Your essays are marked!

I didn’t realize how excited you all were about Beowulf and Bilbo, but then I learn something new everyday.

Things to consider:

• Avoid starting an essay with a sweeping generalization like: “In the history of literature there are many different types of heroes.” Instead, tell me something specific about the text(s), state an opinion, describe a particular scene from a work.
• Outlines are fantastic! Really. You have the time on Wednesday to create a plan, so spend ten minutes organizing your thoughts and make sure that your ideas relate to one another. Avoid jamming a whole bunch of ideas together in one paragraph – separate each point and explain your ideas fully.
• Do you have a thesis?
• Keep asking yourself why and how: why does this matter to the text? how do the examples you’ve selected support your ideas?
• Keep it simple. Elaborate constructions and high diction can obscure your thought process – write clear sentences that are easy to follow.

Other words of advice:

• If you don’t know it by Tuesday night at 10:00pm, don’t go searching desperately through your notes.
• Focus on your strengths – do you know the Arthurian material backwards and forwards, but can’t remember the name of the pregnant lady with the sword in the Eirik the Red Sagas? Write on what you know and what you can do well.

Try and sleep the night before the exam, I know it’s difficult what with NHL playoffs and all. Kidding aside, it’s important to be well rested before you write and be sure to eat something before the exam – three hours is a long time to be thinking about second breakfasts, lunch, or tea.

The exam for our section is on Wednesday, April 16 at 12:00 at SRC B

If you need a map go here.

Yes, we can ask you anything  – but we won’t ask you everything.  The exam is designed for you to show us how smart you are.  The questions will give you lots of room to bring in your own ideas and what you’ve learned in the course.

Apologies for a typo in the first passage:

6 lines from the bottom

Shall stand sore chanrged for the wasteful vengeance

should read:

Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance

If you want to talk to me about the in-class assignment make an appointment for Monday or Tuesday of this week.  I’m available by email too, so if you have specific questions you want to ask you can send them to me before the assignment on Friday.

Have a good reading break!  We start lectures again on Feb. 25th.

Post a question under the comments here for our discussion of Tennyson’s “Idylls of the King”

Your question is due Wednesday, Feb. 27 by 11:59 

Kavin posted what he’s calling a “rant” about Henry V and the material being presented in lecture.  I’m moving it over here so we can have a larger discussion on the main page.

I’ve commented below as well.  Would someone like to offer his or her definition of metatheatrics?

As I’ve noted in the comments: when you have questions about lecture or want to look at something specific in the text, let me know and I will make sure it’s on our list of things to talk about during our Friday meetings.

Have a look at this website, The Kings and Queens of England.  If you click on the Lancastrians and the Tudors you’ll find a short summary of the English monarchs we’re reading about now.