Two poems

Everyone should have brought a written question for each of the two poems.  We'll begin by asking everyone to write her question about "Once by the Pacific" on the board.

Mr. Hawthorne victorious despite last minute rally by Mr. Poe

It appears from the discussion on Ceilidh that (a) more people logged in on the side of "Young Goodman Brown" and (b) more substantial arguments were adduced than for "The Black Cat." And it's Russ's view that there are more issues about fiction raised by Hawthorne than by Poe.  So that's what we'll read for next time. Here's how we'll structure that reading:

Read the story (or re-read it) thinking about phrases, references, ideas or words that you don't entirely understand.  For at least four of them, write out a question. Post your list of questions (all in one message will be fine) on the Ceilidh forum before next Monday morning (so we can read them before beginning a discussion on Tuesday).  Between Monday and class time, read through the questions.  If you can answer any, feel free.

Shakespeare alert

Back in Prompt #15 there was a heads-up about The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. The Tempest opens a week from next Wednesday; Romeo a week after that, just about the time we'll be fnishing with English seminars. (Neither, by the way, will be Occasions, since both will be required for English class.)   We'll be working with The Tempest first, on February 5 and 10; you should have read through it by then.  I'll be more specific about what we'll be doing in class next Tuesday.