What Were You Thinking, Edgar?

The Pit and the Pendulum is my favorite Poe story, but I hate the ending. I would like you to write a new ending for the story. It doesn't have to be long, and it can be really gory, but something more creative than
"There was a discordant hum of human voices! There was a loud blast as of many trumpets! There was a harsh grating as of a thousand thunders! The fiery walls rushed back! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell fainting into the abyss. It was that of General Lasalle. The French army had entered Toledo. The Inquisition was in the hands of its enemies."

That ending seems way too contrived. You can have the narrator live or die, your choice, but do it in your best Poe manner and have fun with it.

Crucible Paper

Because you all have a Crucible paper due Wednesday, take a week off from your blog to write your paper. Check back here next Sunday. :)

Reflections on The Crucible

Reflect on The Crucible.  Focus on any of the following:  the characters, events, or pervading metaphor. Post your reflections for this week's blog entry.  Reflections are not summaries; they are feelings and thoughts about specific events or details.

Political climate of the 1950s

This week research the political climate of the 1950s. There are excellent places on the Internet to learn about Joseph McCarthy, HUAC, black listing, Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan, Charlie Chaplin, Paul Robeson, etc. Remember to post the address of the site you use for your post.

Post a summary of the information you find and a reflection about it.

or

Find a video that is appropriate to the topic and reflect on the contents.

or

Post information on the effect of the McCarthy Hearings on ordinary life
in the U.S. and reflect on what you learn.

Puritan Plain Style

This week is write like a Puritan week. Try out a poem or some prose in Puritan Plain Style.

Choose one:

Observe something then write about the observation and the religious lesson you get from the observation.

Write part of a fire and brimstone sermon.

Write an account of some aspect of Puritan daily life based on what you can find out. Don't forget the religious lesson.

Write a reflection about something, culminating with a religious lesson.

Write a poem in the style of Anne Bradstreet. Don't forget the religious lesson.