This is the handout for The Song of Solomon illuminated text excercise and it differs from other such assignments as the students are given a wider range of choices: they may create a traditional illuminated text (as seen throughout this website) or they may illustrate one of the historical backdrops (such as the sitins at lunch counters) that are brought up thoughtout this novel. It's funny but after students see what others have been doing with the text of the book -- very few if any opt for the historial presentations. It must also be said that Song of Solomon is so well written with so many textual layers that it truly lends itself to the creation of Illuminated Texts.Welcome to AwaytoTeach
Welcome back to AWayToTeach. The menu at the top should get you anywhere that you want to go in the site. Our new focus is on building community, so keep posting -- comment on a lesson, an Illuminated Text, and of course in our forums. Remember, you will get points for each comment and even more for starting your topic or group. If you have registered and haven't posted or contributed to the site after two weeks of joining -- your account will be blocked. As soon as I can swing it, points will be used to download lessons, watch Illuminated Texts, etc. I'm always open to suggestions, so either email me or go to my profile page (see there is a reason for this Friend thing) and post something on my corkboard. Be sure to read our review at Teachers First. Also, please let me know about anything that isn't working quite right. I think that's all for now. Take care, and thanks for stopping by.
Joe Scotese
Featured Topic
Just how important is it to spend most of classroom time on the actual text being studied. In my class, I spend very little time on historical background (maybe one day for each of the major units) and I spend less and less each year. Should a class on Macbeth spend time talking about The Globe Theatre as an end to itself -- or only in the context of certain lines of dialogue? What do you think and why?
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Cat in the Rain by Jenny Lee
Submitted by scotese on Sun, 2006-08-20 10:57
The Illuminated Text that convinced me of the power and potential of the medium. This project explicates the short story "Cat in the Rain" from In Our Time. It was created by Jenny Lee at Whitney Young Magnet High School. One year and a half after this site opened, someone asked me how got the idea for Illuminated Texts -- the answer for that one is easy: I saw Jenny Lee's "Cat in the Rain."Read more
Beowulf, Heroism, and 9/11 - A Presentation
Submitted by scotese on Sun, 2006-08-27 13:02
This brief slide show begins with the moving, translated words of Beowulf where he states that he would not race ahead of his friend Brecca, because he had promised him he would stay by his side. The presentation next recounts some of the heroes of 9/11while subtly (I hope) comparing it ideas of heroism from Beowulf. It ends with the fiery funeral of Beowulf and the casket of the last 9/11 firefighter being carried away on his fire truck. This is used with a group work on the same subject.
"i carry your heart" by e e cummings an Illuminated Text
Submitted by scotese on Sat, 2006-09-30 16:19
A presentation that I created to use in introducing students to the Illluminated Text concept during their studies of Renaissance Poetry. Though the poem is modern (and American), it is taught in conjunction with a poem by Sidney. After viewing the presentation, I ask that you either comment on the presentation (below) or leave a message on the Guest Book (above).Read more
The Proverbs of Hell - Enough is not Enough
Submitted by scotese on Sat, 2006-10-28 11:50
This work which may be done in partners or alone begins by assigning students certain of William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell." While all students will receive his more well known (and perhaps important) proverbs, the rest of the proverbs are divided among the students. Read more
Fevered Love - A Flash Illuminated Text on Shakespeare's Sonnet 47 by Carmen Au and Sabrina Britecevich
Submitted by scotese on Fri, 2008-06-20 07:15
This Illuminated Text was created as the end product of a research project where students worked with partners and investigated one particular sonnet. The result here, for Sonnet 47, is outstanding. The students focus on Shakespeare's medical teRead more
Hamlet - An animated film by Kerry Ferrantella
Submitted by scotese on Mon, 2008-02-11 15:45
This animation of Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet is done with skill, wit, and creativity by Kerry Ferrantella and his classmates. Kerry used the free program Windows Movie Maker to animate the still drawings that he had created and then they created the voice overs. The overall effect is astonishing and original. Mr. Ferrantella's teacher is Ian McCarthy, also of Whitney Young High School -- and I am greatful to him and Kerry for allowing us to share this on the website. I can't wait to use the project with my own students. Be patient when you click on the link below -- it is a large file and may take a minute to load.
The Treasured Key: A Flash Illuminated Text of Shakespeare's Sonnet 52
Submitted by scotese on Tue, 2008-06-24 07:32
Students, Eric Jang and Yucong Feng created this outstanding Adobe Flash-based Illuminated Text of Shakespeare's Sonnet 52. For the discordant music to the choices of animation and movement -- they get everything right. As has been said earlier, the IlluminatRead more
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - Movie Questions and Extra Credit
Submitted by scotese on Wed, 2006-10-25 06:10
When I teach the Romantics, I use this wonderful, underrated movie as a bridge between the Enlightenment (Age of Reason) and the Romantic Era. When you see the movie, it almost feels at though that was the director's intention: the Romantic and imaginative Baron versus the forces of reason and reality that battleRead more
This work has students look at the text to see how Paul Baumer ends up in a trench, kills a Frenchman, and comes to question everything that he is doing. 
