In other words, it was a homework assignment.
When I first found out we were reading Romeo and Juliet for English class, I was pretty excited. (It also helped that it was homecoming season...) But for those of you who didn't know (then obviously you live under a rock) I'm what you might call somewhat of a hopeless romantic. I cry at the ends of chick flicks and lots of "girly" books, and when I was little I used to wait for my "prince" to come for me, whisk me off to his big huge castle and marry me.
For this assignment, we had to read 1 act every week or so, and take a bunch of quizzes. This is just my opinion, but being tested on great works of fiction really take the (for want of a better word and lack of a good thesaurus) "zing" out of it for me. I've been lucky enough to actually read some pretty good books in English classes (especially last year) but the book is completely ruined for me when I have to be tested on it. Analyzing the plot is one thing, but breaking it down into offensively small details and expecting kids to understand how Lord Capulet's tone of voice in act 3 scene 4 line 18 is foreshadowing the killing to come in act 5 scene 2 is, in my opinion, taking it a tad too far. When I read, the element of mystery is a big motivation for me to finish a book. It also didn't help that when she was assigning us a scene to read my teacher would say (and I quote):
"Tonight for homework you are going to read act 3 scene 1. That's the one where Tybalt kills Mercutio, which makes Romeo kill Tybalt and everything start to go wrong and spiral downward until the tragic end of the play in which the two lovers commit suicide in a graveyard. Don't forget to do the 30 question worksheet. Have a nice weekend."
On the other hand, there are a number of amazing books that I've only read because they were assigned to me in English. I mean, most teenagers won't go into the library and say "Hmmm. I need a book to read... hows about I go and find myself a copy of War and Peace for a bit of light reading?"
I just wish I could be in an English class where we get to read good books without all of the endless scrutiny of the character's every moves.
What do you think about books in english class? Have you read Romeo and Juliet or some other book, only to have had it ruined by your english teacher? Comment and let me know!
For this assignment, we had to read 1 act every week or so, and take a bunch of quizzes. This is just my opinion, but being tested on great works of fiction really take the (for want of a better word and lack of a good thesaurus) "zing" out of it for me. I've been lucky enough to actually read some pretty good books in English classes (especially last year) but the book is completely ruined for me when I have to be tested on it. Analyzing the plot is one thing, but breaking it down into offensively small details and expecting kids to understand how Lord Capulet's tone of voice in act 3 scene 4 line 18 is foreshadowing the killing to come in act 5 scene 2 is, in my opinion, taking it a tad too far. When I read, the element of mystery is a big motivation for me to finish a book. It also didn't help that when she was assigning us a scene to read my teacher would say (and I quote):
"Tonight for homework you are going to read act 3 scene 1. That's the one where Tybalt kills Mercutio, which makes Romeo kill Tybalt and everything start to go wrong and spiral downward until the tragic end of the play in which the two lovers commit suicide in a graveyard. Don't forget to do the 30 question worksheet. Have a nice weekend."
On the other hand, there are a number of amazing books that I've only read because they were assigned to me in English. I mean, most teenagers won't go into the library and say "Hmmm. I need a book to read... hows about I go and find myself a copy of War and Peace for a bit of light reading?"
I just wish I could be in an English class where we get to read good books without all of the endless scrutiny of the character's every moves.
What do you think about books in english class? Have you read Romeo and Juliet or some other book, only to have had it ruined by your english teacher? Comment and let me know!
We had to read Brave New World, but the ending wasn't ruined for us. I think maybe it was for you because Romeo and Juliet is a pretty well known story, and if the teacher hadn't given away the ending, someone else would. None of us had read BNW beforehand.
ReplyDeleteThough she could have been more subtle. Maybe only scrutinize AFTER you read the scene.
Oh, we haven't read that one yet!
ReplyDeleteBut for all the required English books I've had to read, the teacher hasn't given anything away. I agree with estar, maybe your teacher was doing it because it's a well-known story.
I really hate getting tested on the really small details in books, too! It's so annoying! :(