We will be discussing ten longer works over the course of the semester. For each one, you have the option to read an excerpt and watch a movie, or to read the full piece.
You MUST read the full work for Macbeth and Pride and Prejudice.
You MUST choose two other pieces to read in full. The rest you may escape by reading an excerpt and watching the movie.
When you have finished, use this form to get your parent to confirm you've done the assignment.
When you have finished, use this form to get your parent to confirm you've done the assignment.
Beowulf
Excerpt: Textbook
Book: I recommend the Seamus Heaney translation, and we probably have a few copies floating around co-op. If you took Ms. Tina's Beowulf class a few years ago, and your mother confirms you read the whole thing, this counts.
Movie: Beowulf is rated PG-13.
Morte D’Arthur
Excerpt: Textbook
Book: Le Morte D'Arthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics) is good. If you have another version, that's fine. If you want to skip chapters 13-23, that's fine too. If you took my Pendragon class a few years ago and you diligently read the book, you can count that.
Movie: There are a whole host of movies based on the stories in this book. Excalibur includes many of the elements, but is rated R. First Knight is PG-13 but focuses on the later story. There's always Camelot or the animated The Once and Future King. Tristan and Isolde from 2006 is PG-13, interesting if you read that middle part of the book.
Dr. Faustus
Play: You can read the full play online here. Or here's a paperback that has a glossary and vocab list. Any edition, really, will be fine, but be careful you're not looking at Goethe's Faust. This is Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus, a play.
Movie: Here you go. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It's a classic.
Macbeth
Play: The full play is in the textbook and it's required reading.
Movie: There is a movie version directed by Roman Polanski. It would be great to also watch a recording of a stage production. Here is one with Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. Of course there's always the 96 second version.
Romeo and Juliet
Excerpt: Read Act 1 scene 5 and Act 2 scene 2 at this link.
Play: Here's the full play online, or you can buy a paperback.
Movie: This modern version is flashy and cool. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
Paradise Lost
Excerpt: In the textbook, read p 305-314, then read an annotated Book 9 here.
Full Poem: You can read the whole thing here with linked annotations. You can also get a paperback version of it, or an ebook. There are also versions of the poem "in plain English" where someone has paraphrased Milton's poetry into more modern language. This edition has the "plain English" side by side with the actual poem -- that would be better than just the paraphrase.
Movie: Yeah, there are no movie versions. Go figure.
Excerpt: In the textbook, read p 305-314, then read an annotated Book 9 here.
Full Poem: You can read the whole thing here with linked annotations. You can also get a paperback version of it, or an ebook. There are also versions of the poem "in plain English" where someone has paraphrased Milton's poetry into more modern language. This edition has the "plain English" side by side with the actual poem -- that would be better than just the paraphrase.
Movie: Yeah, there are no movie versions. Go figure.
Moll Flanders
Excerpt: Please read the preface and the book up until Moll gets married for the first time. There are no chapters. You can find it here.
Novel: The entire novel is also available online for free, or you can find a paperback or ebook. Movie: Watch the Masterpiece Theater production (3 hours) on YouTube here: Part 1 and Part 2. Or, you can watch the 1996 movie with Robin Wright and Morgan Freeman.
Gulliver’s Travels
Excerpt: Excerpt is in the textbook, p 373-382.
Novel: Available online here, or get a paperback. Make sure the version you're reading is complete and unabridged, as there are lots and lots of versions of this "for kids" that will not satisfy the requirement.
Movie: There are tons of movies inspired by this story, from the recent one with Jack Black all the way back to a really old one from 1939. I guess the one I'd go with is from 1996 and was produced by Jim Henson. Here's a YouTube edition.
Excerpt: Excerpt is in the textbook, p 373-382.
Novel: Available online here, or get a paperback. Make sure the version you're reading is complete and unabridged, as there are lots and lots of versions of this "for kids" that will not satisfy the requirement.
Movie: There are tons of movies inspired by this story, from the recent one with Jack Black all the way back to a really old one from 1939. I guess the one I'd go with is from 1996 and was produced by Jim Henson. Here's a YouTube edition.
Pride and Prejudice
Novel: The full novel is required reading. You can find it online for free, or in ebook form or paperback, whatever you choose. All editions are pretty much equal but this one looks good.
Movie: I prefer the BBC version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy but you could also watch the 2005 one with Keira Knightley.
Zombies: I actually own this book thanks to Andrea. I'll loan it out to students who seem like they'd like it. Excerpt: In the textbook.
Novel: You're looking for the book by Mary Shelley. This paperback edition has a cool new cover. You could also get this version, which includes Dracula by Bram Stoker and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson -- we'll be looking at both those books next semester.
Movie: There are tons of movies about Frankenstein. It would be fun to watch some of the crazier ones, including of course Young Frankenstein, which is hilarious and awesome. Check out this Wikipedia page to find lots of adaptations. It's very hard to find one that's close to the book, but this one from 1994, directed by Kenneth Branagh, at least has the right characters and time period.
