Life Lessons

YOU LIVE, YOU LEARN

Beyond such issues as racial tensions, classism, sexism and injustices that minorities face throughout the novel, Harper Lee is also telling us a coming-of-age story or what is known in the literary world as a Bildungsroman (a word of German origin meaning a "novel of personal development or education").  As the narrator and protagonist, Scout is telling a story of her journey from youth to maturity amidst a racially charged era.   Throughout  the chapters we see her moving from a state of innocence to one of maturity as the result of suffering and surviving various misadventures.

As Scout finishes her first year of school, the author expands on several themes, each becoming a life lesson for the young girl.  Think about the topics llisted below and explain what you believe to be the most important lesson Scout learns so far, how she learns it and why it is so important to learn.

·       Prejudice (other than racial)

·       Education (school vs. home)

·      Truth and Lies (good vs. bad lies)

·       Femininity (Women’s roles in Maycomb’s society/  boys vs. girls)

"Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from."

- Al Franken

THE BIGGEST LOSER

In life we tend to place people into two categories: winners and losers.  The "Scopes Monkey Trial" was a hard fought court battle that started out as a small fire and in the words of Henry Drummond, "[lit] up the whole sky." The motives and agendas behind those involved in the case may not be easily reconciled.  Each historical as well as fictional character fought for his own set of beliefs whether they be scientific, religious, philisophical or political.  And for each of these players, the battle took on a different meaning, it's direction not always straight or narrow.

As with any "fight" there is assumed to be a clear winner and a subsequent loser in the end.  Evaluate the resolution of the play.  Who wins the case?  Who loses?  Is the jury's decision just? Understandable?  Make sure you think about the setting including the town mentality, the court system and the actions and words of the people involved.

Inherit the Wind presents this court battle as a catalyst for a debate on the importance of freedom of thought, belief and speech.  It speaks to the intolerance of differing opinions and illuminates the search for Truth.  It may be a never-ending search for some, the road scattered with doubt and uncertainty, but a road well traveled nonetheless.

"...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." -  

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

WELCOME PARENTS:


The English Department and I welcome you to West Orange High School.  The Honors English 10 curriculum is meant to be a challenging and rigorous course that will prepare your students for advanced placement courses (AP Composition and AP Literature), the SATs and the college or university of their choice.

It is my goal to foster a close-knit classroom where students can freely express and share their ideas and insights on the texts and literature reviewed in class as well as develop the writing and communication skills that will serve as the vehicle for that expression.

This blog site was created as a technology-based supplement that offers resources, links and a forum for continued communication of the discussions that take place in the classroom.  Everything the students need for this course can be found on this page and they have access to it at all times.

I am enjoying my sophomore students IMMENSELY and look forward to a productive and positive learning experience throughout the rest of the school year.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns:  edepalo@woboe.org