Term 4 Week 2 Homework

Write an introductory paragraph in response to the question we have been working on in class. “Young men go to war because it provides them with the opportunity for adventure.” To what extent is this borne out by Peter Weir’s film, “Gallipoli”? In your response you must discuss the way the film positions viewers to understand its message. Post to your blog before Tuesday's lesson.

Peter Weir’s film, “Gallipoli”, portrays a sense of adventure that motivates several young men to go to war in a large extent. However, the audience are also positioned to understand that not all men perceive war as a resplendent journey but are instead influenced by other reasons. The way Weir positions the reader to convey the sense of adventure in the film is through the characterisation of a free spirited boy called Archie. Whilst Archie's role and the message he portrays is significant in the film, other characters such as Frank is also important as he brings out the contrast between him and Archie. Frank's idea of war differentiates from Archie's as he is more aware that war takes away countless precious lives from young men. In addition, the audience are led to acknowledge how war can cause a massive impact hence change a man's life through the last few scenes of the film. 

Term 3 Week 6

Consider the title of the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. 1.What is the mockingbird a symbol of? 2.Which characters might this relate to? Justify with evidence. 3.Which of the ideas underpinning the novel are explored through the use of this symbol? Write a paragraph in which you discuss one idea and analyse how the use of the mockingbird symbol presents this idea to the reader.

The mockingbird is a symbol of Tom Robinson and Arthur Radley. They represent the mockingbird because they are both characters of pure innocence and goodness yet are attacked by others' prejudice. Tom Robinson is an example and victim of both prejudice and racism as his intention to help Mayella Ewell causes him to end up in a trial due to the accusation of him raping the woman. Like the mockingbird, their good intentions ends up in harm.

Term 3 Week 4 Homework

A reflective response to chapters 9- 11 A few weeks have passed since Mrs Dubose died and Jem has had some time to think about the events of the last few months. In role as Jem, write a response in which you reflect on these events and what they mean. Post to your blog by Thursday 4 pm.

Mrs Dubose died tonight. We heard from Atticus. After spending my daily afternoons with her for a month and a bit I still don't feel any different towards her as I felt before I cut her camellias. How I hated that nasty old cow. But just then Atticus told me something different. Told me how her intentions aren't what I was thinking. Maybe he's right. Maybe Mrs Dubose wasn't really as evil as I thought. After all, I'm still alive and breathing, aren't I? Atticus says Mrs Dubose was the bravest person he ever knew, that it's when you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. I suppose it's true. Apparently she promised herself to rid of her addiction to pain-killers before she was leaving this world, so that's why she asked Scout and I to read to her. And that was what that alarm clock was all about. She got us to help her break the morphine addiction unknowingly. Now that I think about it, I really do suppose Mrs Dubose is quite a brave one. The camellia she gave me drove me absolutely mad at first but Atticus told me Mrs Dubose is telling me everything's okay now. I guess I forgive her. May that old woman rest in peace. 

Term 3 Week 3 Homework

The first eight chapters of to "Kill a Mockingbird" focus largely on the story of the children trying to make Boo Radley come out. List all of the events in this story including those which show the reader that Boo actually has come out. Now write a section in Atticus’s journal on the night after the fire at Miss Maudie’s house. How would Atticus reflect on the events that have happened? Post to your blog by 8.20 am Friday.

1.     In order to prove that Jem wasn’t scared of anything to Dill, they decide to make Jem run up and touch Boo Radley’s house in attempt to make him come out. They believe they must have seen a flicker of a figure. (p15)

2.     Scout finds a knothole in a tree at the edge of the Radley lot. She tells Jem about it and they begin to find all sort of luxurious items placed inside the knothole on different days. In the end, they suspect it had some in relation to the Radleys.

3.     Scout rolls in a tyre and hits the Radley’s front porch. After she gets up, she thought she heard someone from inside the house laughing. (p37)

4.     Jem proposes a new game called “Boo Radley” where the kids perform their own play depicting the assumed lives of the Radleys.   

5.     Jem and Dill tries to give a note to Boo Radley by using a fishing pole to place it near a window.

6.     Jem and Dill wants to see if they can peep in a window with the loose shutter to see if they can get a look of Boo Radley. Scout decides to tag a long because she does not want to feel left out. When Jem manages to crawl to the window by himself, a shadow of a man with a hat on appears and frightens the children but the shadow then turns and moves back across Jem and disappears into the house.

7.     Jem returns to the Radley’s house after Dill, Scout and himself escapes to collect his pants and returns to Scout safely with his pants successfully retrieved.

8.     Mr Radley’s shotgun has been fired.

9.     Scout and Jem find their knothole filled with cement. Jem suspects Mr Nathan had filled it with cement because he doesn’t want them to find things in there anymore.

10.   Boo Radley comes out and puts a blanket around Scout’s shoulders whilst she was watching the fire hazard occurring at Miss Maudie’s house, unaware of Boo Radley’s presence.

There's been a fire at Miss Maudie's house. Poor missus. Everything precious to her got burned down in flames. We tried though, the men and I. Together we tried to retrieve as many belongings of Miss Maudie’s from the house before it crumbled to ground in ashes. She looked a bit out of it for a while…but then of course, who wouldn’t enter a state of shock after witnessing your own home catch on fire and destroy itself? Whilst I’m on the topic of strange behaviour, I noticed Scout been acting quite odd lately as well. Especially right after I mentioned Boo Radley. Jem burst into a babble about Nathan Radley and how he would never harm them and something about pants. I’m just glad he knows Mr Nathan isn’t a troublesome man so the children would stop pestering about at the Radleys. Radley Radley Radley. That’s all I’ve been hearing from those two kids. I just hope they aren’t up to anything ‘fancy’ and causing trouble all around the neighbourhood. But then what else are Jem and Scout up to? Little devils they are. Two little devils that I cherish from the bottom of my heart. Though I really should stop Jeremy from becoming such a nosy man. Scout learns and copies Jem’s behaviour all the time so this has to stop for Scout’s sake as well. What a handful, looking after these kids by myself! I miss their mother dearly but as long as I still have Jem and Scout, I can cope. Ahh what an exhausting day. I think I’ll head off to sleep now.

Term 2 Week 8 Homework

Look up the meaning of the word which constitutes the title of the play, "crucible", and give a dictionary definition. How appropriate do you consider the title to be? Write a paragraph in answer, referring to one of the play's themes to justify your response. Post on your blog before 8.20 Tuesday.  

 Definition of 'Crucible'

1. A severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial.

2. A place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces.

Synonyms: trial. 

I consider the title, 'The Crucible', to be very appropriate because the definition of 'crucible' is based heavily on what the play is purely about. The play revolves around the very idea of the definition, 'a severe test, as of patience or belief; a trial'. The 'severe test of belief' and 'trial' is what defines the connection between the the title and the play the most as belief could be considered as one of the most important themes portrayed. The town of Salem were so convinced in the belief of witches that it caused the lives of many innocent people. This links to the character and 'ultimate' trial of John Proctor, hence connecting to the significance of the title. The play is all about whether to believe if people were connected to witchcraft or not. In addition to Proctor, his trial was put in the spotlight because his death influenced more people who were accused of witchery to stand up for the truth. Furthermore, Proctor is the only individual that showed the most courage in defending himself against the false accusations throughout the majority of the play, even if it meant losing his life. Hence, his final trial, built with suspense for the audience, proves it the ultimate trial as it brings down to Proctor's decision of whether he was going to give up his life for the truth or his morals for his life. The title, 'The Crucible', would therefore become significantly relevant as the title of the play as it thoroughly conveys its meaning.

Term 2 Week 7 Homework

Go to the discussion board and add a question which clearly articulates a theme from The Crucible.      

Honesty

Is honesty the resolution to everything?
Would an individual being honest affect others? If so, how does this affect them?

Term 2 Week 6 Homework 2

Write a paragraph explaining the connection between the McCarthy era and the play. Be concise and prioritise your ideas. Think and plan before you write! Post to your blog before Monday's lesson.

The connection between the McCarthy era and the play is evidently strong. One of the most obvious link between the McCarthy era and The Crucible is the House Un-American Activities Committee (o known as HUAC) and the girls. Both the HUAC and the girls in the play have the same intention of wiping a certain group of people out, in HUAC's case, they accused people of communists and the girls of witches. Consequently, this, in both scenarios, destroyed the lives of innocent people. In addition, like Reverend Parris and Judge Danforth, McCarthy accused the innocent people based on unreliable evidence rather than factual proof. This is shown in the play when Abigail convinces Parris and Danforth through deceit, not evidence. The connection between the McCarthy era and 'The Crucible' can be clearly comprehended with the analysis of comparison between the people involved and tragic events that occurred.