Nina completed an in-class assessment over a variety of topics as a mid semester review.

We completed our analysis of Poe's "The Raven" by examining the speaker's change in tone and increasing anxiety level as he confronts the raven who steadfastly remains perched upon the bust of Pallas. Noting the symbolism of both Pallas and the Raven, we explored the speaker's internal conflict between rationality and irrational terror in which ultimately the irrational gloomily prevails. Nina discussed the use of alliteration, internal rhyme ,and assonance and noted how these sound devices enhance meaning and imagery. We next began an analysis of Browning's. "My Last Duchess". I discussed the nostalgia that defined in the Victorian Era, here evidenced by the poem's setting in the 16th Century. We identified the speaker as well as the form of poem, a dramatic poem ,or monologue. Structurally, I noted how the enjambment hides the consistent use of rhyming couplets . We then began parsing the passages that reveal the ostentatious personality of the speaker , a. Duke, who places a high value on his title, prestige , and wealth.

Concluding our unit on Trusts and Estates, today I addressed the purpose of a spendthrift clause and the Florida statute prohibiting the enforcement of an oral will even in the face of reliance. We reviewed that trust assets are not exempt from the settlor's creditors but by the inclusion of a spendthrift clause, a trust can shield assets from a beneficiary's creditors. We studied some typical language used in drafting a spendthrift clause. Next, I posed the hypothetical where a person provides significant personal or other services in reliance on an oral promise to be compensated in the trust or will. We discussed the policy issues involved in either enforcing or not enforcing such an oral promise when the promise is not honored noting that in Florida such a promise is not enforceable.

Absent

During today's Spanish class, we continued practicing conversational Spanish by practicing listening and comprehension. We played several videos from a wide variety of topics and talked about them.

After placing some context on the poetry reading due Monday(mostly Victorian ),Nina took an essay test on Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner."

In order to apply the studied legal principles, I distributed a "sample" or model will . We discussed and studied the effect and enforceability of provisions that purport to :establish testamentary capacity and lack of duress, disinherit a spouse, and disinherit a beneficiary who contests a will . Next we noted the use of clause waiving a fiduciary bond as well as the sample will's lack of a residuary clause. In response to Nina's question, I discussed why a residuary clause is important even when the testator in his will purports to devise all of his personal and real property. We next studied provisions that address what happens when a beneficiary predeceases the testator. I explained the terms "Per Capita " and "per Stirpes" and how these terms address a predeceased beneficiary. Last, we reviewed the provisions that empower the personal representative to manage and dispose of property while the estate is being probated and discussed under what circumstances a personal representative might be managing property for a prolonged period.

Before studying the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe ,I provided some biographical information about Poe's marriage to his 13 year old cousin who died of TB since this event was the source of the poem,"Annabel Lee." As Poe was 27 years her senior ,as always, this fact prompts a lot of questions , discussion, and some disgust especially the poem's line "I was a child and she was a child" since clearly Poe was hardly a child! We then focused on the well known iconic poem"The Raven." As Nina indicated she encountered some comprehension difficulty , I provided an analytical framework. First, I explained the biblical and mythological allusions . Further, I elaborated on the elements of much of Poe's writing, specifically the duality of the human psyche i.e. the rational and irrational often depicted as as type of horror or darkness. We then discussed the raven as a symbol of death ,evil ,or darkness and aligned that symbol with at the irrational aspect of Man's psyche. By contrast, the bust of Pallas or Athena,the goddess of wisdom , upon which the raven alights represents the rational side of the psyche. With this framework ,we will ,next session, be able to explore the duality of the psyche in the context of the raven and the bust of Pallas and appreciate the meaning of the poem as well as the rhythmic and mellifluous diction.

After providing instruction on the distinction between a living revocable trust and a testamentary trust, we addressed the fiduciary duties of a trustee, and trustee fees. Regarding the fiduciary duty,I explained the trustee's responsibilities and duty to provide beneficiaries an accounting .We discussed how beneficiaries can object to the accounting and file suit to recoup misappropriated funds or to recover for severe mismanagement . We then reviewed some of the homework hypotheticals and explored when and why compromising a claim can nevertheless be in the best interests of the beneficiaries and therefore not a breach of the trustee's or the executor's fiduciary duty.

We examined poverished nations around the world and organzations trying to help bring financial help and stability.