Week at a glance Nov 16 - 20, 2009

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes the use of symbols (1.3.K4i), compares and contrasts character traits (1.4.K7a), compares and contrasts themes across multiple stories ( 1.4.K7b), identifies and describes the protagonist (2.1.K1a), identifies and describes the antagonist (2.1.K1b), analyzes the contextual aspects of setting (historical, social, and cultural) and their impact and influence on characters and events in the story (11.2.1.K2), recognizes ways that literature from different cultures presents similar themes differently across genres (11.2.2.K1), and compares and contrasts works of literature that deal with similar topics and problems (2.2.K2).

This week we continue our work studying the various myths of Norse mythology. We'll read and discuss "Sigurd the Volsung." This famous myth became the basis for the German epic Nibelungenleid and Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle" opera. We'll also move toward the noble and tragic end of Norse mythology: the death of Balder followed by Ragnarok--the twilight of the gods. We'll wrap up the week with a short quiz and preview of our next story, Beowulf.

• Mon: Norse Mythology - "Sigurd the Volsung," begin reading and discussing the story.
  
• Tues: Norse Mythology - "Sigurd the Volsung," finish reading and discussing the story. Study guide due by the end of the hour.
  
• Wed: Norse Mythology - Loki's betrayal and Balder's doom. Read and discuss in class.
  
• Thurs: Norse Mythology - The twilight of the gods. Read and discuss in class. Study guide due by the end of the hour. Review for Friday's quiz.
  
• Fri: Norse Mythology - short quiz. Introducing Beowulf.