Welcome! November 13th, 2017 Monday Do Now Take a weekly Bell Ringer sheet from the front table. Once the bell rings, we’ll watch a video, and you will have five minutes to respond to the question in at least five sentences. Remember: Do Now's are INDEPENDENT and QUIET exercises. Thank you 

Do you consider yourself to be environmentally conscious? Explain. Click on the link below to watch a video clip. Respond in writing by providing your thoughts on the following question: Do you consider yourself to be environmentally conscious? Explain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrzbRZn5Ed4 © Presto Plans

“The Yellow Wallpaper” Today, we’re going to start a mini-unit (three days) on one of my favorites short stories of all time! Yay! It’s called “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and, like most Gothic Romantic stories, it’s written from an unreliable narrator’s point of view (but a woman, this time) who begins to go crazy. Unlike much of Poe’s work, however, Gilman’s story deals directly with larger societal issues during the Victorian era – specifically, the treatment of women. Even better? It’s based off of true events in Gilman’s life! Today, we’re going to do some pre-reading activities to give you a sense of how society viewed women during the 1800s, how mental illness was treated back then, and what happened in Gilman’s life to inspire her famous story.

“Angel in the House” The Victorian ideal of a woman was that of an angel in the house. The phrase “Angel in the House” comes from the title of a popular poem by Coventry Patmore, in which he holds up his angel- wife as a model for all women. With your groups, read Canto’s poem, annotating as needed. Once you finish, paraphrase the poem in your own words. Use the space to the right on your handout.

“Angel in the House” Once you finish, take a few minutes to respond to the analysis questions at the bottom of the page. In a moment, we’ll discuss. What does Canto’s poem tell you about how women and men were expected to behave during this time period? In comparing women to angels, do you think the poem was elevating or restricting women? Explain. When we read Yellow Wallpaper, keep these gender roles in mind!

Victorian husbands and wives Read the letter on your handout. It’s a real-life letter that a husband wrote to his wife after she left him. As we read, respond to the questions on to the right of the text: Describe the tone of Marcus’s letter to his wife. To What extent does he accept responsibility for their separation? What are your responses to the husband’s code of conduct for his wife? Which code is the most striking? Why?

Victorian husbands and wives 3. How do you imagine the wife to respond to this letter? Try to think with a nineteenth-century mind instead of our current twenty-first-century minds. 4. No information is available about this couple’s marriage after Ulrike, the wife, returned home. Speculate on what you think their relationship was like later in their marriage. As we read, keep the relationship between typical Victorian couples in mind. The narrator’s husband might seem overbearing or even abusive at times, but keep in mind that for back then, it was pretty normal for a husband to act that way toward his wife.

“Why I Wrote ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’” Next, we’re going to read (together!) an article by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in a magazine shortly after “Yellow Wallpaper” was published. In this article, Gilman describes what experiences in her life lead her to write her (partially auto-biographical!) story…

“Why I Wrote ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’” After we read the article, respond to the following questions on your handout… A personal experience with what kind of illness inspired Gilman to write “The Yellow Wallpaper?” Gilman, when describing her own experience of following her doctor’s advice, recalls, “I went home and obeyed those directions for some three months, and … came so near the borderline of utter mental ruin…” What specific directions had Gilman followed? Why do you think following the doctor’s advice affected her mental state so severely?  What parts of your life or “work” (your passion) would send you to “utter mental ruin” if you were asked to give them up?

Congressional Testimony In 1896, Gilman testified before the House of Representatives on behalf of the Women’s Suffrage movement. During her testimony, she said: “Every kind of creature is developed by the exercise of its functions. If denied the exercise of its functions, it can not develop in the fullest degree.” Decode/paraphrase this quote into everyday language (What’s her point?):  Do you agree? Why or why not?

Dr. Mitchell’s rest cure and myths about women Read through the passages on your handout from Dr. Mitchell’s essay about women’s bodies called “Fat and Blood.” As you read, annotate your thoughts, reactions, questions, or connections with other texts. Aim for at least four annotations.

Dr. Mitchell’s rest cure and myths about women Read through the beliefs the medical community had about women in the 19th century. Circle the one that is most surprising to you. Then, write one myth about men or women’s bodies or minds that some people believe today. Where do you think the myth came from?