Antigone

An article worth reading by V formers, who are currently studying Antigone as part of their comparative course. In the Guardian, Natalie Haynes writes:

"If the theme of Oedipus is seeing and blindness (the great irony of the play is that only when he is blinded can Oedipus truly see who he is and what he has done), the theme of Antigone is knowledge and certainty. Everyone knows that what they do is the right thing, and yet it ends in disaster."

Read the full article, "Antigone - freedom fighter or terrorist", here.

Gatsby revision Chapter 9 (last chapter)

Watch ShowMe analysis of

The ending of the novel:
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/03/great-gatsby-15-end-of-novel.html

• ‘I found myself on Gatsby’ side, and alone.’ p.141. How is this so for Nick following Gatsby’s death?
• What do we learn about Gatsby’s background from seeing his father (pp 144-150).
• What are Nick’s feelings as he finally leaves Jordan Baker? (pp. 152-153)
• What are Nick’s feelings at and after his last meeting with Tom Buchanan? (pp153-4).
• Choose three phrases/quotations from the last 25 lines of the book, and accompany each with a short explanation of its importance/significance.

'The Departure' with Gillian Anderson

The Guardian has a short film called The Departure on its website (see it below), featuring Gillian Anderson, who played Blanche Dubois in the Young Vic's 2014 production of A Streetcar Named Desire. It is set just before Blanche travels to stay with Stella in New Orleans. Here are Anderson's comments. 

We study Streetcar in Transition Year in the summer term: good material for discussion here.

The Submarine, February 2015

The latest edition of our Library magazine, The Submarine, has just been published, and can be read above via Issuu (click once for a closer look, click again for still closer, and use the arrows for navigation).

This time: interesting comments by the editor and Librarian, Mr McConville, about digital technology; a report by Seyilogo Braithwaite on the visit by novelist Paul Murray; news of the forthcoming Arts Week; Gabriel Chisholm on 'Snakes', book reviews by Nyla Jamieson, Dr Bannister and Mr Swift; Valentina Ascencio Munoz on the benefits of literature; Blanaid Sheeran on the Book Club set up by Mr Jameson, and more.

Junior Poetry Prize 2015

The theme for this year's Junior Poetry Prize is 'The Senses' (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste). 

Any interpretation of this theme is welcome. Poems should be twelve lines or more, and each entrant may enter as many poems as he/she wishes. Email your entries to Ms Smith, or hand them to your English teacher, by Thursday 26th March (the day before the end of term).

Gatsby revision Chapter 8

Watch ShowMe analyses of-

a)    Gatsby falls in love with Daisy (p.128) - 
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/03/great-gatsby-13-gatsby-falls-in-love.html
b)    Nick and Gatsby’s last meeting (p.133) - 
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/03/great-gatsby-14-nick-and-gatsbys-last.html

• Explain how Gatsby ‘found that he had committed himself to the following of a grail’ (p.129) in pursuing Daisy.
• What is the significance of the weather in this chapter? Give details.
• What are Nick’s feelings on leaving Gatsby (refer also to his call from Jordan Baker)?
• (p.139) What are the most significant things about the description of Gatsby’s death?
• If you had to choose one short passage (c.20 lines) as the key one in this chapter, what would it be? Why? Key quotations?
• Three other useful quotations from the chapter not used already.

Gatsby revision Chapter 7

Watch ShowMe analysis of:-
a)    Tom’s triumph over Gatsby: 
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/02/great-gatsby-10-toms-triumph-over.html 

b)    Myrtle Wilson’s death: 
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/02/great-gatsby-10-toms-triumph-over.html 

c)    Tom and Daisy after Myrtle’s death:
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/02/great-gatsby-12-tom-and-daisy-and.html

• What is Tom’s attitude towards Gatsby?
• How is it (and when is it) that Daisy gives way to Tom and goes back to him?
• What is the purpose and effect of Michaelis’s perspective (pp 117-9)?
• Comment on Myrtle Wilson’s death in the light of our previous discussion about cars and driving.
• If you had to choose one short passage (c.20 lines) as the key one in this chapter, what would it be? Why? Key quotations?
• Three other useful quotations from the chapter not used already.

Gatsby revision Chapter 6

Watch ShowMe analyses of
a)    Tom and Daisy at Gatsby’s party: http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/02/great-gatsby-8-tom-and-daisy-at-gatsbys.html (pp 90-91).
b)    Gatsby’s despair about Daisy: http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/02/great-gatsby-9-gatsbys-despair-about.html (pp 95-6).

• What portrait is given in this chapter of the young James Gatz?
• What is the influence of Dan Cody on Gatz/Gatsby?
• Three short quotations about Gatz’s/Gatsby’s youth.
• Why is Gatsby ‘unutterably depressed’ near the end of the chapter (p. 85)?
• If you had to choose one short passage (c.20 lines) as the key one in this chapter, what would it be? Why? Key quotations?
• Three other useful quotations from the chapter not used already.

A Poem for Ireland

The Poem for Ireland microsite from RTE is nicely done, with the texts of the shortlisted poems, comments on them, background, recitals from Poetry Aloud finalists, and the ability to upload material, including performances of the poems.  And, of course, the facility to vote for your favourite poem.

Here's Patrick Kavanagh's 'A Christmas Childhood'.

A reminder to TY pupils that a poem can be part of this year's Work Portfolio (possibly a response to one of those on the shortlist).

'Drama at Inish'

Poster by Daisy McKeever

The 2015 Junior Play is on this weekend, on Friday and Saturday at 7pm in the Big Schoolroom. It's Lennox Robinson's old favourite, Drama at Inish (last produced here in 2001 as the Senior Play). All parents and their guests are welcome. 

Here is the programme:

"Everyone needs some entertainment while on holidays but when the de la Mare Reparatory Company comes to Inish for the summer season no one expects the response they will engender in the locals…

Lennox Robinson is a much-loved Irish playwright who was director of the Abbey theatre for many years. Drama at Inish was first performed in 1933. It has been produced in America several times under the title Is Life Worth Living?

There are three Acts in the play, with two scenes in Act II.  The action takes place in a private sitting room of the Seaview Hotel, Inish.


ACT I: A July morning.

ACT II: Scene i & scene ii – Early evening, ten days later.

ACT III: A week later, morning.

The Players
John Twohig, proprietor of the Seaview Hotel:  Nevin McCone
Annie Twohig, his wife:  Nicole Dickerson
Lizzie, his sister:  Alexandra Murray-Donaldson
Eddie Twohig, his son:  James O’Connor
Peter Hurley, the local T.D.:  Douglas Boyd Crotty
Christine Lambert: Lena Pirlet
Hector de la Mare, an actor:  Ross Magill
Constance Constantia, his wife:  Emmanuella Ejase-Tobrise
Helena:  Grace Goulding
Michael:  Max Hillery
Jean Hegarty, a report:  Aniko Szkendy
Deirdre Mooney, a Guard: Isabelle Townshend
Slattery:  Catherine Butt

Production Credits
Make-up: Helena Gromotka, Ciana Taylor, Marie-Sophie Stumm
Poster:  Daisy McKeever
Willing Helpers:  MJ McCullough, Robbie McDonald
Costumes:  Karen Hennessey, Evan Jameson & Ronan Swift

Lights, Sound, Set, Props and Direction: Evan Jameson & Ronan Swift

Gatsby revision Chapter 5

Watch ShowMe analysis of
‘Daisy and Gatsby meet again’ - 
http://www.sccenglish.ie/2012/02/great-gatsby-7-gatsby-daisy-meet-again.html

• What is the nature of the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy in Nick’s house (before Nick leaves)? (Heinemann pp74-76).
• What is the nature of the meeting between Gatsby and Daisy when they move to Gatsby’s house?
• What is the significance of the green light at the end of the dock? (refer to the rest of the novel, too).
• In what ways are dreams important in the novel?
• If you had to choose one short passage (c.20 lines) as the key one in this chapter, what would it be? Why? Key quotations?
• Three other useful quotations from the chapter not used already.