) and in four other novels: Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers; Hardy’s Mayor of Casterbridge; Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist; as well, a modern choice from a list of suggested titles. Both “outside” portions require a)critical readings b) seminar session after school and c) a journal to record responses to all of this. This “outside” portion is marked satisfactory or not, with an accompanying 15% or 0% for a mark. In one semester, this is strenuous work, especially for students with jobs, committee work or heavy personal responsibilities. Students should expect to work hard, but also reap the rewards that must inevitably come from rubbing shoulders with great art.”Someone said: ‘The dead writers are remote from us because we know so much more than they did.’ Precisely, and they are that which we know.” – T.S.Eliot Tradition and the Individual Talent

Grade 12 English Net-Work

I have tried to include only those entries to this website which I feel have real value. I have made my biases fairly clear (“worn them on my sleeve for daws to peck at”) and if you feel your approach to literary criticism is closer to the now increasingly dated “postmodern” family of critical approaches, or if you would just like to know more about what these approaches are, you could look at this entry on the types of critical theory: Theory page.
Here the bias is the other way, but the definitions of the critical methods should give a general sense of direction.

By January 07, midnight, I would like every student to have READ AND RESPONDED TO ONE entry from Five of the following six pages:

Personal Essay

Poetry

Literary Criticism

Books

Grammar and Language

Education

In addition you must read and respond to ONE entry from

Arts and Letters DailyIn total, then, you must have submitted a total of 6 responses by January 07. (also:you must have 3 completed by Nov. 1)
You must e-mail me your response at bbauld@ns.sympatico.ca (hitting the reply button is the easiest way).

Address your responses this way: in the “subject” space put:
“Jane Doe-Grammar” or “John Doe-Books” etc.

Your RESPONSE to the article which you choose to read should be around 250 words. You should give an honest reaction to what you have read, but also an intelligent one which shows how closely you have read the piece. This might require that you read the piece more than once. If you have something “beyond your years”, keep looking – there is much which is accessible. Please remember that I will ask you to do a response over if it is inadequate. Hint: I have chosen the pieces because they are thoughtful, knowledgeable, and well written. Please look again if you are unable to see these qualities. The better response are always those which deal in specifics.

For information on the Advanced Placement English Literature Exam please see me, but also peruse the sample questions and answers, and teachers’ grading samples, found at the following:
Advanced Placement English Literature
This is an excellent opportunity to
a) test yourself against a continent of capable English students
b) earn an exemption from a first year course in university and in many cases a credit
c) extend your own abilities through some paractice in close reading
The exam is always in mid May and costs in the neighborhood of $100, some of which has, so far, been subsidized by the school. I am available to work with you for as much as you have the appetite.

Curriculum resources for Grade 12 English

Notes for Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon period

Notes for Chaucer and the Middle Ages

Notes for the English Renaissance & 17th Century

Notes for King Lear (bbauld)

Quotes from King Lear (bbauld)

Practice Grammar Sentences

Grammar Test Form

Selected answers to “Practice Grammar Sentences”441/541 Poetry: Elizabethan to Romantic441/541 Poetry: Victorian to Modern
Robert Browning’s “Fra Lippo Lippi”
Art as Prophecy in”Fra Lippo Lippi”
Robert Browning’s “Andre Del Sarto
Several pictures of the painter Fra Lippo Lippi and Andrea de Sartoa>

Miller’s Tale Prologue
Miller’s Tale

Pardoner’s Tale Prologue
Pardoner’s Tale

Wife of Bath’s Tale Prologue
Wife of Bath’s Tale

Read here an account of the Murder of Thomas a Becket