Act III, Scene 1 - Fate vs Free Will

As he is dying, Mercutio cries out, "A plague a both your houses!" (III.i.100). After stabbing Tybalt, Romeo cries out, "O, I am fortune's fool!" (III.i.130). Citing evidence from the play, argue in a blog post of at least one paragraph either that fate is or isn't responsible for Romeo's actions.

DUE: on your blog, Friday, May 2, 10pm

HONORS - Act II, Scene 6 - Friar Lawrence's Advice

In Act II, Scene 5, Juliet is frustrated with the Nurse for taking such a long time to tell her that Romeo wants to marry her.

In Act II, Scene 3, Romeo wants to hurry to marry Juliet, but Friar Lawrence advises him to move "Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast" (II.iii.100-101).

Friar Lawrence echoes this advice in Act II, Scene 6:

These violent delights have violent ends                                    Passionate love ends violently, the

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,                        way that fire and gunpowder

Which, as they kiss, consume. ...                                                consume each other when they

Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.                        meet. So, love each other in

Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.                                    moderation – that’s how love lasts.

Is it possible for Romeo and Juliet to slow down? Why or why not? Cite evidence from the play to support your answer. 

Love at First Sight: Is It Real???

Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not? Please answer this question on your blog (minimum one paragraph).

"I Stood Upon a High Place" by Stephen Crane

"I Stood Upon a High Place" by Stephen Crane

I stood upon a high place,
And saw, below, many devils
Running, leaping,
and carousing in sin.
One looked up, grinning,
And said, "Comrade! Brother!"

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On your blog, please explain how this poem connects thematically with Lord of the Flies.

Responding to Fear

On your blog, in approximately two paragraphs, please do the following:

• Identify something that makes you experience fear (please remember you are publishing this!)
• Describe the feeling of fear that this gives you
• When you are faced with this situation, what is your reaction--fight or flight? ("Fight" means you confront the situation; "Flight" means you run away from the situation.)
• Is one of these responses better than the other? Why?

HONORS - Lord of the Flies, Chapter 2 - Civilization vs Savagery

Jack Merridew: “I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English and the English are the best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things.” (Golding 42)

"Beneath the capering boys a quarter of a mile square of forest was savage with smoke and flame... Startled, Ralph realized that the boys were falling still and silent, feeling the beginnings of awe at the power set free below them. The knowledge and the awe made him savage." (Golding 44)

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In chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, William Golding depicts rising tension between Jack and Ralph. The conflict between the boys symbolizes a central conflict in the novel: civilization vs savagery. Each boy on the island will have to confront this conflict. Jack and Ralph's strained relationship also foreshadows important events from later in the novel.

In a thoughtful post of at least two paragraphs, please explore some of the following questions:

• How would you define "savage"?
• What does Jack mean by saying that the boys are not "savages"?
• Why is Ralph "savage" as a result of power?
• Does power make people savage?
• What do you think Golding is foreshadowing, and why?
• How does this conflict relate to our thematic essential questions of How might evil come to flourish in a society? and How do societal structures function and why might they break?

How you organize your thoughts is up to you. But take this as an opportunity to look into your views and analyses of what we have read thus far. You may use first-person pronouns, if appropriate for your post, but please avoid second-person pronouns, and be sure to use present tense verbs when discussing the text.

DUE: Friday, February 28, 10pm

CP - Ralph vs Jack = Civilization vs Savagery

In chapter 2 of Lord of the Flies, Jack states, “I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English and the English are the best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things” (Golding 42). 

In this chapter, William Golding builds tension between Jack and Ralph. The conflict between the boys symbolizes a central conflict in the novel: civilization vs savagery. Each boy on the island will have to confront this conflict.

In a thoughtful blog post of at least two paragraphs, please explore some of the following questions (at least 2):

• Who seems like a better leader, Ralph or Jack? Why?
• How would you define "savage"? Are people savage by nature or do they become that way later?
• What does Jack mean by saying that the boys are not "savages"? Is he right?
• How would you explain the conflict between civilization and savagery? Have you ever felt this tension yourself? If so, what were the circumstances?
• How does the conflict of civilization vs savagery relate to our thematic essential questions of How might evil come to flourish in a society? and How do societal structures function and why might they break?

How you organize your thoughts is up to you. But take this as an opportunity to look into your views and analyses of what we have read thus far. You may use first-person pronouns, if appropriate for your post, but please avoid second-person pronouns, and be sure to use present-tense verbs when discussing the text.

DUE: Friday, February 28, 7am