BOOKS OF THIS YEAR
I was in Mr.Baron's 9th Grade Honors english for the first Semester and I am currently in Mr.Dickel's class for the second semester. We have read a lot of books in English class.
Books from semester 1
OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck
George and Lennie are two migrant workers who arrived at a California farm to start working again after running away from a past incident. George is shorter than Lennie, but a lot wiser. Lennie is bigger and stronger, but is not very bright. Lennie's dream is to tend rabbits on their own piece of land someday with George. At the farm, George and Lennie meets some nice people such as Slim and some not so pleasant such as Curley. Curley picks on everyone except for Slim. Curley eventually finds his way to Lennie and picks a fight with him. Lennie crushes Curley's hand in the altercation and Curley holds this grudge. Curley's wife is a flirt because she is lonely for being the only woman on the farm with nothing to do. George warns Lennie against talking to Curley's wife, for talking to her could lead them into trouble. One day when Lennie accidentally kills his puppy in the barn. Curley's wife enters the barn and talks to him. Lennie tried to resist, but she said he was the only one who would listen to her. She admits her life with Curley is a disappointment and wishes that she had chased her dreams to become a movie star. In exchange, Lennie tells her that he loves to pet soft things, and she offers her hair to let him pet. Lennie grabs too tightly and Curley's wife screams that it hurts and commands him to let go. Lennie, afraid to be found talking to Curley's wife, attempts to silence her. Not knowing his own strength, he accidentally kills her by breaking her neck. In fear, Lennie runs away to the meeting place George had designated should either of them get into trouble. When the men back at the ranch finds out what happened, they gather together a lynch party to kill Lennie. George secretly finds Lennie before the other men could. Much to Lennie's surprise, George is not mad. George begins to tell Lennie the story of the farm they will have one day with rabbits. As George describes the rabbits that Lennie will tend, the sound of the approaching lynch party grows louder. George shoots Lennie in the back of the head. When the other men arrive, George let them believe that Lennie had the gun and how he had to get it away from Lennie and shot him. Only Slim understands what really happened that George had killed Lennie out of mercy so he won't experience the pain of being tortured. Slim leads George away, and the completely confused men watched them depart.
This book is also filmed into a movie. My English class watched this movie.
To Kill A Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee
The story takes place in a town called Maycomb Alabama during the Great Depression era. Scout Finch lives with her brother Jem and their lawyer father Atticus. Jem, Scout and their friend Dill are fascinated with the Radleys, whom lives on their street. The Radleys were considered spooky and scary. Arthur Radley (nicknamed Boo by the kids) have lived in the house for years without ever venturing outside. Atticus agrees to defend a black man named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The Ewells are considered the worst white family in Maycomb. Jem and Scout are subjected to abuse from other white children at their school for being black lovers. At the trial, Atticus provides clear evidence that the Ewells are lying. Atticus provides says the marks on Mayella's face were given to her from her father. Yet, despite the significant evidence proving Tom innocent, the verdict given by the all-white jury was "guilty". Jem was badly shaken from the exposure of reality. Bob Ewell vous revenge on Atticus. He attacks Jem and Scout and tries to stab them as they walk home from a Halloween party. Scout however is not harmed due to her due to her oversized ham costume. Boo Radely saved the children and stabs Ewell during the struggle. Jem breaks him arm in the struggle to get away from Bob Ewell. Later Scout finally understands life being Boo Radely and feels gratitude towards him for saving Jem and her.
We also watched the movie TKMK in our english class too.
To Inherit The Wind, by Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee
Bertram Cates is being held to trail at the courthouse in Hillsboro for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. Hillsboro erupts with excitemnet as prominent lawyers and jounalists arrive for the Trial. Christian politician Matthew Harrison Brady leads the prosecution. Henry Drummond will represent the defense. Brady is viewed as a hero and Drummond is a devil because he always defend the worst of people. The trial goes on and it seems Brady is going to win the trial. Drummond was able to change some people's minds on evolution. The verdict declares Cates guilty and fines him $100. Even though Bradey won, it was not as exciting as he expected because many people starts to loose respect for him. Brady suffers a mental breakdown and must be carried out of the courtroom as he deliriously recites what sounds like a presidential campaign victory speech. Brady dies in the end. Cates and Rachel decide to leave Hillsboro and start a new life.
This play was written in response to the 'scopes trial'. It was also filmed into a movie and we watched it in English class
Books from semester 1
ROMEO AND JULIET, by William Shakespeare
This is a play written by Shakespeare in 1597
We read this play in the 3rd marking quater
Please go to the "Romeo and Juliet" page for more details