This brief slide show begins with the moving, translated words of Beowulf where he states that he would not race ahead of his friend Brecca, because he had promised him he would stay by his side.  The presentation next recounts some of the heroes of 9/11while subtly (I hope) comparing it ideas of heroism from Beowulf.  It ends with the fiery funeral of Beowulf and the casket of the last 9/11 firefighter being carried away on his fire truck.  This is used with a group work on the same subject.

A presentation that I created to use in introducing students to the Illluminated Text concept during their studies of Renaissance Poetry.  Though the poem is modern (and American), it is taught in conjunction with a poem by Sidney. After viewing the presentation, I ask that  you either comment on the presentation (below) or leave a message on the Guest Book (above).

A lesson as tied to the idea of the "text centered classroom" as anything else you will find at this website. It also owes most of its ideas to Stephen Booth. This group work (designed for 4-5 students) tries to show students in three parts (one done in front of the other) -- exactly why it is not a good idea to paraphrase Shakespeare --

The Illuminated Text that convinced me of the power and potential of the medium.  This project explicates the short story "Cat in the Rain" from In Our Time.  It was created by Jenny Lee at Whitney Young Magnet High School.  One year and a half after this site opened, someone asked me how  got the idea for Illuminated Texts -- the answer for that one is easy: I saw Jenny Lee's "Cat in the Rain."

This work which may be done in partners or alone begins by assigning students certain of William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell."  While all students will receive his more well known (and perhaps important) proverbs, the rest of the proverbs are divided among the students. 

This Illuminated Text was created as the end product of a research project where students worked with partners and investigated one particular sonnet.  The result here, for Sonnet 47, is outstanding.  The students focus on Shakespeare's medical te

This animation of Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet is done with skill, wit, and creativity by Kerry Ferrantella and his classmates.  Kerry used the free program Windows Movie Maker to animate the still drawings that he had created and then they created the voice overs.  The overall effect is astonishing and original.  Mr. Ferrantella's teacher is Ian McCarthy, also of Whitney Young High School -- and I am greatful to him and Kerry for allowing us to share this on the website.  I can't wait to use the project with my own students.  Be patient when you click on the link below -- it is a large file and may take a minute to load.

Students, Eric Jang and Yucong Feng created this outstanding Adobe Flash-based Illuminated Text of Shakespeare's Sonnet 52.  For the discordant music to the choices of animation and movement -- they get everything right.  As has been said earlier, the Illuminat

When I teach the Romantics, I use this wonderful, underrated movie as a bridge between the Enlightenment (Age of Reason) and the Romantic Era.  When you see the movie, it almost feels at though that was the director's intention: the Romantic and imaginative Baron versus the forces of reason and reality that battle

While this group work does engage the students in a close analytical reading of Gray's poem, it also asks them to consider some other issues "about" the very nature of the poem.  The students are asked to look at the possibility that there is a patronizing attitude or tone in the poem

  Though this work is Italian, I usually teach it directly after we study The Canterbury Tales, as Chaucer was influenced so heavily by The Decameron.  This is a cooperative exercise designed to be completed by 3-4 students in one class period. 

A peaceful and contemplative examination of Shakespeare's Sonnet 27: "Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed."

Group Work.  This group work have 3-4 students consider (by closely examining the text) Chapters 4 & 6 of Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. In this exercise the students will discuss just how "serious" Milkman is, Guitar is, and how their actions belie their image of themselves. 

Illuminated text.   This illuminated text on Hemingway's "Indian Camp" uses to text, to among other things, point out the journey from dark to light and back to light again.  The words, in the presentation, move from darkness to light, echoing Nick's journey to the world that awaits him at the Indian Camp. It is moving