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Cat in the Rain by Jenny Lee

Cat in the Rain by Jenny Lee.  This is the one that changed everything.  With this Power Point Presentation - the Illuminated Text was born.

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The Iron Youth: An Illuminated Text of All Quiet on the Western Front

An animation on the horrors of war as seen through the eyes of Paul Baumer - beautifully rendered by Monica Villegas.

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An Illuminated Text of Hemingway's "Cross Country Snow"

This Illuminated Text by Alyssa Bivins is one of the most creative, warm, and appropriately funny that can be found on this site.  It hits all…

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Once Upon a Time There Was a Boy:A History of Love Illuminated Text

There is so much in this incredible animation of Nicole Krauss's book that watching it may make you giddy - giddy with the joy of art…

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Different Names for Snow: An Illuminated Text of The House on Mango Street

This presentation by Mike Kenny begins with a bringing together of text about snow, clouds, and names. The clouds become names in a seamless and powerful…

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The Butterfly: An Illuminated Text of All Quiet on the Western Front

This presentation takes the excerpt where Paul describes the beautiful scenery around the front. I went from there to juxtapose the butterflies in the novel with…

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Deadly Progression: An Illuminated Text of John Gardner's Grendel

Sometimes it is hard to determine whether the best of these Illuminated Texts belong in a Literature Class or an Art Class - and this presentation…

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I Have Begun my Own Quiet War: A House on Mango Street Illuminated Text

This Illuminated Text shows the power of Adobe Flash by having the words appear as though they are being typed - perfect, given the idea of…

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No Cause Without an Effect: An Illuminated Text of Candide

This wonderful Illuminated Text is nothingless than a map of cause and effect.  The words, the text, follows the trail on the screen - the footprints…

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Mercy?: A Flash Illuminated Text on Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon

Powerful, forceful, and moving -- this Illuminated Text is built around Pilate's entrance into her granddaughter's wake -- and the journey that Hagar has gone…

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An Illuminated Text of Hemingway's "Big Two-Hearted River"

A very powerful story is translated into a very powerful Illuminated Text.  They  tried to set up a context for Nick's catharsis by making the…

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The Universal Edibility Test: An Illuminated Text of The History of Love

This Flash Illuminated Text focuses on Alma (the younger) and her attempts to survive in a world that seem bent on, if not defeating her, getting…

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You are hereIlluminated Texts: Song of Solomon

Illuminated Texts: Song of Solomon


Lessons and projects by students and teachers on the works of Ernest Hemingway, especially his first collection of short stories, In Our Time.

Song of Solomon - Illuminated Text Exercise - A Sense of Where You Are

two young protesters at a lunch counter sit-inThis 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.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Pilate and Names - A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Lindsey Bowe and Denisha Brown

a name word searchA presentation on the power and enduring quality of names in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.  The students make an incredible choice of music here and their words play off of that music and do a great job of explicating what is in the text.  As with all Power Point videos - to hear sound you will need to use Internet Explorer and a PC.  If you still have trouble hearing the sound, let us know.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

The smell of ginger - An Illuminated Text on Song of Solomon by Sean Liu & Kelly Chin

A gingerbread houseOnce again students examine the connection between fairy tales and the journey that Milkman makes in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.  Though this theme is examined in another Illuminated Text, the way that these two students approach that theme is completely original and compelling.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Sugarman Don't Leave Me Here: A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Iza Zlotkiewicz

a fall leafThis presentation gets everything right - and it frequently does it in a new and innovative way.  It begins with a prologue -- complete with different music, that serves as an introduction to the rest of the Illuminated Text.  The presentation then brings all of its elements together - centering on Milkman's treatment of Hagar and his realization of what he has done.  Izza was one of my most prolific and talented Illuminated Text writers - and she started using her skills in her other classes as well as for (at least one) family gatherings.

 

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Geography Lesson - A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Ria Roberts and Christof Horton

 This project looks at the importance of places and names and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement.  The use of names in the text is so important and so many of the characters, Milkman, Guitar, have names that were given to them and for which they have no use.  On the other hand, Pilate is given a name - the most undesirable name imaginable - and she embraces it - in fact wears it in a brass earring - as a kind of badge of honor.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Getting His Wings - A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Jenny Lee and Maura Rodriguez

a glowing blue angelAnother masterful illuminated text with the hand of Jennifer Lee and Maura Rodriguez in it.  In this presentation, the history of trying to fly in the book, starting with Mr. Smith, is beautifully and vividly detailed.  The text continues with Milkman's struggle to lose what is weighing him down, so that he too, can fly.  That question is actually how we begin our discussion of the text - and I think that it is a central one to the book - especially given the ending.   This is a Power Point Illumianted Text and you should  use Internet Explorer to hear the sound.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Secret Power - A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text on Fairy Tales by Elizabeth Mucha and Debra Chin

rumplestiltskin and the spinning wheelA great example of how an Illuminated Text can take different parts of a books and bring them together under a common theme.  This presentation does a terrific job of examining the use of fairy tale lore and imagery in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon.  The creators use text from the entire novel to show how these linked ideas bring forth a greater understanding of the book.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Milkman Flying: A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Michelle Chera & Kristen Browning

a man leapingThis presentation presents the textual path that Milkman, the protagonist of Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, must discover as he tries to find his way to his roots, his past, his name, and perhaps most of all, flight.  I know how well this done because it is over all too soon -- and it leaves the viewer wanting more.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Mercy?: A Flash Illuminated Text on Song of Solomon by Simon Huynh and Jennifer Cheung

a screen capture of this flash presentation on Song of SolomonPowerful, forceful, and moving -- this Illuminated Text (written in Adobe Flash)  is built around Pilate's entrance into her granddaughter's wake -- and the journey that Hagar has gone through.  Though Power Point has long been the program of choice for creating Illuminated Texts, students are learning how to do them in Flash -- and they are learning the power and flexibility that this program gives to them.  This presentation readily shows off that power.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Pin Up Girl: A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Anna Sawyer and Nora Lubitsh

a pinup girl on an airplane wingA magnificent presentation that traces Milkman's treatment of Hagar -- what she wanted -- what he was willing to give, and what he learned in the end.  The presentation is complex, complete, and persuasive.  It is everything that an Illuminated Text should be.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Emmett Till: An Illuminated Life by Chassity Santiago

Emmett Till's picture from his gravestoneThis Illuminated Text, rather than looking at a text, examines a life - specifically the short life of Emmett Till whose death and the reaction to it -- were able to mobilize the Civil Rights movement to take action.  His life is also linked in the presentation to the book Song of Solomon -- where his death plays a part in that novel's rich tapestry of detail.

 

 

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Scraps of Clothes: A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Tyler Lawrence and Krista Newren

a heart made of rose petalsThis incredible presentation uses the images of clothes and the red velvet rose scraps from Song of Solomon and interweaves them with the fate of the four little girls that were killed in Birmingham during the height of the Civil Rights movement.  The Illuminated Text is thorough and engaging -- always bringing the viewer to a new understanding of the original text.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Birds A&B Cheyanne Flowers (8), Cheuk Law(8), Hui Mei Yu (8), Raymond Li (8)

This is the illuminated text of the theme "birds" for the illuminated text based on the book Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. A variety of quotes were brought together as one to recreate the idea of birds. We wanted to make use of the Redd or Debb font as best it could, and animated the words themselves in hopes of making them look like flying birds. We also used colors for representation of the peacock. Two minutes is included here.

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

partner1: 
Cheuk L, Cheyanne F.
partner2: 
Raymond L, Hui Y.

"I'll Fly Away" - A Song of Solomon Illuminated Text by Drew Johnson

Icarus flying to the sunThis presentation by Drew Johnson chronicles what the lessons that Milkman, in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, must go through before he can shed the "stuff" that is weighing him down and learn how to fly. Among its other wonderful attributes, this Illuminated Text shows the power and impact of choosing the right music.

 

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

Seven Days B Dan Chlebek (5) and Deon Franklin (5) FINAL

This is the new, improved, and final version of the Seven Days B. It is complete, so bask in its awesomeness. If you want the .fla file, ask Dan. He will dispense it at request and whim. 13   12   11   10   9   8   7   6  5  4  3  2  1  and now I'm done. And now I'm over the minimum word count. Hooray!

Full text, downloads, and audio available to registered users with 50 points (Letterman).  An uploaded original lesson or Illuminated Text is worth 50 points.

partner1: 
Dan Chlebek
partner2: 
Deon Franklin

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Text to Remember

Looking Further

But the one thing you should. not do is to suppose that when something is wrong with the arts, it is wrong with the arts ONLY.

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