AP Literature and Composition December 14, 2012 Mr. Houghteling “It’s a ‘Masculine/Feminine Friday, and because it’s Friday, you know what that means…”

“It’s great to be alive!” …with only seven more shopping days before winter break to get your favorite teacher a lovely fruit basket!

Write your essay on the Helens! AGENDA Write your essay on the Helens!

The prompt 1994 AP Prompt: The following two poems are about Helen of Troy. Renowned in the ancient world for her beauty, Helen was the wife of Menelaus, a Greek King. She was carried off to Troy by the Trojan prince Paris, and her abduction was the immediate cause of the Trojan War. Read the two poems carefully. Considering such elements as speaker, diction, imagery, form, and tone, write a well-organized essay in which you contrast the speakers’ views of Helen.

Claims—Find the proof! Both speakers of the Helen poems view their Helens as objects. Poe’s speaker views his Helen as an object of admiration, while HD’s Helen is an object of disgust, derision, vengeance, and spite.

Claims + PROOF Both speakers of the Helen poems view their Helens as objects. Prove each one: Poe: calls her “statuelike” / her beauty is a ship that brings her home / “thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face” / he views her as a goddess, untouchable HD: the “the still eyes in the white face” (explain the use of “the” instead of “her” white face) / her “cool feet”

Claims + PROOF disgust—they hate her derision—“All Greece reviles her” Poe’s speaker views his Helen as an object of admiration, while HD’s Helen is an object of disgust, derision, vengeance, and spite. Explain each of these distinctions: disgust—they hate her derision—“All Greece reviles her” vengeance—they want her dead spite—“past enchantments” and “past ills”

Homework Finish your shopping! Do something unexpectedly kind for someone!