Hi Y10 (and Y11),
You can find Carol Ann Duffy's explanation of her poem, Before You Were Mine here.
Enjoy.
Mr M
You can find Carol Ann Duffy's explanation of her poem, Before You Were Mine here.
Enjoy.
Mr M
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Mock Powerpoint
Hi folks,
The powerpoint for this week's mock prep is here:
The powerpoint for this week's mock prep is here:
I hope this helps. I'll add more guidance, including clarification of timings, shortly.
Mr M
Thursday, 20 October 2016
Macbeth: 10 Great Web Resources
Hi again,
There are very few texts in the history of literature which have had more comment and critical attention than Macbeth. That's great news for you, folks, because it means there's lots of help out there.
Here are just a few of the great sites which can help you get your head around Macbeth:
I'm sure there's lots more good stuff out there to be found. And don't forget my own creation: the Macbeth Key Quotes list.
I also quite like bits of this, a study guide created by a Broadway theatre group:
By the way, I think I've found a place where you can download a free Great Expectations Audiobook. It's here or here. You can stream online or download and pop it on your phone. I'd still prefer to hear it in an English accent though. iTunes might be worth a look...
See you all in a week!
Mr M
There are very few texts in the history of literature which have had more comment and critical attention than Macbeth. That's great news for you, folks, because it means there's lots of help out there.
Here are just a few of the great sites which can help you get your head around Macbeth:
- Shakespeare Navigators: a searchable e-text, scene summaries, analysis + extracts from Daemonology and Holinshed's Chronicles (Shakespeare's go-to history book)
- Shakespeare Unlocked: actors' workshops and performances (as seen in lessons) featuring everyone's favourite Macbeth, Jonathan Slinger (pictured above)
- Sparknotes - Macbeth: an online study guide
- Cliffnotes: Macbeth: and another...
- No Fear Shakespeare: From Sparknotes, the whole play - translated into modern prose!
- Shakespeare Online: the play, with notes, articles, analysis... everything!
- BBC GCSE Bitesize: study guide with videos and tests
- Universal Teacher: notes and tips from a teacher who lived around the corner.
- Witches in Macbeth: From the British Library
- Conjuring darkness in Macbeth: Also from the British Library
I'm sure there's lots more good stuff out there to be found. And don't forget my own creation: the Macbeth Key Quotes list.
I also quite like bits of this, a study guide created by a Broadway theatre group:
By the way, I think I've found a place where you can download a free Great Expectations Audiobook. It's here or here. You can stream online or download and pop it on your phone. I'd still prefer to hear it in an English accent though. iTunes might be worth a look...
See you all in a week!
Mr M
Half-term revision
Oh hi,
This half-term, I just want you to read and revise! You have four exams to prepare for, so leaving it until after Christmas will leave you with too much to cram into your head in just over a term. Spacing out practice and interleaving revision is proven to help with long-term memory.
With that in mind, here's the advice that I gave you before the summer:
Don't forget An Inspector Calls either. You could easily re-read it in a couple of hours.
In my next post, I'll share some great sites for helping you study Macbeth. In the meantime, don't forget about this.
Happy half-term,
Mr M
PS. I know you're reading this, Beth.
This half-term, I just want you to read and revise! You have four exams to prepare for, so leaving it until after Christmas will leave you with too much to cram into your head in just over a term. Spacing out practice and interleaving revision is proven to help with long-term memory.
With that in mind, here's the advice that I gave you before the summer:
Suggested summer revision activities:
1. Re-read An Inspector Calls
2. Revise key quotes on Quizlet
3. a) Re-read Great Expectations, or…
b) Re-read key
chapters from Great Expectations (see
below) and annotate text
4. Re-read the six poems studied so far in the
poetry anthology
Useful websites:
Key chapters (Great
Expectations)
·
Chapters
1-5 (Pip and the convict)
·
Chapter
8 (Miss Havisham and Satis House)
·
Chapter
11 (the pale young gentleman)
·
Chapter
14 (growing up at the forge)
·
Chapters
19 and 20 (leaving for London)
·
Chapter
27 (Joe’s visit)
·
Chapter
29 (the return of Estella)
·
Chapter
35 (Mrs Joe’s funeral)
·
Chapter
39 (Return of the convict)
·
Chapter
42 (Magwitch’s story)
·
Chapter
44 (Satis House: Pip’s declaration of love)
·
Chapter
48 and 49 (Molly’s story; back to Satis House)
·
Chapter
53 (Encounter with Orlick) and 54 (the steamer)
·
Chapter
56 (the trial)
·
Chapter
57 (Pip’s illness) and 59 (the ending)
It might be a good idea to try to find an audiobook version of Great Expectations to help you. If you find one somewhere, please let me know so I can share a link. I'd still advise you to re-read key chapters however. Seeing the text makes a difference.
In my next post, I'll share some great sites for helping you study Macbeth. In the meantime, don't forget about this.
Happy half-term,
Mr M
PS. I know you're reading this, Beth.
Friday, 30 September 2016
Armando's tale of Charles Dickens
Oh hi,
Watch this - while you still can!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0195pt7/ad/armandos-tale-of-charles-dickens
Mr M
Watch this - while you still can!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0195pt7/ad/armandos-tale-of-charles-dickens
Mr M
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
More on the Gunpowder Plot
Hi again,
This page from BBC iWonder on the Gunpowder Plot is fantastic. Check it out!
Also, there are loads of good videos on YouTube to look at too. These come from Parliament's website:
...
This page from BBC iWonder on the Gunpowder Plot is fantastic. Check it out!
Also, there are loads of good videos on YouTube to look at too. These come from Parliament's website:
If you have more time, try this.
Mr M
Tuesday, 6 September 2016
Macbeth context: James I and Jacobean England
Hi,
Here's a very useful video which gives you a brief overview of the life of James I, the king of England (and Scotland) at the time of Macbeth's first performance:
Here's a very useful video which gives you a brief overview of the life of James I, the king of England (and Scotland) at the time of Macbeth's first performance:
Also, this document is great for information about Jacobean England and the Gunpowder Plot:
I'll need you to have a good knowledge of the context of the play to help improve your understanding of the issues Shakespeare explores. I'll be quizzing you!
Enjoy,
Mr M
Thursday, 1 September 2016
Quotes
Oh hi!
Hope you've all had a good summer.
This year, you're going to have a lot of quotes to learn for your closed book exams. We'll be working at memorising quotes in lessons and we'll continue to use Quizlet and quizzing to get those words tattooed on your brains.
Here's a useful blogpost from a teacher on the topic of learning quotes. Lots of good ideas in there. Check it out:
https://msodriscollgcseclass2015.wordpress.com/2016/08/21/the-10-minute-key-to-gcse-success/
Enjoy your last few days - and get ready for some serious Shakespeare (plus lots of revision and exam prep)!
See you next week,
Mr M
Friday, 1 July 2016
Next week: Romeo and Juliet
Hi all,
Here's some info about next week's screening of Romeo and Juliet:
http://www.branaghtheatre.com/romeo-and-juliet/
Looks great!
You'll need to get your money in on Monday.
Mr M
Here's some info about next week's screening of Romeo and Juliet:
http://www.branaghtheatre.com/romeo-and-juliet/
Looks great!
You'll need to get your money in on Monday.
Mr M
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
The 19th Century Novel: Finding Quotes
Hi,
If there's a quote you're looking for in your 19th Century novel, but you have no idea where to find it, try this...
The Victorian Literary Studies Archive
Here's what you do:
1) Find your text (eg. Austen, Pride and Prejudice)
2) Think of a word in your quote to search for (eg. inferior)
3) You will be shown a list of every occurrence of the word in the text. Like this:
Ta-da - you've found your missing quote.
Use these links to get straight to your class text: Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol.
Mr M
If there's a quote you're looking for in your 19th Century novel, but you have no idea where to find it, try this...
The Victorian Literary Studies Archive
Here's what you do:
1) Find your text (eg. Austen, Pride and Prejudice)
2) Think of a word in your quote to search for (eg. inferior)
3) You will be shown a list of every occurrence of the word in the text. Like this:
Ta-da - you've found your missing quote.
Use these links to get straight to your class text: Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol.
Mr M
Thursday, 23 June 2016
Bonus poem
Hi,
If you liked 'Climbing My Grandfather', you might also like this belter:
On A Portrait Of A Deaf Man
The kind old face, the egg-shaped head,
The tie, discretely loud,
The loosely fitting shooting clothes,
A closely fitting shroud.
He liked old city dining rooms,
Potatoes in their skin,
But now his mouth is wide to let
The London clay come in.
He took me on long silent walks
In country lanes when young.
He knew the names of ev'ry bird
But not the song it sung.
And when he could not hear me speak
He smiled and looked so wise
That now I do not like to think
Of maggots in his eyes.
He liked the rain-washed Cornish air
And smell of ploughed-up soil,
He liked a landscape big and bare
And painted it in oil.
But least of all he liked that place
Which hangs on Highgate Hill
Of soaked Carrara-covered earth
For Londoners to fill.
He would have liked to say goodbye,
Shake hands with many friends,
In Highgate now his finger-bones
Stick through his finger-ends.
You, God, who treat him thus and thus,
Say "Save his soul and pray."
You ask me to believe You and
I only see decay.
The tie, discretely loud,
The loosely fitting shooting clothes,
A closely fitting shroud.
He liked old city dining rooms,
Potatoes in their skin,
But now his mouth is wide to let
The London clay come in.
He took me on long silent walks
In country lanes when young.
He knew the names of ev'ry bird
But not the song it sung.
And when he could not hear me speak
He smiled and looked so wise
That now I do not like to think
Of maggots in his eyes.
He liked the rain-washed Cornish air
And smell of ploughed-up soil,
He liked a landscape big and bare
And painted it in oil.
But least of all he liked that place
Which hangs on Highgate Hill
Of soaked Carrara-covered earth
For Londoners to fill.
He would have liked to say goodbye,
Shake hands with many friends,
In Highgate now his finger-bones
Stick through his finger-ends.
You, God, who treat him thus and thus,
Say "Save his soul and pray."
You ask me to believe You and
I only see decay.
John Betjeman
Why not try the three-tick method on this one?
Mr M
Exploring context: Great Expectations
Hi folks,
We've done plenty of work on the context of Great Expectations, but there's a lot of useful stuff out there for you to develop your knowledge further.
This collection of articles from the Victorian Web is particularly useful.
You can find the rest of the Victorian Web's stuff on Great Expectations here.
The British Library site is also great for context. They have sections on Romantics and Victorians and the Victorian Novel.
The National Archives has a section on Victorian Britain, as well as individual lessons on Prisons and Crime and Punishment.
Get exploring!
Mr M
We've done plenty of work on the context of Great Expectations, but there's a lot of useful stuff out there for you to develop your knowledge further.
This collection of articles from the Victorian Web is particularly useful.
You can find the rest of the Victorian Web's stuff on Great Expectations here.
The British Library site is also great for context. They have sections on Romantics and Victorians and the Victorian Novel.
The National Archives has a section on Victorian Britain, as well as individual lessons on Prisons and Crime and Punishment.
Get exploring!
Mr M
Wednesday, 15 June 2016
Welcome to Wemmick's Postbox
Hello and welcome to Wemmick's Postbox!
This blog is designed to give you access to a treasure-trove of resources and intellectual curiosities to help you prepare for your GCSEs in English Language and English Literature (AQA).
Why 'Wemmick's Postbox'? In Great Expectations, Mr Wemmick is one of many memorable characters. His face is described as being 'square' and 'wooden', and his mouth was 'such a post-office of a mouth that he had a mechanical appearance of smiling.'
At home however, in his 'castle' at Walworth, his wooden, angular features soften and relax. His home, complete with gun battery and drawbridge, is his protection from the outside world and the harshness of London. Inside, he keeps a collection of curiosities which he has claimed as his 'portable property' from London's many rogues and criminals. Wemmick ends up being Pip's guide when it comes to navigating his course through London and its world of crime, poverty, wealth and privilege.
Like Dickens' London, your new GCSEs can be an overwhelming, dizzying place to be. You'll have lots to learn, lots to remember and lots to get your head around. And if you think you've worked hard this year, wait until Y11! But we're here to help...
So, this blog is here to:
1) Give you a Walworth of your own to come to when you need extra support in GCSE English
2) Keep drip-feeding you with extras: articles, links, resources - and all manner of curiosities to help make you a better English student.
3) Provide you with guidance and revision tips in pursuit of your own great expectations.
We'll be adding resources and writing posts over the coming weeks and months. Please keep checking us out.
The best way to keep up to date is to:
a) pop your email address into the 'follow by email' box on the right of the page for email alerts when new posts are added
b) follow us on Twitter
c) bookmark us
We hope you will find this blog useful.
Mr M
PS. A disclaimer - at no point in Great Expectations is Wemmick's mouth referred to as a postbox. It's always 'the post' or 'the post-office'. It adds to the idea that he uses it to correspond with clients in a distant, detached and business-like way.
But forgive me for misquoting - postbox just sounds better.
PPS. If you didn't get the metaphor:
This blog is designed to give you access to a treasure-trove of resources and intellectual curiosities to help you prepare for your GCSEs in English Language and English Literature (AQA).
Why 'Wemmick's Postbox'? In Great Expectations, Mr Wemmick is one of many memorable characters. His face is described as being 'square' and 'wooden', and his mouth was 'such a post-office of a mouth that he had a mechanical appearance of smiling.'
At home however, in his 'castle' at Walworth, his wooden, angular features soften and relax. His home, complete with gun battery and drawbridge, is his protection from the outside world and the harshness of London. Inside, he keeps a collection of curiosities which he has claimed as his 'portable property' from London's many rogues and criminals. Wemmick ends up being Pip's guide when it comes to navigating his course through London and its world of crime, poverty, wealth and privilege.
Like Dickens' London, your new GCSEs can be an overwhelming, dizzying place to be. You'll have lots to learn, lots to remember and lots to get your head around. And if you think you've worked hard this year, wait until Y11! But we're here to help...
So, this blog is here to:
1) Give you a Walworth of your own to come to when you need extra support in GCSE English
2) Keep drip-feeding you with extras: articles, links, resources - and all manner of curiosities to help make you a better English student.
3) Provide you with guidance and revision tips in pursuit of your own great expectations.
We'll be adding resources and writing posts over the coming weeks and months. Please keep checking us out.
The best way to keep up to date is to:
a) pop your email address into the 'follow by email' box on the right of the page for email alerts when new posts are added
b) follow us on Twitter
c) bookmark us
We hope you will find this blog useful.
Mr M
PS. A disclaimer - at no point in Great Expectations is Wemmick's mouth referred to as a postbox. It's always 'the post' or 'the post-office'. It adds to the idea that he uses it to correspond with clients in a distant, detached and business-like way.
But forgive me for misquoting - postbox just sounds better.
PPS. If you didn't get the metaphor:
- You are Pip
- We are Wemmick
- Your English GCSE course is London.
Got it?
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