For Thursday 19 February 2009

BE MY VALENTINE

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    View "Be My Valentine" in three segments (1, 2, 3) and prepare the following questions for Thursday:

    1. What is Charlie Brown waiting for in the beginning of the film?
    2. Why does Lucy wish him good luck?
    3. Why does Sally tell Linus the teacher called his name?
    4. What feeling does Linus have about himself?
    5. What does the tacher want Linus to do?
    6. What does Linus call the teacher's request?
    7. What does he call the teacher's request as he pounds the erasers?
    8. What does Linus say he can die from?
    9. What does Linus say he's going to buy his teacher?
    10. What does Lucy say was probably the first greeting card?
    11. When does it date from?
    12. When were hand-painted copper plates produced?
    13. What was Valentine's Day set aside as orginally?
    14. What does Lucy say Linus doesn't realize?
    15. What should the amount of money one spends on a present be in direct proportion to?
    16. What does Linus recommend that Violet buy for a male teacher?
    17. What does Violet tell Sally is appropriate for a young man?
    18. According to Charlie Brown's narration, when did the romantic adventure of the two puppet lovers begin?
    19. What did the narrated lovers do in the carriage?
    20. Where did the lovers race in their carriage?
    21. Why did the earth rumble in Charlie Brown's romantic story?
    22. Who attacked the lovers in their carriage?
    23. What rolled overhead?
    24. What kind of Valentine is very special if you really like somebody?
    25. What does Charlie Brown think is surely bound to happen in his big class?
    26. How does Charlie Brown say Sally should make Linus a Valentine?
    27. According to Schroeder what is prepared for after everyone puts their Valentines in a box?
    28. Why does Charlie Brown carry a briefcase?
    29. What does the teacher say it would be if Linus presented his Valentine to her personally?
    30. Why does Sally think Linus didn't give her his box of candy?
    31. How does Sally say she will get him later?
    32. What does Frida's candy heart say?
    33. What does Sally's candy heart say (just the first line).
    34. Who does Lucy say no one would waste a Valentine on?
    35. According to Schroeder, where will refreshments be served?
    36. What does Sally do when she thinks Linus is approaching with her Valentine?
    37. Who is with Linus's favorite teacher in the parking lot?
    38. Who does Sally say is just a crazy mixed-up kid?
    39. To what does Linus dedicate the first piece of Valentine candy he throws away?
    40. Second?
    41. Third?
    42. Fourth?
    43. Fifth?
    44. What does Charlie Brown say he would give anything for?
    45. What does Charlie Brown say he'll be if he looks and there's nothing in the mailbox?
    46. What according to Schroeder cannot be made retroactive?
    47. Who does Schroeder call the most thoughtless bunch he has ever known?
    48. What does Charlie Brown think may be a new trend?
    49. How many briefcases does Charlie Brown imagine he will need next year?
    50. Sally recites Elizabeth Barrett Browning's famous sonnet, "How Do I Love Thee?" (below). Discuss your understanding of the poem.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

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In-Class Assignment Due 25 November 2008

A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING
Due 25 November 2008

View A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in three segments (1, 2, 3) and prepare the following questions for class.

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    1. What does Charlie Brown think Lucy thinks he is, when she calls his name with a football in her hand?
    2. What is one of the greatest traditions Americans have, according to Lucy?
    3. What is the biggest most important tradition of all?
    4. According to Charlie Brown, what should a person never turn down?
    5. According to Charlie Brown, what wouldn't Lucy try to do on a traditional holiday?
    6. As he races towards the football, where does Charlie Brown vow to kick it to this time?
    7. As Charlie Brown lies on his back, what does Lucy say is peculiar?
    8. What does Sally think that her big brother, Charlie Brown expected in the mailbox?
    9. What always depresses Charlie Brown?
    10. Sally went down to the store to buy a turkey treat but what was all the store had?
    11. Why isn't Sally thankful about Thanksgiving?
    12. What schoolwork is attached to the name of Myles Standish (whom she calls Stanley Miles)?
    13. What does Sally say she hasn't finished doing for Halloween?
    14. What does Linus say that America was the first country in the world to do?
    15. Where are Charlie Brown and his little sister, Sally, going on  Thanksgiving?
    16. What does Sally want to do with Linus under the table at her grandmother's?
    17. What does Peppermint Patty ask Charlie Brown?
    18. What nickname does she use for "Charlie"?
    19. Why does she think that Charlie can't talk to her about his feelings for her?
    20. What does she want to do with their "intimate feelings"?
    21. Where is her father?
    22. Where does she want to go on Thanksgiving?
    23. What does she call Charlie before hanging up the phone and saying she'll see him soon?
    24. Who does Peppermint Patty invite in addition to herself?
    25. What parts of the turkey does she want Charlie to save for her?
    26. Why does Sally say it's Charlie's fault that Peppermint Patty invited herself?
    27. Who's the third person Peppermint Patty invites over?
    28. What does she call the Thanksgiving Day event?
    29. Why does Charlie say you can't explain anything to Peppermint Patty?
    30. What is Linus's solution to Charlie's Thanksgiving Day dilemma?
    31. What does Charlie say is all he knows how to make?
    32. What outfit does Peppermint Patty say Charlie Brown always wears?
    33. What does she say Charlie Brown didn't say the party would be regarding dress?
    34. What does the bird, Woodstock, put into the toaster instead of bread?
    35. What hat does Charlie Brown want Snoopy to wear instead of his Pilgrim's hat?
    36. Why does Charlie want Snoopy to get ready?
    37. What does Peppermint Patty want to say before eating?
    38. According to Charlie Brown, when was the first Thanksgiving Day feast held by the pilgrims?
    39. Who were honored guests at that feast?
    40. What "opportunity" did the minister at that first Thanksgiving Day dinner thank God for?
    41.  What three foods are in the dish Snoopy serves for Thanksgiving Day dinner?
    42. According to Peppermint Patty, what 4 foods make up a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner?
    43. How does Peppermint Patty think she affected Charlie Brown by complaining about the Thanksgiving Day dinner?
    44. What does she want Marcie to do for her?
    45. What does Marcie want Peppermint Patty to do instead?
    46. What Thanksgiving Day story does Linus think of?
    47. Why does Charlie Brown say to Marcie he feels bad?
    48. What should they be thankful for according to Marcie?
    49. What does Peppermint Patty call Charlie for holding her hand?
    50. What does Charlie Brown call Peppermint Patty when he refers to her to his grandmother on the phone?
    51. Where does Charlie Brown's grandmother live?
    52. What does Snoopy serve Woodstock after Charlie Brown and his friends leave for Grandmother's?

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For Thursday 10 April 2008

LUCY ANALYZES CHARLIE BROWN

Click on the slide show above, view the Peanuts special, then answer the following questions.

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    1. What happens to Charlie Brown sometimes that he can hardly stand it?
    2. What happens the harder he tries?
    3. What does he try to seek?
    4. What does he say happens to everything he does?
    5. What does Lucy recognize in Charlie Brown?
    6. What does Charlie Brown need to point out according to Lucy?
    7. How does Lucy describe her system?
    8. What does Lucy set up after inviting Charlie Brown to her house?
    9. Where did she put all of Charlie's faults?
    10. What does she plan to project on a screen?
    11. What does the first slide show?
    12. What does the second slide show?
    13. What does the third slide show?
    14. What tendency do other slides show?
    15. Which four parts of his body does Lucy say are fat?
    16. The way Lucy sees it, what is Charlie's problem?
    17. According to Lucy, when Charlie has emotional problems what does he usually need?
    18. What does Charlie say Lucy will do when he tries to kick the football?
    19. What does Lucy advise Charlie do with his faults?
    20. What does she advise him to do for this purpose?
    21. What is Lucy's surprise bonus?
    22. What does she want Charlie to analyze?
    23. What does she call erratic?
    24. What stands out clearly in the video?
    25. What look does Lucy see on Charlie's face?
    26. What does she call benign and composed?
    27. Why does she accuse Charlie of clumsiness?
    28. What did Charlie Brown say he never knew?
    29. How does he say he feels at the end?
    30. What does Lucy say he should wait for?

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VOCABULARY

discouraged
Don't feel so discouraged.

hardly stand it
He asked her out and I can hardly stand it!

seek professional help
She sought professional help for her eating disorder.

frailties
Her frailties include a sweet tooth.

faults
He sees faults only in others.

for your own good
I'm taking away your cell phone for your own good.

unique
Her singing is unique.

make yourself at home
Take off your coat and make yourself at home.

equipment
Come, I'll show you my CD equipment.

slides
I'll show you my slides of Paris.

project
He projects his own faults on others.

good grief
Good grief! Did you have to tell me I was fat?

upright
He's upright and honest.
The kitten stood upright as she attacked the hanging ball.

coordination
I lack good coordination and often fall off my bike.

tendency
I have a tendency to smoke too much.

if the truth were known
If the truth were known, she has few friends.

down to business
Let's get down to business: how much are you willing to pay?

batch of slides
The next batch of slides shows me in Palm Beach.

damaging faults
Her only damaging fault is she talks too much.

I can't stand it
It's so hot, I can't stand it.

outlets
I have no outlets for my anger.

emotional outlets
Watching a boxing match is a great emotional outlet.

to sum it (all) up
To sum it up, she broke off the relationship.

flat on my back
I slipped on the ice and fell flat on my back.

kick the habit
I hate smoking but I'm not able to kick the habit.

bonus
I got a ten percent holiday bonus.

psychiatrist
My psychiatrist thinks I'm depressed.

instant replay
Instant replay showed he caught the ball.

slow motion
When I saw it in slow motion I realized I was tagged out.

analyze
I analyze myself before going to bed.

expression
He had an angry expression on his face.

erratic
His behavior is quite erratic; sometimes he's friendly and sometimes not.

personality traits
His personality traits include stinginess and hostile remarks.

determination
She had a determination to pass and did.
She was determined to pass and she did.

benign
The tumor was benign.

composed
He was angry but composed himself for the party.

clumsiness
Her clumsiness got worse with age.

miserable
I feel miserable when it rains.

bill
The dinner bill was two thousand dollars.

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Mise-en-scene (Home Viewing): Week of 24 December 2007

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
Week of 24 December 2007

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In keeping with the Christmas season, this week for your home viewing assignment, we'll study the elements of mise-en-scene through an analysis of an animated film (see attached files). To view the film in three segments, click on the following links:  1, 2, 3. 

PEANUTS and the BIBLE

For those interested in researching the Bible through cartoon strips, three books on the Peanuts cartoons are recommended (attached). The strip was created by Charles Schulz, a Christian, who used the strips to subtly preach Bible themes. Attached are some samples of strips discussed in these books. The books are by Robert L. Short.