Tomato Warnings Falsified

BY STUDENT X

The most recent item to arrive from the New World for consumption is a curious fruit called the tomato. The tomato was introduced by local herbalist, John Gerard. Countries known to eat the tomato previously include Italy and Spain, but despite their eating without incident, Gerard believed the crop to be poisonous. Fear of sickness and even death has caused a general avoidance of the tomato. Recently, it was confirmed that while some of the leaves of the tomato plant contain poisons, the fruit itself is safe.

Picked from a sprawling plant, these juicy red globes appear similar to an apple but contain a much fleshier middle. Locally, the tomato is most commonly used in soups, broths, and as a garnish. My husband and I had the privilege of sampling this rare fruit at a recent banquet and while I enjoyed the sweet and tangy combination of flavors, my husband said he’d rather throw it!

So Elizabethans, fear the tomato no more! If you can get your hands on one, I recommend you take a bite and decide for yourself – is the tomato a staple or a fleeting fad?

WebQuest

Today we introduced the unit project which will be a WebQuest surrounding the life and times of Shakespeare. Details are included within the WebQuest and due dates are listed below.

Sections Assigned - October X
Article Draft Due - October X
Peer Review Due - October X
Final Article Submitted for Publication Due - October X

*Final articles should be emailed to Ms. Buse or Ms. Krus.

Create a Sonnet

Now that we have explored the conventions and examples of various Shakespearean sonnets, I challenge you to write one of your own. Here is a link that can help you get started.

Successful attempts should be posted as comments to this blog post. Extra credit will be awarded!

Sonnet Translation

The assignment is to translate Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 into modern language. You should format your work so that it translates line for line.

This video demonstrates and excellent example:

Reading Assignment

For tomorrow's class, please read Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 and be prepared to discuss the following questions:

Who is the speaker? Who is the audience? What is the relationship between the two?
To what is beauty being compared? Find three textual examples to support your answer.

Class Notes

Today in class we talked about the Elizabethan Era and the world in which Shakespeare lived and produced his most famous works. This Presi summarizes the information presented and is available for your review.

Introduction

Welcome to the Elizabethan Era and the wonderful works of Shakespeare. This unit will be co-taught by Ms. Buse and Ms. Krus.

If you missed class or are interested in reviewing the introductory material presented, listen to this radio broadcast from Voice of America news.

All the World Still a Stage for Shakespeare's Timeless Imagination