Chapter 3 Journal

Journal 3. 
Simon appears here to have both an appreciation for, and a spiritual connection with nature, as he sits in his “bower”. 

Describe an experience you have had, possibly alone, with the natural world. 

Are humans in general becoming disconnected from nature? Explain why or why not.

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Macbeth Act I Journal

Important Rules for Journal Writing:

•           Journals are to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date.

•           Journal entries are to be 200 to 250 words (spelling and grammar count).

•           Submit a journal entry for all five Acts of the play, for a total of five entries.
•           Read and reply to at least one other entry for all 5 Acts (75-100 word replies).

Macbeth spends much time and energy deliberating whether or not to commit the terrible crime of murdering Duncan. 

In a personal note to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, discuss their plan of action, and provide them with your thoughts about their intentions, and include a prediction of how things will turn out if they proceed. 

Reply to a post as Macbeth or Lady Macbeth might do.

Note: 
Be sure to sign in to this site, and use your first name and last initial.

"Unknown" authors may not be credited for their work, especially their replies.

      

Macbeth Act II Journal

Important Rules for Journal Writing:

•           Journals are to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date.

•           Journal entries are to be 200 to 250 words (spelling and grammar count).

•           Submit a journal entry for all five Acts of the play, for a total of five entries.

•           Read and reply to at least one other entry for all 5 Acts (75-100 word replies).


The Witches, or Weird Sisters, appear to have correctly predicted that Macbeth would become King of Scotland, as at the end of Act II, Macbeth is on his way to his coronation.  

To what degree would you hold the Witches responsible for the murder of King Duncan?  Who else must share the blame for the horrendous deed?  

Discuss the idea of a “self-fulfilling prophecy”, where a person’s behavior is altered by a prediction that is made.

 
 Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Macbeth Act III Journal

Important Rules for Journal Writing:

•           Journals are to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date.

•           Journal entries are to be 200 to 250 words (spelling and grammar count).

•           Submit a journal entry for all five Acts of the play, for a total of five entries.

•           Read and reply to at least one other entry for all 5 Acts (75-100 word replies).

Shakespeare’s audiences were very interested in the ideas of witchcraft and the supernatural, and Banquo’s “visit” to the banquet remains an exciting scene even to today’s audiences.  Indeed, films about ghosts and paranormal activity are very popular with modern viewers.  

What are your ideas about this continuing fascination with ghosts, spirits, and hauntings?  Do you know of any examples? 

Is it possible there is another side of reality that humans rarely perceive? What is your view of it?

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

        

Macbeth Act IV Journal

Important Rules for Journal Writing:

•           Journals are to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date.

•           Journal entries are to be 200 to 250 words (spelling and grammar count).

•           Submit a journal entry for all five Acts of the play, for a total of five entries.

•           Read and reply to at least one other entry for all 5 Acts (75-100 word replies).

In Scene 1, Macbeth claims that “from this moment,/The very firstlings of my heart shall be/ The firstlings of my hand” (ll.160-162), meaning that he will put into action an idea immediately when he thinks of one, and this determination leads to the cruel slaughter of Macduff’s family.  

Today we may describe this type of behaviour as acting on impulse, or not thinking things through.  How does such behaviour cause problems for people today?  

Do you see a lack of restraint by people, groups, or governments in our Western society?  Explain.

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.
        

Macbeth Act V Journal

Important Rules for Journal Writing:

•           Journals are to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date.

•           Journal entries are to be 200 to 250 words (spelling and grammar count).

•           Submit a journal entry for all five Acts of the play, for a total of five entries.

•           Read and reply to at least one other entry for all 5 Acts (75-100 word replies).

One of the central themes of the play is the apparent distinction between appearance and reality, that is, the idea that people and things can be significantly different from what they appear to be.  

Recall the witches’ warning in the opening scene that “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (l. 11), and consider how often characters had smiles on their faces and evil in their hearts.  

Discuss how this theme is evident in our world today, specifically when people and products fall short of their appearance and our expectations of them.

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 1 Journal

Important rules for journal writing:

• Journals to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date
• Journal entries are to be a minimum of 250 words (spelling and grammar count)
• Submit a journal entry for a minimum of 6 chapters. Your best six marks will count.
• Read and reply to at least 1 other entry in 6 chapters (minimum 100 word replies).


Journal 1. 
One of the central themes of the novel is the anarchy and barbarism that lurk just below the surface of civilization. Explain the meaning of this expression. 

What would happen to society if government and laws were suddenly removed from our society? What would be your reasonable course of action in such an event?

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 2 Journal

Important rules for journal writing:

• Journals to be posted on the blog within three days of the assigned date
• Journal entries are to be a minimum of 250 words (spelling and grammar count)
• Submit a journal entry for a minimum of 6 chapters. Your best six marks will count.
• Read and reply to at least 1 other entry in 6 chapters (minimum 100 word replies).

Journal 2. 

Golding appears to be setting up Ralph and Jack as representatives of the opposing political forces of democracy and dictatorship. How does their behaviour indicate these conflicting forces?

 What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of both forms of government?

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 4 Journal

Journal 4. 

Choose one of the characters, and write a journal entry from his perspective, providing his reactions to the events that occurred in chapter four, specifically the sighting of the ship, the neglected fire, and the hunt. 

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 5 Journal

Journal 5. 

Simon appears to verbalize one of Golding’s main concerns, that the beast is within us, that humans are the source of the evil in the world. Do you agree with this grim conclusion? 

Support your answer with examples you may know from current events and human history, with the exception of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi atrocities during WW II. 

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 6 Journal

Journal 6.

 In your opinion, what are the qualities required to be an effective leader? What are some of the difficulties leaders must face? 

Which of the boys on the island would make the best leader? Explain why. 

Do you think there is a general lack of respect for our leaders today? Explain why or why not, and explain how any problems may be solved.

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 7 Journal

Journal 7. 

Describe any type of competition you have been involved in. 

What were your feelings towards your competitor? How did your feelings influence your performance? Did these feelings change once the competition ended? Why or why not? 

Overall, is competition a positive or negative aspect of society? Explain. 

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 8 Journal

Journal 8. 

Chapter eight is filled with powerful imagery. 

Choose several images which stand out for you, and discuss which senses they appeal to, and why they are so powerful. 

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 9 Journal

Journal 9. 

Pathetic fallacy is a device which has nature (animals, the weather, the sea, etc.) reflect the actions of humans. 

Review chapter nine carefully, and discuss how Golding uses nature, especially the weather, as a counterpoint to the activities on the island.

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 10 Journal

Journal 10. 

Two concepts which emerge in this chapter include an unwillingness to face a distasteful truth, and the use of violence to resolve disputes.

Explain how these two concepts are presented and explored by Golding, and then provide an example of both from our own society today.

Reply to another student's journal by adding to the discussion, posing questions and answers, and making connections to texts, the world, or yourself.

Chapter 11 Journal

Journal 11.
 Ralph claims, “We might wait years; till we were old –”. 

Imagine that the boys are not rescued. Choose a number of years, and write an account of what has happened over the course of those years and what is happening now. Use your imagination. 

Write this entry as if it were an epilogue (final chapter) of the novel.

Attempt to parody (mimic, copy) Golding's style with regard to dialogue, description, and diction.

Use quotation marks around speech, and break up the epilogue into paragraphs.

Let your artistic talents come out; release the writer hidden deep within you.


Blog responders:

 What details could have been added to, or removed from, the journal you read? 

Comment on both the imagination and viability (realism) of the journal entry.

Chapter 12 Journal

Journal 12.  Now that you have read the novel and thought about it at length, pretend Sir William Golding is still alive, and write him a letter providing your thoughts about his modern classic.  Minimum 500 words.

Include:

• What you liked and disliked about the book.
• Things you didn’t understand.
• A memorable scene, and why it stood out for you.
• A favourite character, explaining why.
• Moral or lesson you feel can benefit modern readers.
• Three questions you would like to ask him. 
• Anything else you would like to discuss.

Write each of the above sections in a separate paragraph in your letter.

Be sure to maintain a respectful tone as would be appropriate when writing to a world-famous author! Include a salutation and a closing.

Blog Responders:   Select three questions posed by one of journal writers and answer them from Sir William Golding's perspective.