November 2018
Brave New World Resources
Online text of entire novel
Audiobook on Youtube
Chapter timestamps:
Chapter 2 begins @ 29:20
Chapter 3 begins @ 50:40
Chapter 4 begins @ 1:38:10
Chapter 5 begins @ 2:04:32
Chapter 6 begins @ 2:33:36
Chapter 7 begins @ 3:10:02
Chapter 8 begins @ 3:40:50
Key Passage Focused Freewrite assignment
Online text of entire novel
Audiobook on Youtube
Chapter timestamps:
Chapter 2 begins @ 29:20
Chapter 3 begins @ 50:40
Chapter 4 begins @ 1:38:10
Chapter 5 begins @ 2:04:32
Chapter 6 begins @ 2:33:36
Chapter 7 begins @ 3:10:02
Chapter 8 begins @ 3:40:50
Key Passage Focused Freewrite assignment
Week 4: O Brave New World (Ch. 10-14) and paired texts
Monday Nov 26
Tuesday Nov 27
Wednesday Nov 28
Thursday Nov 29
Friday Nov 30
- no school
Tuesday Nov 27
- 10 minute read on Chapter 10
- What is lit crit? / Formalist lens
- Conversation tracker: close read Chapter 10 (focus on patterns, contrasts, ironies, conflict and theme)
Wednesday Nov 28
- The Trolley Problem: Test your moral intuition!
- Read "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas"
Thursday Nov 29
- Watch "Omelas" video and read "The Child in the Basement"
- Conversation tracker: Discuss "Omelas"
Friday Nov 30
- (Period 8 only) Debate!
Week 3: The Savage Reservation and Ch. 1-9 Test Time
Monday Nov 19
On your own, review the following:
Tuesday Nov 20
Wednesday Nov 21
- (in class) Ch. 1-9 test review
On your own, review the following:
- characters: Bernard, Helmholtz, John, D.H.C., Tomakin, Lenina, Pope, Mustapha Mond, Linda
- terms: satire, allusion, irony (three basic types), hyperbole, juxtaposition, parody
- quotations: review representative quotes from and about the characters listed above
- dystopia and utopia in the World State: review elements of the W.S. that are dystopian; that are utopian; review specific ways they control their people's biology and behavior (Ch. 1-3 especially)
- Huxley's background: Huxley's famous family connections; real world historical influences on his writing of the novel
- plot and characterization in the novel: Review the focus questions from Chapters 1-9 (posted in Schoology and this site)
- satire in the novel: What does Huxley critique or mock, where in the novel does he do it, and how does he do it?
Tuesday Nov 20
- Brave New World Ch. 1-9 test
Wednesday Nov 21
- Do I have any reading over break?
- Technically, no, but Chapters 10-14 will be due towards the end of next week. You'll have one class period of reading time when you return next week, so you decide if you want to get a head start over break. Otherwise, enjoy the time with your family and friends!
Week 2: Singularity, Soma, Solidarity Service, and the Savage Reservation
Monday Nov 12
Tuesday Nov 13
Wednesday Nov 14
Thursday Nov 15
Friday Nov 16
- Brave New World discussion: quick quotes and Top 3 discussion
- HW: read Chapters 7-9 for Thursday's class
Tuesday Nov 13
- Huxley life and times recap
- catch-up/reading time
Wednesday Nov 14
- Watch and compare: "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" (S5 E16)
- Note: comparisons with elements and themes of Brave New World?
- What ideas are being satirized?
Thursday Nov 15
- Ch. 7-9 discussion. Focus questions:
- Describe the Savage Reservation (cite from the text). How does it compare with the World State?
- How do Bernard and Lenina react to their experiences on the Reservation?
- Who is John? Describe him. How do his views align (or not) with the World State? With (or not) the Reservation?
- Why is Bernard so happy to meet John?
- John tends to speak through Shakespearean allusion and sees his world through its lens. Focus in on at least one moment where he quotes Shakespeare in a way that seems to be relevant to the scene at hand: is there a parallel between what John's quoting and what's happening in BNW? (If you have to look up the allusion, do so).
- One example of this in particular occurs at the end of Chapter 8 when John first speaks the words that give the novel its name: "'O brave new world,' he repeated. 'O brave new world that has such people in it. Let's start at once."' What's John talking about here? How do the other characters respond?
- Your reactions, questions, or confusion?
- Describe the Savage Reservation (cite from the text). How does it compare with the World State?
- Huxley background cont'd
Friday Nov 16
- first snow day!
Week 1: Get a glimpse into the mind of Aldous Huxley
Monday Nov 5
Chapter Previews:
Tuesday Nov 6
Wednesday Nov 7
Thursday Nov 8
Friday Nov 9
Next week:
- HW: Read Ch. 4-6 for Thursday's class.
- Now that you have a better understanding of the society Huxley gives us in this novel, as well as some of his satirical intent with the book, write a KPFF on a passage from the reading that you find interesting, strange, confusing, or revealing in relation to some of Huxley's recurring ideas in the novel (see the link for examples of different and acceptable ways to approach the KPFF).
Chapter Previews:
- Chapter 4, Part 1: Brave New World, the reality dating show: Bernard's feelings are hurt as Lenina tries to embrace the World State's dating philosophy. Meanwhile, Lenina heads out with Henry Foster to play obstacle golf.
- Focus questions: 1) Why does Lenina approach Bernard about heading to New Mexico? 2) What's the rumor about Bernard?
- "'I'm glad I'm not a Gamma.'"
- Chapter 4, Part 2: Bernard, feeling distressed over things getting complicated with Lenina, visits his good friend Helmholtz for a little bro time. The two discuss the ways they feel like outsiders from the World State. Something needs to change, but they're not quite sure what...
- Focus questions: 1) Describe Bernard's characterization--his appearance, his personality, his attitude towards the other Staters--and point to examples in the novel. 2) "I am I, and wish I wasn't." Who says this? Is this fitting or not for a World Stater? 3) Who is Helmholtz? How is he characterized? 4) Compare and contrast Bernard and Helmholtz. Why are each having trouble conforming to society?
- "'I'm thinking of a queer feeling I sometimes get, a feeling that I've got something important to say and the power to say it--only I don't know what it is, and I can't make any use of the power'" (69).
- Chapter 5, Part 1: Henry and Lenina's date continues: we're off to the club for dinner along with the sweet music of Calvin Stopes and his his Sixteen Sexophonists. Afterwards, there's time for a rocket flight over the Crematorium (romantic!) and a little soma.
- Focus questions: 1) Point to some of the sights and experiences from Henry and Lenina's date: what do they do on this rather conventional World State date? In what ways does Lenina prove herself to be a model female citizen of the State?
- "'Phosphorous recovery . . . Fine to think we can go on being socially useful even after we're dead'" (73).
- Chapter 5, Part 2: Back to Bernard for the Solidarity Service where the whole gang gets together to have some strawberry ice cream soma and sing the Solidarity Hymn. After that, they all...wait. What?!
- Focus questions: 1) Welcome to one of the most (in)famous chapters in dystopian literature! So what happens at a Solidarity Service? This seems like travesty from our own moral perspective, but how does this suit the World State's purposes? 2) What's involved with the Solidarity Hymns? How do these fit the World State's motto? 3) How does Bernard respond to this meeting? Why? 4) Huxley has some fun with travesty and parody in this chapter...but who/what do you think Huxley is actually satirizing? (keep in mind that, Vonnegut-like, he could have multiple targets).
- "For I am you and you are I" (82).
- Chapter 6, Part 1: Bernard and Lenina head out on a date of their own (Did Aldous Huxley predict The Bachelor, too? Maybe a stretch...). Bernard is looking for romance, but Lenina is...well, things get awkward.
- "'I don't know what you mean. I am free. Free to have the most wonderful time. Everybody's happy nowadays'" (91).
- Chapter 6, Part 2: Bernard asks the Director for permission to travel to the "New Mexican Reservation," wherein the Director lets out an odd little secret, regrets his mistake, and warns Bernard for his antisocial behavior.
- "'I had the same idea as you . . . Wanted to have a look at the savages. Got a permit for New Mexico and went there for my summer holiday'" (96).
- Chapter 6, Part 3: Bernard and Lenina take the Blue Pacific Rocket to the savage Reservation and meet the Warden, who tells them what to expect.
- "'[S]avages won't do you any harm. They've got enough experience of gas bombs to know that they mustn't play any tricks'" (106).
Tuesday Nov 6
Wednesday Nov 7
- Setup: In HP Reveal app, search for JneffPHS and then click "Follow"
- "Community, Identity, . . ." Step into the mind of Aldous Huxley (and see if you can get out)
Thursday Nov 8
- Head to Schoology where you'll find the assignment for today
Friday Nov 9
- Head to Schoology where you'll find the assignment for today
Next week:
- Brave New World: Chapter 4-6 discussion
- quick quotes, q&a, and KPFFs
- Brave New World on The Twilight Zone: "Number 12 Looks Just Like You"
- And we make our way to the "Savage Reservation"