Journeying Through 12 Years

The Nostalgia Box

Justification: Throughout AP Literature, you have had the chance to read, analyze, and synthesize a wide array of poetry, crossing genres and time periods. During first week of class you were asked to explain William Blake’s “A Poison Tree.” Most of you had no idea where to begin or how to unlock what seemingly read as a child’s play, but ended as an in-depth gaze into human nature [insert 7 deadly sin here]. I used Blake to spring-board into what this class is about and how much effort MUST be used for keen analysis. What I am asking you to accomplish, as this year fizzles away, is to dive into the poetry of the most eccentric Romantic poet, William Blake, connect with his poetry on a personal level, rekindle emotions and feelings of years past (grammar school—high school), display your own charisma and charm through creative prowess, and use the hand-made film Coraline to discover the importance of being an individual.

Step 1: Understand Intertextuality. The ONE STORY concept MUST be at the forefront of your thinking through this entire assignment.

Step 2: View the film, Coraline, based on the novel by Niel Gaiman. Take notes over ANY minute detail that will be classified as “intertextuality.” This time the definition will expand to include film. Yes, I know that this is a film based on a book, but I want you to be thinking about MANY things that can and will be applied to TEXT (William Blake’s poetry specifically)

Step 3: Go to aplitkillackey.blogspot.com Scroll to the bottom. Click on the poetry archive. Search for William Blake. Browse his poetry. You have more than enough to choose from. Select a poem that speaks to you on a nostalgic level. I want you to see yourself within his poetry through symbolic reference, connected on a personal, nostalgic level. Read it. Understand it. TPCASTT it if you need further clarification. All your analysis skills apply here. Annotate your copy.

Step 4: Go to coraline.com Go to the Other Mother’s Workshop. Create a photograph of you with BUTTONS for EYES. Print it (with a color printer preferably). Go to the Garden. Design a three-tiered flower that represents YOU. Keep in mind that you are selecting imagery that will SYMBOLIZE you and your growth through the last 12 years.

Step 5: Creating the box. When promoting this film, creators designed, developed, and created 50 boxes, each having its own separate theme connected with the film. Each box was sent to 50 top film bloggers. You are to create, design, and develop your own.

1. Go to http://superpunch.blogspot.com/2008/11/ten-coraline-boxes.html to look at the Coraline Boxes.
2. Gather materials that would best suit your box. Be resourceful. Think of a personal theme that agrees with the tone of your Blake Poem, Button Picture, Flower…YOU
3. DO IT YOURSELF: create your BOX.

Step 6: What goes in the box.
1. William Blake Poem—with annotations
2. Photograph of yourself with BUTTONS for EYES
3. Photograph of your personalized, three-tiered flower. On the back of your printed flower, write a sufficient explanation for each pedal selection. (use markers or crayons)
4. Objects and keepsakes representing YOU which further strengthen the tone of your selected theme. (notes to friends, concert tickets, toys, fortune cookie fortunes, drawings, miniature figurines)

Things to think about:

Keep asking why this multi-genre investigation (with William Blake’s poetry at the forefront) will help you define your individuality—charisma—charm. I am asking you to hold on to the joy that makes the childhood experience so inspiring and memorable. Coraline is tempted, therefore fallible. You are fallible. We are attracted to her character because of her innocence and experience. William Blake would have been as well. Intertextuality works with TONE. Think about it…

Get creative. Dive back through the years. Get nostalgic.