The Pumpkin
John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807 - 1892
Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,
The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,
And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,
With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold,
Like that which o’er Nineveh’s prophet once grew,
While he waited to know that his warning was true,
And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain
For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain. ...
Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better
E’er smoked from an oven or circled a platter!
Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine,
Brighter eyes never watched o’er its baking, than thine!
And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow,
And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky
Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!
Mr. Kirkendall is so thankful for all of you! Be grateful for the little things; try writing a poem about food, vegetables, or even avocados!
*Take the Ch. 33-35 Quiz
1. Take notes on Roots cap, cip, cept - cide, cise (#21 - 30). You may also choose to make flashcards with sample words.
2. Finish Persuasive writing #2. Here are the instructions--
Choose one. Label your paper "Persuasive Prompt #___." Write 1-2 solid body paragraphs that develop a clear train of thought with at least two uses of evidence per paragraph. At least one sample of evidence must be taken from Great Expectations. Each paragraph should include at least the following:
- Sentence #1--Topic Sentence.
- Sentence #2--Evidence #1 ("For example...")
- Sentence #3--Commentary/Explanation of Evidence #1.
- Sentence #4--Continued commentary/explanation of Evidence #1.
- Sentence #5--Evidence #2 ("In addition..."/"Furthermore...")
- Sentence #6--Commentary/Explanation of Evidence #2.
- Sentence #7--Continued commentary/explanation of Evidence #2.
- Sentence #8--Concluding statement reiterating the topic/main idea.
2. Should children today be taught manners and etiquette for participating in ‘polite society,’ like the British aristocracy that Pip finds himself in? Why or why not? Create an argument that uses persuasive technique. Find evidence from personal experience, history, Great Expectations, or contemporary culture.
3. Who is the most selfish character in Great Expectations? Why? Is there any hope for his or her transformation? Create a persuasive argument with evidence from the text, considering at least one counter-argument. Find evidence from personal experience, history, Great Expectations, or contemporary culture.
[3.] If time, choose your best sample of persuasive writing. Find a partner. With that partner, read out loud whichever persuasive writing sample you think is best. If you are listening, listen close, and take notes on how you might strike back with a counter-argument. The reader will be allowed one attempt to defend his or her self; then, switch roles.
*When we finish, turn in both of your persuasive writing samples.
4.
Is Pip grateful? Should he be? What would it take for him to become grateful?
Read Ch. 36-39. Chapter 38 contains an important exchange between Miss Havisham and Estella, and Chapter 39 is a critical chapter for little Pip! Keep your eyes peeled for how Pip's perspective might be changing for the better or the worse. You may skip chapter 36-37 and read this plot summary instead:
CHAPTER 36
PLOT DEVELOPMENT: In November Pip comes of age (21). Jaggers summons him to the office, gives him 500 pounds to pay off his debts, and informs him that he will receive only 500 pounds a year until his benefactor comes to deliver the total. He will, therefore, have to manage his own spending. Pip asks Jaggers questions about his patron, but Jaggers reveals very little. While waiting to celebrate his birthday with Jaggers, Pip asks Wemmick for advice about lending money to a friend, but Wemmick advises against it. However, he implies that Pip might get another perspective if he were to ask the question while at Walworth.
CHAPTER 37
PLOT DEVELOPMENT: On Sunday Pip visits Walworth to find Wemmick out walking. Wemmick returns shortly with Miss Skiffins and uses an invention of his to communicate to his hearing-impaired father. Pip tells Wemmick that he wants to help Herbert by buying him access to a business. Despite his earlier warning against giving a friend money (Chapter 36), Wemmick asserts that it’s an excellent idea and he will find someone in the merchant trade who needs a partner, arranging everything so that Herbert is not aware of Pip’s help. The group have tea while the Aged reads aloud from the newspaper. At the end of the week, Wemmick sends word to Pip that Miss Skiffins’s brother has negotiated a deal, and Herbert will be offered a position with a merchant looking for a young partner, a man named Clarriker.
NEW CHARACTERS & PLACES: • Miss Skiffins: Wemmick’s girlfriend, a woman a few years younger than he, who visits the castle often, wears bright colors, and treats the Aged well. During tea, Wemmick repeatedly tries to put his arm around her, but ever the lady, she moves it away. • Clarriker’s House: a merchant business where Herbert will soon be working. Pip uses half of his 500 pounds to secretly ensure Herbert’s partnership.
HW--Be thankful, and read a good book that you enjoy (your
independent reading). Remember to have it done by Friday, 12/18.
Check out these sweet prayers of thanksgiving to help form gratitude in you.
