Vocabulary is the best single indicator of intellectual ability and an accurate predictor of success at school. -- W.B. Elley
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ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES FROM BEOWULF....
"She'd brooded on her loss, misery had brewed/ In her heart, that female horror, Grendel's/ Mother, living in the murky cold lake/ Assigned her since Cain had killed his only/ Brother, slain his father's son/ With an angry sword. Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. The setting of the epic is the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden. The poem opens with a brief genealogy of the Scylding (Dane) royal dynasty, named after a mythic hero, Scyld Scefing, who reached the tribe's shores as a castaway babe on a ship loaded with treasure. Scyld's funeral is a memorable early ritual in the work, but focus soon shifts to the reign of his great-grandson, Hrothgar, whose successful rule is symbolized by a magnificent central mead-hall called Heorot. For 12 years, a huge man-like ogre named Grendel, a descendant of the biblical murderer Cain, has menaced the aging Hrothgar, raiding Heorot and killing the king's thanes (warriors). Grendel rules the mead-hall nightly. From Sparknotes. We will have our Parent/Student meeting on Monday, August 8, at 1pm in room 6. I invite you to attend. It is NOT necessary since most of you had me last year. This class will follow the same format as JTT 9. So, if interested, come. If you cannot come, I will see you on August 15.
Mrs. J Welcome to the new JTT 10 - The Medieval Times. This is the first year that JTT 10 will only cover the Medieval Times (The Middle Ages). I look forward to delving deeper into the literature and spending more time on the research paper.
I plan to present the research paper differently this year. We will work on it for a few extra weeks, turning it in by sections this year, instead of as a whole paper. I am still thinking about this approach and will give you more information later. This summer, please read the Dover edition of Beowulf. The JTT 10 book is ready. Be sure to get yours today. If you have requested one printed in your Irlen color, they will be ready soon. Enjoy the rest of your summer. I look forward to seeing all of you in a couple of months! "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”
― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar “Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” ― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar “Death, a necessary end, will come when it will come” ― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar Here are a few of my favorite quotes from The Iliad:
"Even a fool learns something once it hits him." -- Menelaus "Too many kings can ruin an army." - Odysseus "There is nothing alive more agonized than man of all that breathe and crawl across the earth." -Zeus I will post the weekly history/literature PowerPoint presentations to the Weekly Assignment Sheet page each week so that you may view the presentation before or after class. I will present the PowerPoint presentation in class and we will discuss it. By also having it on this web page, you may take your notes at your leisure.
Japan07/28/2013
0 Comments The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller My journey to the East took me to Japan, a country of beauty and mystery. Walks through beautiful gardens included visits to shrines, many of which have existed for over 1000 years of documented history. Purification rituals and homage to ancestors showcased some of the Japanese traditions. At one shrine, a statue of Buddha was so large, we walked inside of it. These shrines function much as our church does as evidenced by a young Japanese couple posed for wedding photos at the shrine before their wedding. Pagodas and temples sit surrounded by beautiful gardens. One temple we visited had monkeys. Many had places where you purified you hands, face, and mouth with water before going to pray to the gods. We were cautioned to only wash hands, though many of the Japanese rinsed their mouths. After visiting the volcano at Mt. Fuji, we rode the bullet train back to Toyko. The three hour bus ride was reduced to a thirty minute train ride. At Mt. Fuji, we were encouraged to eat black eggs. These have been boiled in hot sulfuric mineral water which turns the eggshell black (though the inside still looks and tastes like a normal boiled egg). You are supposed to receive a extra seven years of life for each egg you eat. But, if you eat more than 5, you die (at least that is what they say). I did not eat any, but instead opted for black ice cream (vanilla, though it was the color of lava). My favorite meals included Japanese buckwheat noodles and shrimp tempura. Our most lavish meal consisted of eight courses of some delicious and some very strange foods....some of which I tried, but could not eat. Mashed okra....well do I need to say any more? While travelling the subway system and visiting the shopping areas, we were surrounded by thousands of young people. We visited the anime area of Tokyo....very interesting shopping. Some of the best shopping is at the shrines where vendors set up stalls and sell everything from cheap souvenirs to nice kimonos. The Japanese are friendly people. My heart aches for them as only 1% are Christian. Most practice Buddhism and Shintoism. We saw no signs of Christianity until the last day when we finally saw a few crosses in a jewelry store. The people mainly wear white shirts and black pants (skirts for the women). The women favor big shoes....high heels with thick platform type soles. Few colors are worn during working hours as most everyone strives for uniformity. My time in Japan was short, which was probably a good thing as it is even more humid than Houston! As always, it is good to be home. Thank you God for TEXAS! I'll take Texas any day....even the heat and humidity! Join me this year in a fantastic journey as we travel from 3000 BC to 1492 AD. |
AuthorJoanne Juren loves travelling around the world almost as much as she loves reading. Visiting the ancient sites of Greece, Rome, China, the Holy Land, and other exotic places gives her a unique perspective for teaching ancient literature. While challenging the minds of honor students, Mrs. Juren instills a desire for exploration both in the physical world and the world of the imagination. Archives
September 2016
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