1. Welcome! December 12th, 2017 Tuesday
Do Now
Get out your weekly Bell Ringer sheet and begin working on Tuesday’s assignment. Once the bell rings, you will have five minutes to guess the meaning of the word. Make sure you explain your thinking!
Remember: Do Now's are INDEPENDENT and QUIET exercises. Thank you 

2. Read the following sentence and guess the meaning of the word beseech based on the context.
When John reaches the driving age, he will beseech his parents to buy him a car.
If you beseech someone, you ask them urgently and sincerely to do something; implore; entreat.
© Presto Plans

3. Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men
For the next two class periods, we’re going to view a film rendition of Realist/Naturalist author John Steinbeck’s famous novel, Of Mice and Men.
Of Mice and Men follows the story of two men in America during the Great Depression. George and Lennie are farmhands who travel around California to find work.
Here’s the thing: Scholars, academics, English majors, and frustrated high schoolers everywhere have been arguing about Steinbeck’s novel for decades, because no one can figure out whether it’s more of a Realist piece or a Naturalist piece!
So, after a quick review on the similarities and differences between Realism and Naturalism, you’re going to watch the film and decide which movement you think fits best.

4. Realism and Naturalism: Differences
More positive outlook on the characters (they may make bad decisions, but they’re ultimately good people)
Aimed for social change – focus on the unheard voices because they wanted to change how society viewed them
For good or bad, characters are able to control their own destinies. Their good and bad qualities allow them to influence their own lives and those around them
Naturalism
Neutral view of characters – human behavior is guided by instinct and biology. There is no “good” or “bad”
Had no hope for social change. Focused on unheard voices to honor those “unfit” for society, but believed there was no changing their fates. Survival of the fittest is an unchangeable fact.
Characters are controlled by nature, biology/heredity, and social class – forces outside of their control. These forces almost always lead to a tragic, inescapable fate.

5. Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men
As we watch, keep an eye out for:
Character’s fates – did they control their destinies, or were they determined by outside forces?
Character’s motives – Are all actions motivated by instinct/a will to survive, or do they act against their own interests at any point?
Author/Director’s Intentions – does the author want to change how we view “unheard” people (the disabled or the impoverished)? Or does the author imply there’s nothing we can do for these people (that they’re doomed to their fates)?