Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

 English 12:

Remember you are to read the book you have chosen for twenty minutes per day and write about that book in your reading log.  Reading log topic for September 23 (A1) and 24 (A2):  Draw an illustration of a scene from your book.  Under your illustration, write a line that reflects what is going on.

We are reading The Wars as a class.  I will assign activities and reading for this class novel as homework, in addition to your reading and your reading logs.  You should read to page 44 today.  Some of the language and content might shock you -- think of why the author uses the language and includes the content.

I have given you two samples of writing about soldiers and war.  One is the great poem by Wilfred Owen called "Dulce et decorum est", written in World War I.  The other is a contemporary article about Donald Trump's comments about American soldiers.

Wilfred Owen was a British soldier in World War I.  He was wounded in battle and was sent home to England, but returned to battle in July of 1918 and was killed in action on November 4, 1918.

Donald Trump was 22 years old in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War.  He received a deferment to the draft four times because he was at college and then, when he graduated and was able to serve, he received his fifth deferment for bone spurs (a build-up of calcium on his heel), which he said healed on its own over time.

Read both the poem and the article and answer the questions below.  (Warning:  some of the language in the article is very crude.)

VOCABULARY:  “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”, performative, corrosive, cynicism, lambaste, pathological

In   1.  In one sentence, tell what each sample is about.

2.     2.   How does each example describe soldiers?

3.     3.  What is Wilfred Owen’s view of war?  What is Donald Trump’s view? Do you agree with either?  What does each person know about war?  In The Wars, Robert Ross “doubts the validity of all this martialing of men” at the beginning of the war --- with whom would he agree?  Explain.

4.     4.  Does either example shock or surprise you?  Explain.

5.     5.  What is “performative patriotism”?  How does this phrase fit either Donald Trump or Wilfred Owen?

6.     6.  As we approach Remembrance Day, what are your thoughts on the views expressed in these two samples?

7.  .  Can patriotism help people?  Can it be dangerous?

(I do not know why the font on the numbers became small and then large again!)  We will discuss your answer next day in class!

Remember to work on your book report.  A1 will start presenting the book reports tomorrow.  A2 will begin on Monday. 

Homework for the weekend 

The Wars:  Friday is a professional day so take the time to read to page 108!  As you read, remember to use the stickies to comment on your readings, to note interesting passages, to respond to surprising events, or to remind yourself of important elements of the story.  I expect at least 20 stickies in your book when you return it.

R