Driscoll/Twombly   Grade 10          

MidYear Exam                  Essay portion

  This writing  assignment  should be completed prio r to the exam.

 Assigned on Tues. Jan. 18th, the students may prepare this using their books and resources .

The Legend of Arthur

The Passing of Arthur

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson p.796-808

College Prep         English 10

Writing About Literature               Supporting an Opinion

  In early Celtic Legend it was said that Arthur would someday return to lead his people in battle once again against their enemies. This idea of the leader who will return is echoed in lines 255-257 of Tennyson’s poem where Bedivere says:

  “He passes to be king among the dead, And after healing of his grievous wound

              he comes again…”

  These lines express a feeling of optimism about the future that has always been a part of the Arthur legend. But many readers have pointed out that a strong note of pessimism or doubt is also struck in Tennyson’s poem.

  Write a short response in which you give your overall impression of this story of the death of Arthur. Is it optimistic, or pessimistic and doubtful? Quote lines from the poem to support your opinion.

  Consider specifically what is implied in lines 214-215, 246, and 257.

Look for other lines you think may support optimism or doubt and pessimism.

FCA’s

1. No errors in capitalization and punctuation (correctly incorporate title and author’s name)
2. 7-10 sentence paragraph.
3. Use of Transitional words/phrases
4. Clearly stated opinion
5. Supported opinion ( 3 specifics details)
6. Correctly Formatted Collins

Notes:

Collins format requires blu/blk ink, skip lines, no backside writing,

       one left margin only, or type double space

Transitional words and phrases can be found in your School to Work book.

Details abound throughout the poem to support either optimism or pessimism.

You must find them and support one opinion or the other.

It is hopeful/optimistic?    (-“light” “new sun” “highest”)

Or it is doubtful and fretful?  (“-if he comes no more” “for all my mind is clouded with

 doubt”)

These lines and more can be used to support an opinion. (use your book to get the line #)

Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for optimism and pessimism so you don’t overuse/repeat words.

Read and reread the poem. That’s it, read and reread, go ahead it won’t kill you, it’s only literature.