YEAR 12 LESSON FIFTEEN [10th Jan 12]: Homework.

Students were asked to compare the ideas being offered by the film 'It's A Wonderful Life' with the philosophical content being presented by Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby. The class watched the concluding twenty minutes of this classic American film and were asked to compare and contrast this filmic representation of America with the America offered by Fitzgerald in Gatsby. Class discussion was outstanding. The comments relating to how the texts offer a different view of the American Dream were particularly impressive. Class discussion identified the fact that both texts champion the importance of religion, family and community.
The second section of the lesson explored the significance of Chapter Eight in The Great Gatsby. The three sections of the chapter that were considered were:

1. The opening section. Discussion considered why Gatsby is enamoured with Daisy. Focus was placed on the fact that Gatsby seems captivated by Daisy's wealthy background and seems to be attracted to her affluence and class more than her human qualities.
2. The symbolic significance of George Wilson's comments relating to God and the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg. Students were asked to consider why Fitzgerald offers the reader an America that seems to have replaced the worship of God with the worship of consumerism.
3. The poetic representation of Gatsby's murder. Students were asked to consider why Carraway's description of this brutal act seems to create a sense of melancholy beauty and peace rather than a sense of violence and hate. How does Carraway view Gatsby's death? 

You lot were superb today....despite five or six of you wandering inside your own imagination and then being unable to recall your journey!! Class discussion was as impressive as Maddie's coat. YES...it was THAT good.

HOMEWORK: Read the final chapter of Gatsby. How do you interpret the final page? How do you interpret the final sentence? Bring some opinion to next week's session. Furthermore, read TROTAM. I will be discussing Section Five of the poem next week and we will examine HOW Coleridge tells the story in the opening section. READ. READ. READ.
Students should also watch the first episode of The Romantics BBC Documentary series as this provides a wonderful exploration of the history and philosophy that inspired the Romantic Poets. This is essential viewing:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-romantics-bbc-documentary-series.html
Click on link below to access a previous Be Curious upload that offers a reading of TROTAM. Students may find it easier to read along with Richard Burton's reading of the text or just enjoy listening to Burton's vocal interpretation of this psychedelic classic:
http://becuriouslit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/year-12-lesson-eleven-29th-nov-12.html