Here's something to think about (and an assignment as well), since you may not have electricity for the next two days. I'm turning Prufrock over to you (both AP III and IV). Here is a link to the poem by TS Eliot, the full title of which is "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." This is an ontological poem. Look this up and understand the concept clearly. The "what is the meaning of life question" is one of the most common in literature. Make sure you have a good working definition of ontological (ontology), and know it well. A working definition is one that, because it is known in your own words, makes sense and is usable.

Once you have read the poem and checked out the annotations provided, tackle this question in your journals: Do I dare disturb the universe? Obviously this is a line from the poem. What does it mean? How is it relevant (how does it relate to you or to me or to society today)? Modernist poetry (that's what we're studying, by the way), asks all the ontological questions, but more importantly, Modernists were the first ones to ask the question "Who am I?" They were the first ones to try to "Find Themselves." Modernists often felt lost and alone. When we, as frail humans, lose our confidence, we merely exist and do not dare disturb the universe.

To understand what were doing, just keep asking yourself questions. Why is a good one.) We'll review this in class if you remind me, but enough clues and input for now. Respond to the line in your journals. Do what you will with it based on what you've learned. I'm not asking for a formally written essay, just show me in your journals that you're thinking and seeking answers to the questions.

The goal here in the beginning of the year is to turn you all into thinkers. Great thinkers ask questions, and then more questions.

One more thing to help with the reading of the poem: The word stanza means a section of a poem, as we've known since 3rd grade. It's interesting to note that stanza also means a room. Each of the stanzas in the poem may also represent a room. Explore all the "rooms" first before you attempt to understand the poem in its entirety.

In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo...