Bancroft School
Summer Reading 2016
English IV (seniors)
Ms. Merritt & Ms. Sheridan
BACKGROUND
“’If the law is of such a nature that it requires you to be an agent of injustice to another, then I say, break
the law.’ So wrote the young Henry David Thoreau in 1849. Three years earlier, Thoreau had put his
belief into action and refused to pay taxes because of the United States government's involvement in the
Mexican War, which Thoreau firmly believed was unjust. For his daring and unprecedented act of
protest, he was thrown in jail. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is a celebrated dramatic presentation of
this famous act of civil disobedience and its consequences. Its poignant, lively, and accessible scenes
offer a compelling exploration of Thoreau's philosophy and life” (from Amazon.com).
ASSIGNMENT
Choose and complete ONE project from the list below. You will be graded on evidence of reading
comprehension, polished presentation of work, depth of thinking, and creativity/originality/integrity.
Option I: Playbill or Poster. Create a playbill or poster/advertisement for a production of this play.
What image(s) will you include? Although the play was first published in 1971, you can imagine a
performance that would take place in any year since Thoreau’s real-life night in jail (July 1846, i.e.,
170 years ago this summer). What year will you choose? Where will this production take place?
What relevance would the theme of civil disobedience have to this time and place? Your design
should somehow reflect your answers to these critical questions.
Option II: Protest Dialogue. Consider the beliefs and opinions espoused by Thoreau in this play,
especially while talking to Ralph Waldo Emerson. What is he protesting? How would you summarize
his life philosophy? Next, imagine a brand new dialogue between two characters (of your invention)
who are trying to understand one another. Write a 2-3 page dialogue between your two characters.
What does each one believe? What are they (one or both characters) protesting? How do they agree
and/or disagree? How will the dialogue begin and end? Are YOU one of the characters? Your
dialogue should be typed in double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt font.
Option III: Off the Grid. Spend some time researching more about Thoreau’s biography, particularly
his time at Walden Pond. Why did he (temporarily) reject modern life in town?
Next, pick one day (or more!) this summer when you will try your best to avoid modern
technology of any kind. This means anything and everything that operates by electricity, battery,
gasoline, propane, etc. At the very least, this means no iPhone, iPad, computer, TV, or video games.
(Turn your phone off completely – and warn your friends not to bother texting!) Pick a day when you
won’t need to drive anywhere. Ideally, you should also avoid the microwave, stove, fridge, and even
the lights in your house. This would require planning your meals in advance (simple things only) and
perhaps lighting candles at night (or just going to bed early).
Writing by hand, keep a running log of your day(s), explaining what you’re doing, thinking, and
feeling at various times. Have you failed at your task at any point during the day? What have you
learned about your home, your life, and yourself? Your final product should include at least 5 indepth journal entries throughout the day.