Gloria & Audrey Harchar

It is the study evaluation and interpretation of a particular work.

1. Does this particular piece stand out?
2. If so, what makes it powerful? (elements of literature, six traits)

• Does it have a unique, or well-developed plot?
• Or are there uniquely described characters?
• Or has the author drawn you in by one of the six traits–i.e., through voice and word choice, or perhaps by an unusual organizational style?

1. What message can this story carry to the reader? Symbolism, allegory, moral, or theme?
2. What was the author’s intent?
3. What legacy will it leave?

You’ll be using tools that we’ve been studying all year for analyzing work.

• You may note sound devices in a poem and explain how they create theme or reinforce a theme.
• Explore character traits and relate them to author’s message.
• Compare and contrast characters within one work, or across distinct works.
• Explain how symbolism works to layout a theme.
• Relate plot and tone to the purpose of the text.

We’re going to take a closer look at literature. Literature Analysis is the study, evaluation and interpretation of literature.

• Increase understanding–generate ideas and draw conclusions.
• Provide feedback for an author–debate perspectives and share thoughts of techniques and different ways to write.
• Understand an individual or cultural perspective.

There are several approaches to literary analysis:

• Compare and contrast–characters, authors, symbolism, sound devices and whole works of literature.
• author’s perspective and life experiences.
• reader’s knowledge and life experiences.
• evaluating logic of a piece, especially in nonfiction.

What does Literacy Analysis look like?

• Newspaper reviews–you might read a commentary in the newspaper about a book and think, “Wow, I want to read that book.” That’s literary analysis which got you interested in reading a book.
• lectures
• book discussions
• book clubs–libraries, schools, churches
• Talking in the hallways, on the phone, on Facebook about books is literary analysis
• Essays, rebuttals arguing against what others say, etc., are all literary analysis.

Don’t be intimidated! You probably already do literary analysis, even informal discussion. So many ways to analyze a work. Each person has their own perspective! You do, too!! Do you lean toward a biographical approach where you want to learn the author’s background, or are you a New Critic, where your interpretation of the book is more important? Maybe you are some of both. Speak out! Lend your voice to analyze literature. You might find out something important about yourself!

People have been asking me why I returned to teaching. Why not stay at home and write full time?

• It’s weird, but when I was teaching I was more productive in my writing. I find when I don’t have much time, I don’t squander time–time doesn’t get away from me like it did when I wrote full time. That said, teaching in a new school I find I’m having to revamp lesson plans. I’m also teaching a lot online. So I’m not as productive in my writing as I will be, once I get in more of a routine with this new teaching position.
• When I stayed at home writing full time, I had a difficult time saying no to people when they would ask me to do things, go places, and volunteer.
• I find when I teach I have a lot more writing ideas. I write with more emotions, more colorfully. I have more fodder for my stories.
• Since I’m writing a Young Adult series, I find it useful to surround myself with teenagers. I’m at the alternative school, and I’m finding all sorts of conflicts that the students have to deal with on a daily basis. I get to see first hand how they react, how they manage their lives.
• Teaching this year has given me all sorts of ideas for my writing. I might not get to write as much as I want to–at least, not yet. But the scenes are popping into my head and the story I’ve been wanting to write since last summer is finally taking shape. I’m beginning to write again, which is exciting to me!!

This Christmas is the best

Because we have all our family

It’s better than the rest

Because we have Warren and Suzoni

By Anonymous (Can you guess who in our 8th Grade class it is? )

heart of cold

soul of fire

she feels me with

complete desire

the way she looked

got me hooked

I saw her as I was getting a book

with a body so cute

my mind couldn’t compute

Answer these questions after watching the movie. Then raise your hand and show me your score. I’ll substitute this grade for one of your e2020 quizzes.

Watch this!

By Robert DeNoya

Once there was a purple star a star that made wishes when it was close to earth. This star was worshiped by the natives of the land of Golgotha. Golgotha was in the northern territory of the land that was surrounded by demons and monster alike. The only thing keeping them from slaughtering the village was the power of the star. But not for long…

Ten years back there was a war in north–a war that destroyed everything. The mastermind behind this war a demon named Nero, who was the northern lands strongest demon. His power was unmatched by any of the demons, even in the southern and western lands. He started to form an army, an army of demons to take the land of the east with no equal. But an organization of demon killers known as Slayers came to the north to try and stop him. Twenty-four warriors were sent to the northern territory. They arrived in the land of Golgotha. As usual, they were shunned even though they fought on the side of humans.

It didn’t matter to them because Slayers were still half-demon. These half breeds of demon slayers are the only things that can kill demons because they possessed the strength, speed and power to destroy such monstrous things. The name Slayer comes from the job they do.

Their real name is Crimson Beast Slayers. Their distinctive crimson eyes help most people know when to stay out of the way, The war in the north ten years ago wiped out everything. They even crossed the boundaries of the purple star into the land of Golgotha to slaughter everything. In doing so, they angered the star. So on the day it gets close to earth, it just kept coming. Soon it was ready to hit earth. As it flew by, it passed Golgotha and was headed for the southern lands at a speed not even visible to the human eye

“Cycorbael.. Eilketh…”

Kovu & Accalia

“Please call the Number One and Number Two here, please.”

“Very well, sir.” The other man vanished and returned with two women dressed in a black armor uniform.

“You see, my girls, there’s a new power struggle between humans and the demons. So we’re going to send you two to recapture a power that we heard of that’s coming to earth. It’s disguised as a star. But be warned. This star has power out of this world.”

“You said recapture. Does that mean you have possessed it at one time?” said Number One.

“Don’t ask questions! Just do as you’re told, girl!” a woman council member shouted.

“Humph! I find it funny that you think we are animals that leave to do your bidding at your every will,” said the Number Two.

The council member gave Number Two a stern glare. “Look. Don’t take it like that. We helped you kill the demons that tore apart your homeland.”

“Yeah, and you turned us into dogs afterward!” Number Two retorted.

“I’m sorry but you’re the best soldiers we have. But, hey, you became even stronger since then– both of you have. Isn’t that right, Accalia?”

To be Continued…

By Aaron Walker (Eighth Grade)

It was a dark and rainy night. A boy named Alexander who was eleven years old was sadly sitting by a window looking outside at the rain.

Then Alexander’s grandfather came up the stairs to Alexander’s room. “Alexander what are you doing up here?” asked the grandfather curiously.

“I am watching the rain fall because there is nothing else to do,” replied Alexander sadly.

Alexander’s grandfather then said, “How would you like to hear a story?”

“I would love to,” replied Alexander happily.

“Ok then this is a medieval story about a war. A war between elves, humans, orks, and demons.”

“Awesome! I love war stories” replied Alexander.

“Hush so that I may tell my story,” said the grandfather angrily.

“OK, sorry, grandfather. I did not mean to interrupt,” said Alexander sadly.

“It was a long time ago when orks, demons, and elves still existed and were not fairytales. The world was becoming a dark place. The orks and demons have allied with each other. Now the elves and humans must do the same. Each leader is a claymore. Each leader also has a special power.

“The ork leader is onee and has yoma sensing. She can sense demons and see what move you make before you make it. The demon leader is Nina and has a snake blade. She can move her blade so that it looks like a snake’s movements and is near impossible to block.

“The elf leader is Clare and has God’s Eye. She can see things far away, and can control the limbs of another creature. And the human leader is Teresa. She has suppressed yoma power.

“There is a fifth who goes by the name Priscilla but no one knows her race and what her powers are. Now, anyway, the demons and orks were gathering at an evil place–a place known only as satins hall. It is a valley with one way in and one way out. You can not climb out because the walls are lined with spikes that protrude ten feet out. Some even come in and out of the wall.

The elves remain in their deep forest. And the humans are in their castles. An elvin ambassador was sent to each castle unwillingly to request that all humans meet the elves in a sacred place. If they did not comply the elves would still help protect them you see the elves thought the humans as incomplete or worthless. But the elf leader knew that they could not win without the help of the humans however unwillingly her subjects may be. She told her ambassadors to tell the humans to meet the elves in a place called God’s Fist.

“God’s Fist is a paradise to elves and humans. It is a hill, or rather many hills that from a huge fist that goes up three miles into the air. Most of the humans agreed. Some did not and the ones that didn’t have already been attacked by orks many times. They are untrusting to anyone but their own kind. At the meeting at god’s fist the humans and elves argued about how they would beat the demons and orks.

“They fought for days then one day a demon was seen spying on them. He was captured and interrogated then he was killed. Many days later both armies met on the chosen battlefield. The battle began!

Both armies were giving it everything they had. Many died. Swords were cracked, bows were broken, and limbs were lost. The humans decided to fight off the orks. The elves fought the demons because they are the only ones who can match their speed and strength. Many fell. Many ran.

“In the end almost all the demons had been killed. The orks ran with what troops they had left. The humans left as well to heal their wounded. The elves had the humans take their wounded with them. The rest went to kill the surviving demons and orks. At this time the only ones of them that remained were the claymore leaders of each race.

Teresa took on Onee. Clare took on Nina. First the Onee and Teresa fought. Nina and Clare watched. The battle went on for hours.

Finally the onee was injured. Her arm was cut off! But it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t her sword arm. So the battle continued both were becoming weak with exhaustion. Finally Teresa let out here yoma energy and cut off the other arm.

Finally the head came off. Then Clare and nini went against each other. They went on for not hours but days. Neither seemed to be weakening or slowing down. Neither would back down. Both got injured. Finally Clare used her yoma power to control Nina’s limbs and tried to make her cut her own throat but Nina was too fast and powerful. She blocked it and cut off Clare’s sword arm.

Teresa suppressed her yoma energy and snuck up behind Nina. Teresa then cut off Nina’s head before she could cut off Clare’s. The battle was over. The humans and elves had prevailed.

“And that is my story, Alexander,” said his grandfather.

“That was amazing. Tell me another one sometime,” said Alexander happily.

“Ha ha. OK, sure. But you must be good, and rain doesn’t fall much here so you must be patient, too” replied his grandfather, laughing. “Perhaps one day you will have stories of your own,” said Alexander’s grandfather.

“Really? You think so?” replied Alexander happily.

The end

A story by Aaron walker

Hope you liked it.

When you show up late, you might–

• miss some critical information (like the announcement that there will be a test next time or instructions on how to format your paper, let alone subject matter information).
• not understand the lecture–it could be out of context and unclear to you.
• miss out on a few minutes of transition time to clear your head of the last activity and start focusing on the new one. If you get to class late to begin with, it may take you another few minutes to begin understanding and thinking about the class you are in.
• be docked on an attendance grade.
• lose the respect of the instructor.
• be disrupting the class for others. (I once had a 6′9″ basketball player who used to walk in late and then sit in the front row, obscuring the view of everyone behind him, because that was the only seat left open. After a week or two of this I had to pull him aside and make it clear to him that this was unacceptable!).
• develop bad habits that will get you fired. You are preparing for your professional life, in which tardiness is usually not tolerated.

If you are sitting in your seat when the bell rings for your classes on October 27-30th, post a comment here–one for 5th period and one for 6th period. Please include the date. Posting a comment will get you in Friday’s drawing for a Gatorade.