Monday, February 23, 2009

Thank You Mr. Liberal Unitarian English Teacher of My Tenth Grader


Because of you, I've had the joys of rereading Beowulf. 

And Hamlet.



Because of you, I've had the opportunity to write about the path to enlightenment. 

Comparing Eastern and Western religions.

Using the required 10 quotes from five different readings. 

Including in-text citations and full bibliography.



Because of you, I've had the gratification of analyzing the structure of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.






Including the multiple layers of storytellers and listeners. 

And also of analyzing the foreshadowing of doom.

And the literary device of apostrophe, in which the speaker addresses an inanimate object, absent person, or abstract idea.



Because of you, I've had the pleasure of interpreting the romantic poetry of Mary Shelley's spouse Percy Bysshe:

Of some fierce Mænad, ev'n from the dim verge
Of the horizon to the zenith's height—
The locks of the approaching storm. Thou dirge
Of the dying year, to which this closing night
Will be the dome of a vast sepulchre, 25
Vaulted with all thy congregated might
Of vapours, from whose solid atmosphere
Black rain, and fire, and hail will burst:—O hear!

And of helping Teen memorize the poem. 

And of scrounging the house at 7:50 this morning, yes this morning, just ten minutes before class begins, for props so Teen can recite it.



Yes, because of you, I've been so busy I've had little time to maintain my daily life. 

Including the the laundry.

The dishes.

And the simplest things such as keeping this computer screen clean.



But don't worry Mr. Liberal Unitarian English Teacher, I've enlisted help from everyone in my household.  Yes, I mean everyone.  

Don't believe me?   Click HERE!!!!!!!!



Posted at Humor-Blogs.


16 comments:

Unknown said...

You know, I read Frankenstein first myself as an adult not long ago and while I'm glad I now understand what it's about... I have to say, I didn't really care for it. Frankenstein as unsubtle morality tale is... well... depressing. :)

Hang in there, Meg!

sage said...

You're making me want my kid to get to high school (I doubt they read all that here, however!) Siddhartha is one of my favorite books--I first read it in high school and have probably re-read it eight or ten times.

April said...

Not only would I love spending my time doing that, but hey, anything's more fun than cleaning, right?

Kaylia Metcalfe said...

Ahhh flashbacks to High school...


Teen is lucky in two ways, the teacher and the mom who helps.

Matt said...

I wish I would have spent more time focusing on classes like that rather than Ceramics and Badminton.

for a different kind of girl said...

It's taken me twenty minutes to try and comment on this post because my kids spotted that screenclean and I finally had to tell them to go away, I had stuff to do, dammit!

Happily, it's not read Hamlet. Again. Yet.

Jen said...

Actually, you should give the teacher a nice big hug or the beer of his choice or SOMETHING!

Do you have any idea how dumbed down most high school English classes are right now? Oh, yeah, you do... teacher and writer and English major and all that. ;-)

I think it's great he's at least getting an education. It doesn't sound like the world's most fun reading list, but I think it's got my son's reading list from last semester topped, 'cause here was his:

A Tale of Two Cities
Atonement
The Things They Carried
The Kite Runner

It was "historical fiction" - I think it should have been titled "depressive fiction".

Again, though, at least it wasn't drivel.

The Self-Deprechaun said...

I hope that teacher gives you an 'A'. you deserve it!

Maybe you'll get to go to college again too! Keggers!

Schmoop said...

Ha. That teacher is going to end up turning you into the Grendl. Cheers!!

Bee said...

I read Siddhartha at the request of my little brother. I read it so he would leave me alone because he bugged me about almost everyday. I wound up thanking him in the end.

A Free Man said...

Liberal unitarians were shot in my home town, so I had to wait to college to read these ones.

Deb said...

My son is a journalism major. Over Christmas break he was discussing with himself all the "important" literary works he's been reading as my eyes glazed over and the twitching began. Give me a good James Patterson killing and maiming novel any day.

BTW, thought of you when I went here:

http://www.uphaa.com/blog/index.php/dolls-hilarius-action-figures/

Jaime said...

it could always be worse - he could be stuck with a teacher making him read, analyze and compare the entire collection of works by Chinua Achebe. and if he does regretably get stuck with such an assignment, let me know. i had the same one and still have all the papers!

Anonymous said...

That poem is a big heapin' pile of Bysshet. And the reason why so many people go through life hating poetry.

(shaking head sadly)

Why not give the kids something they can use, like Bukowski? "It's about barflies, mom."

Karen Pope said...

Quite a list! Now, I know what to read when I have a few spare moments.

Sher said...

Yes, I still like your take on life. Ive missed it!