Student Illuminated Text Presentations for the Anglo-Saxons (& Beowulf, Grendel)
"Poetry is a sword of lightning, ever unsheathed, which consumes the scabbard that would contain it." Percy Shelley
Presenting Student Anglo-Saxon Illuminated Texts: The students have been working on these for quite a while (on their own time) - and now that we've finished the Anglo-Saxon period and are about to start with the Middle Ages - it's time watch what they've done. Please see the original page for this assignment or the page on Illuminated Texts for more information.
Lesson Overview
It is time to watch the student created Illuminated Texts that they've been creating over the past month or so. The grading rubric below is handy for calculating the students' grades. I usually give a total of 600-800 points for this project (it is a lot of work). For comparison, a reading quiz is 100 points and an exam is 450 points. Sometimes the students in a partnership will volunteer that one student did a lot more work than the other - and I will award more points accordingly.
It usually takes two days to show all of the student Illuminated Texts. If there is any time remaining on the second day - I will show the best projects from the other class periods.
You will want to make sure the students are paying attention while they watch the other students' Illuminated Text - this is usually not an issue, as of course they want their classmates to watch when they present as well.
Handouts
Most Recent Handouts
My Heart Longs for the Journey - The Illuminated Text Project Handout Docx PDF This two-page handout goes into great detail about how to pick the work; how to find out information on creating Illuminated Texts; even how to choose a partner wisely (it takes a lot of work on both students' part).
I've also included some older, helpful handouts: What Makes a Great Illuminated Text Docx PDF
More Handouts can be found on the Illuminated Text page
Some Very Notable Examples (these all got an A+ & I am working on crediting all)
ArgentoJ_BucknerJ_WifesLament.mp4"The Wife's Lament" by J Argento and J Buckner
The musical choice can play a big part in Illuminated Texts - and this one hits it right on the nail. The movement - the sizing - everything that these two students do explicates the poem that we had studied weeks before.
Gasca_M_Rivera_A_ThePhoenix.mp4"The Phoenix" by Andrew Rivera & Marco Gasca
A great job showing that an Illuminated Text is all about the ideas - not the technology. The same font - it's just what they do with it that makes this Anglo-Saxon poem come alive.
HuertaA_JonesK_VikingTerror.mp4"The Viking Terror" by Amanda H. & Kayla J.
Right off the bat I love this Illuminated Text; they actually give credit to the translator (Hurray). The font (Viking) the music - everything about this is done well. It evokes the poem in so many way - the fear - the peace at knowing they are safe. Everything.
Leslie Grove, 1st Scotese English III - Illuminated Texts Project.mp4"Mindless Accident" an Illuminated Text on Grendel (and Beowulf) by Leslie Grove
Wow! So few students chose to do their Illuminated Text on Beowulf or Grendel. One big reason is that, unlike doing a poem, you first had to decide what part of the novel / story you were going to focus on. Leslie does a masterful job in how she edits the Beowulf story seemlessly into that of the modern Grendel. She takes advantage of Taxgsedoes (images made of text) to give her wonderful Illuminated Text another dimension.
Milanov_M_Pigott_L_Deor 3.mp4"Deor" by Michelle Milanov and L. Pigott
Again - simple font - no images but wow! What these two students did with movement, color, and music to make the opening poem (of the year) come alive is nothing short of amazing.
As I told the students - in class and on the handout - you want to make the poem come alive - to give viewers a new understanding. It is as though the Illuminated Text is its own work of Art. And this certainly is.
ToK_ZhangK_PangurBan.mp4"Pangur Ban " by K Zhang and K To
A wonderful Illuminated Text of one of my favorite poems in the entire world - of course it is - it's a cat! The simple music is matched with tagxedos and words and background colors (very important in this example) that make the story of a monk and his cat come alive for the viewer. Very well done!
Remote Enhancements
These are a natural (for the medium) activity to watch together remotely. It helps if you have the Watching Illuminated Texts handout available for students. By having the Handouts available for students - and then showing and watching together (very easy to do in Zoom or Google Meet) - first some general examples (like "Cat in the Rain") and the ones above. While showing them - I kept the chat open so we could talk about things to look for - students also dm'd each other to find a partner to work with.
Links
Class Recordings (for registered members)
Audio
Video
The Middle Ages - A New Unit. It is time to say goodbye to the Anglo-Saxons and hello to the Middle Ages. Most of the new unit is centered around Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales - but there are some other readings (and Ghost Stories) as well.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Watching these examples that are found above - I was profoundly moved. What incredible pieces of art! The longer I taught the more "expectations" became a dirty word. The only place I saw expectations encouraged were in extra-curriculars and sports. I have high expectations in the classroom was seen, more and more, as a bad thing that raised students stress level. I saw it as quite the opposite.