Much Ado About Nothing: Lesson I: Review Questions VII & IIX

Benedick and Beatrice want to fall in love, but are just too mistrusting. The play gives us reason to believe that they were once lovers, but were emotionally wounded by one another. For the most part, they just put it behind them and enjoy battles of wit and a "rivalry" relationship to keep them from getting to close again. Beneath the playful exterior, they are both very wary of members of the opposite sex, particularly each other. Beatrice fears the consequences of marriage, preferring not to fall into what she think of as a dull life, comparing wedding to a series of dances. She thinks of men, especially Benedick, as unfaithful. This is ironic, as Benedick holds these same beliefs about women, particularly Beatrice! Benedick simply preaches against marriage in the early stages of the play. He is afraid of becoming a cuckold if he weds, something he is sure will happen due to those untrustworthy women. Beatrice and Benedick will have nothing to do with each other in the play's beginning, but as the play progresses, a drastic change occurs in them both...

Macbeth: Lesson IV: Review Question IV

In the first scene of act five, we discover Lady Macbeth's peculiar habit- sleepwalking. This scene stars Lady Macbeth of course, but since she's asleep, the need arises for a couple of "commentators". Enter the Doctor and the Gentlewoman, a couple of relatively insignificant characters who, save for this scene, are absent from the play. Before Lady Macbeth even appears, the gentlewoman insists that

"I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep."

Soon after, Lady Macbeth enters with a candle. The two others once again act as "commentators" by noticing and questioning everything about her. They wonder where she got the candle, notice that her eyes are open, and talk about her wringing her hands. At last, Lady Macbeth speaks what's on her mind.

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him."

Creepy, huh? The Doctor and the Gentlewoman certainly thought so.  Lady Macbeth continues to feel guilty and wish the deed could be undone, while the others continue to talk about it. Eventually, she returns to bed, and the Doctor and gentle woman continue to worry about her health. The irony here is that in the beginning of the play she was the murderous and cruel one, while Macbeth continued to feel guilty. Now, in the last act, Macbeth is cold blooded and feels no remorse, while she is now feeling the guilt.


Sorry if it's a little too long! I get a bit carried away...

Macbeth: Lesson III: Review Questions I & II

When Macbeth talks about a "fruitless crown" and "barren scepter", he's obviously not talking about the actual inanimate objects bearing young! What he means to say by this is that his rule is meaningless if his hiers can't sit on the throne. And acording to a trio of witches, it's not gonna happen. Earlier in the play, the witches tell a small, trivial truth to win Macbeths trust. This makes him belive in the next prediction, and eventualy spurs him to violent action. In an echo of this, the witches make Macbeth see someone who was once a freind as a threat to the crown by telling his that Banquo's heirs will one day sit on the throne. And once again, this leads Macbeth to a terrible murder.

Macbeth: Lesson II: Reveiw Question

Macbeth hesitated when killing Duncan, regretted it later, and couldn't bear to reenter his chambers. Why? The reason is actually quite simple. His conscience, while fading, still yet lingered. He had not yet become the traitorous killer is is at the end of the play. He was mostly a good man, with only traces of the cold-blooded future that is destined for Macbeth. Though he had just betrayed and murdered his king, his spiritual condition was still relatively good (if you think about Macbeth in the days before his death.) His view of manhood is very different from the cruel Lady Macbeth's. His idea of a man is moral, righteous, and full of human kindness, while his wife sees this as not manhood, but the signs of a woman! Her idea of manhood is of an unfeeling murderer who acts on impulses. A villainous cutthroat that will do anything to achieve his ambitions. Macbeth, on the other hand thinks of such a person as no man, but an inhuman beast! But as I said, his wife (along with several other influences) finally steer Macbeth to their way of thinking, and he becomes the sort of man he had once despised.

Macbeth: Lesson I: Review Question II

Q: What is the essential moral issue of the play? Explain how sheer ambition for power turns a man into a murderer.

A: Largely because of the Witches, Macbeth now has an insatiable lust for power. This desire grows and festers inside him, fueled by the encouragement of his wife until he finally resorts to murder on his way to the top. The love of power itself can do this to a man. It's fine to have power, especially if you use it to make a difference, to change things, or just generally use it for good. But Macbeth's cravings led to secrecy deception and of course, murder.

Outline for Group Paper (Sorry it's late!)

I Introduction

A Education---Homeschooling

1

2

B Homeshooling varies from family to family, but three standard elements are usually there: Curriculum, Field Trips, and Co-op.

1 In this essay, you'll learn a little bit about each.

2


II Parents who choose homeschooling are not just left in the dark to figure it out themselves; many curriculums are designed specifically for homeschoolers.

A Wide range of topics, different experiences.

1 Examples, examples, examples.

2 Bible curriculums.

B Introducing full curriculums!

1 Alpha Omega, Essential subjects, age range.

2 Rainbow resource, variety pack


III One thing that gives homeschoolers a more hands-on experience is the field trip.

A What is a field trip?

1 Examples, examples and yes, more examples.

2 Ideal locations, ect.

B Group trips, personal experience, all-electric house.

1 All-electric house: Explain.

2 Other exhibits there.

IV Co-op usually consists of several homeschool families that have met to create a more classroom esque enviorment.

A A good example? This one!

1 Comprised of six homeschool families that meet regularly, learning.

2 Like public school, class, lessons, homework.

3 Several moms, different teachers, rotate out.

B Contrast, personal experience.

1 Years ago, my family met with only one other family, one subject.

2 Small group, no homework, time to just play too.

V I hope that while reading this essay, you've learned a bit about homeschooling and the way it works.

A No two families alike, only based on what I know.

1

2

B Restate topics, clincher.

1

2

Lyrical Rambling from the Mind of McKinley

Only by the greatest stretch of the imagination could the term "Poetry" be applied to my writings. Therefore, (as the title suggests) I prefer to call them my Lyrical Ramblings. It is along those same lines I apologize for the verses ahead.

 

STAIR POEMS

Warning! Nerdy, Doctor Who-related content ahead!

 

Exterminate!

                                                                           Skkaro

Ruthless, Cunning, Cold

                                 Daleks

 

 

QUATRAINS

Does It make much sense? Not really. But I wrote it at the end of a poetry marathon, so I was kinda sick of the stuff. Maybe you think it's funny. It made it to the top five, in any case.

 

Quatrains I'm starting to despise,

As I begin to write.

I fear they may be my demise,

one unassuming night.



 

CINQUAINS

Intertwining one aspect of co-op with another. At least you all can relate to it.

 

Gibson

Moody, Sullen

Sulking, Brooding, Plotting

Deceive his friends and kill the King

Hamlet

 

 

LANTERNS

Lanterns are liked by several members of the class, myself included. I need of a topic? Write about poetry! This one's rather simple.

 

Poems.

Lanterns,

and Couplets,

Haiku, Sonnets.

Verse.

 

THE GRAND FINALE

Here it is! The end of my rather inadequate attempts at poetry! To finish, I will show my

Couplet-story-kinda-thing. You know, the one that looks long and hard, but is really a lot of easy couplets glued together. Mine is a summary of the first episode of- you guessed it- Doctor Who!

 

In the beginning of Doctor Who,

The Doctor assembled his mismatched crew.

 

Granddaughter Susan he did take,

and a pair of humans by mistake.

 

Back in time they all did venture.

In the TARDIS, to adventure!

 

One hundred thousand years BC.

There, some Cavemen they did see.

 

They were prisoners for a time,

but soon escaped from the cave's grime.

 

Into the old blue time machine,

they made an exit from the scene.

 

The Doctor and Susan began debating,

While in the next episode, Daleks are waiting...

 

Well, that's it. Thank you for giving me your time. Please comment!

 

-McKinley