Blog Post #8: Spooks Free Write

A "Rocky" Anthem?

Digesting the chapter "Rocks" in Black Swan Green is something that I've been attempting for some time now. So the foreshadowing about Tom Yew, all the way back to his first appearance in "January Man," has finally come to fruition in his tragic death aboard the HMS Coventry. I guess it's the pointlessness of his death that is both the real tragedy and the point David Mitchell is making.  Julia astutely points out that in a "Pyrrhic victory" the cost of victory is so high that war probably should have been avoided in the first place. Tom Yew might be this realization for Jason...maybe.

But what about everyone else in Black Swan Green?  When the ceasefire is announced, everyone celebrates and sings their military/patriotic/victory song Rule Britannia.

(the rousing chorus starts around the 1:00 mark)

Have people so soon forgotten the tragic deaths that could very well have been avoided? Are these sorts of patriotic songs smoke screens to support wartime efforts?  Hey, America isn't beyond a little patriotic "propaganda" as well:

Being patriotic isn't necessarily bad; however, if one blindly supports all governmental decisions, no matter the casualties, then we have lost sight of the big picture. So is patriotism a form of propaganda? Is it morally wrong to just side with the triumph of one's own country? And moreover, has the "realism" of the war through Tom's death made a lasting impact? I'm very curious how the death of a local will affect Jason and other characters in Black Swan Green in the coming chapters.

Blog Post #7: "Rocks"

Choice 1: Respond to the prompt: How does David Mitchell use parallel plots in the chapter "Rocks"?

Do Munchkins live in this rockery?

Choice 2: Complete a free write about the chapter "Rocks", making reactions, connections, asking questions, etc.

Post due March 20th.Comments due March 21st.

Blog Post #6 "Bridle Path"

You may do either a free write for chapter 4 "Bridle Path" or respond to the teacher prompt below:

How does the chapter "Bridle Path" develop the idea that Black Swan Green is a coming-of-age story? Be sure to provide specific details from the text to support your answer.

• Your blog post is due Friday by 11:59 p.m.
• Your two comments on other student blog posts about "Bridle Path" are due Saturday by 11:59 p.m.

"Relatives" Teacher Prompt

Blog Post #5 ("Relatives")

In one to two paragraphs, answer the following question, citing textual evidence:

How does Mitchell portray self-image and social acceptance through the interactions between Jason and Hugo?

Note: You only have to make ONE blog post per chapter. You may either complete a freewrite post (thoughs, opinions, connections, questions, etc. about the chapter) OR you may respond to the teacher prompt. 

Your "relatives" blog post is due Monday (3/13) by 11:59 p.m.
Two comments are due Tuesday by 11:59 p.m.

Blog Post #4

"Hangman" Teacher Prompt Blog Post #4

"Hangman" Teacher Prompt Blog Post #4

How does David Mitchell develop a central idea throughout the chapter of "Hangman"? Think about Jason's feelings towards Hangman and why he feels that way. Use evidence from the text to show how Mitchell develops the central idea.

Due: Friday 3/10 by 11:59 PM 😁

"January Man" Teacher Prompt

Black Swan Green: Blog post #2

In at least one to two paragraphs, citing textual evidence, answer the following prompt:

How do the events of the first chapter use foreshadowing to set up the novel for readers and establish the mood? What themes begin to emerge in this first chapter?

Guide to Blogging Black Swan Green

Commenting:

Make sure you comment on two other student blogs PER type of post. Ex: After reading "January Man", comment on two students' blog posts where they express their thoughts, opinions, and reaction. Then, comment on two different students' blog posts where they respond to the teacher prompt.

Ways to Comment:

1. Leave positive feedback - be specific.

2. Make sure you respond to what the student actually posted. Avoid "you're awesome" type posts.

3. Add some factual content that you may know but the blogger may not.

4. Make a connection to ideas shared by the student.

5. Ask questions - something more interested in? want to know more about a topic mentioned in the post?

6. Proofread your comment. Capitalization, punctuation. Don't overuse punctuation.

Note: Link the student's blog post to your own after commenting on it.

Watch the video!

80's Rewind

So I started reading this trendy book, Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas (don't worry, I skipped the movie).  The school ordered hundreds of copies so I dipped my hands in the proverbial cookie jar and filched a copy for my eager eyes.

Yeesh, lackluster cover.  The title bears too close a resemblance to the movie Black Swan (a movie about dancing...another topic I avoid as much as broccoli).

Who doesn't want to see this, right?

My enthusiasm wanes a bit when I feast upon the cover with a generic silhouette of a swan.  Ok, what was I really expecting, but still, anything related to the book itself would have sparked my curiosity a bit more.

Ready to read?

My prayers were answered as I perused the back of the book and I found a brief synopsis of the story (almost lost in the ubiquitous praise for the Mitchell and his literary creation).  A thirteen-year-old boy?  A single year in his life?  Sounds like a coming-of-age story.  NOW this is what I'm talking about.  Movies like Stand by Me and Perks of Being a Wallflower (also a great book), as well as my favorite book Catcher in the Rye instantly came to mind.  

But here's the real kicker.  The story is set in 1982.  The 80s.  Bam.  Can't wait to start getting into all those 80s references: the pop culture of music, television, and movies...and I suppose some major cultural events too.  I think I'll have my Survivor album, Vital Signs, playing softly as I read for a bit of symbiotic atmosphere.  Although the story does take place in England with, I'm sure, a lot of slang and British terminology that'll make me smash my grandmother's tea collection to smithereens, Jason's adventures are what will truly have me hooked and reading on.

Oh, and just to make sure I'm not going to put this book down, one review on the back suggests a comparison of Black Swan Green to Catcher in the Rye.  Sold.