Short Stories: THE LOTTERY by SHIRLEY JACKSON
Theme: the central topic, subject, or concept the author is trying to point out
(not to be confused with moral or message)
Irony:
a. Verbal Irony: what is said conveys a meaning exactly opposite from the literal meaning.
b. Situational Irony: actions have an effect exactly opposite from what is intended
Symbolism: when an object, action, or idea that represents something other than itself, often of a more abstract nature.
Questions:
1. What is the theme of the story? Choose from one of the following possibilities and find five sentences that prove your choice.
- the danger of blindly following tradition
- society sometimes wrongfully designates scapegoats to bear the sins of the community
- the wickedness of ordinary people can be just as horrifying as the wickedness of a serial killer or a dictator
- the unexamined life is not worth living
- following the crowd can have disastrous consequences
- people are superstitious by nature
- people are violent by nature
2. List three examples of irony from the story. Explain.
3. What do the following symbols in the story represent? Explain.
- the lottery
- the black box
- the pieces of paper
- the three-legged stool
- the stones
4. Give two examples of scapegoats in our society or harmful traditions people don’t question in our society.
5. Using three of the sentences you found as proof in Question 1, write a 10 -15 sentence paragraph on what you believe to be the theme of The Lottery. Your paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, thesis statement, beginning, middle, and end. It should clearly prove your point.
Marking Criteria:
Grammar/Usage /10
Clarity/Logic /10
Use of Quotes /5
Total marks for The Lottery : /40 * Question #1 /5 * Question #2 /3 * Question #3 /5 * Question #4 /2 * Paragraph /25
THE YELLOW WALLPAPER by CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN
Movie Online (all in one piece!) : http://www.veoh.com/watch/v272480azg3dxRs?h1=The+yellow+wall+paper+BBC+1989
Setting: the physical background of the story – where and when the story takes place.
Atmosphere: the mood or tone of the story. Usually established at the beginning of the story, atmosphere is shown in the behaviour of the characters, clothing, furniture, natural surroundings, light, darkness, shadows, weather.
Conflict:
- Man vs Man
- Man vs Self
- Man vs the Environment
- Man vs Society
Theme: the central topic, subject, or concept the author is trying to point out (not to be confused with moral or message.)
1. What is the setting of the story? Describe the house and why the narrator and her husband are living there. How does she feel about the house?
2. The narrator repeatedly says “What can one do?” What does this tell the reader about her personality, her relationship to her husband, and her place in society? What conflicting emotions does she have toward her husband, her condition, and herself?
3. How does the narrator view the wallpaper at the beginning of the story, the middle of the story, and the end of the story?
4. The Yellow Wallpaper has all four types of conflict. Find an example of each type of conflict in the story with a quote from the story to illustrate each example.
5. What is the theme of the story? Choose from one of the following possibilities and find five sentences that prove your choice
- the need for self-expression
- the subordination of women in marriage
- society’s subjugation of women in the 19th century
- creativity vs rationality
6. Using the five sentences you found as proof in Question 5, write a 10 -15 sentence paragraph on what you believe to be the theme of The Yellow Wallpaper. (Your five sentences should be quoted in the paragraph.)
Your paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, thesis statement, beginning, middle, and end. It should clearly prove your point.
Marking Criteria:
Grammar/Usage /10
Clarity/Logic /10
Total marks for The Yellow Wallpaper : /43 * Question #1 /5 * Question #2 /6 * Question #3 /3 * Question #4 /4 * Question #5 / 5 * Paragraph /20
HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER by ANNE TYLER
Protagonist: main character of the story
Antagonist: principal opponent of the protagonist, represents or creates obstacles that the protagonist must overcome
Foil: character who serves as a contrast to a more primary character, so as to point out specific traits of the primary character
1. List three character traits of the narrator. For each trait, find three sentences from the story that illustrate that trait.
2. List three character traits of Alfred, the narrator’s husband. For each trait, find three sentences from the story that illustrate that trait.
3. Victor, Joel, and Bee function as foils in the story.
a. Name three similarities of personality they share.
b. Are they more like the narrator or Alfred. Explain.
4. Write a 15 sentence paragraph on the following topic: The character with the most problems is ___________. Choose Alfred or the narrator and support your choice with three sentences from the story. Your paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, thesis statement, beginning, middle, and end. It should clearly prove your point.
Marking Criteria:
Grammar/Usage /10
Clarity/Logic /10
Use of Quotes /5
Total marks for Holding Things Together : /42 * Question #1 /6 * Question #2 /6 * Question #3 /5 * Paragraph /25
THE JADE PEONY by WAYSON CHOY
Symbol: something that stands for or represents something else. Characters, objects, events, conflicts, and settings can all be symbolic.
Theme: the central topic, subject, or concept the author is trying to point out (not to be confused with moral or message)
1. What is the theme of the story? Choose from one of the following possibilities and find five sentences that prove your choice.
- the depth of love between a child and grandparent
- clash of cultures in a new country
- inability to communicate deep feelings
- acceptance of death
- the transfer of beliefs from one generation to another
- the vulnerability of childhood
2. There are three symbols in the story: the jade peony, the wind chimes, and the cat. What does each symbol represent?
3. Give three character traits to describe the grandmother and find one sentence from the story to illustrate each trait.
4. Give three character traits to describe Sek-Lung and find one sentence from the story to illustrate each trait.
5. Using three of the sentences you found as proof in Question 1, write a 10 -15 sentence paragraph on what you believe to be the theme of The Jade Peony. Your paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, thesis statement, beginning, middle, and end. It should clearly prove your point.
Marking Criteria:
Grammar/Usage /10
Clarity/Logic /10
Total marks for The Jade Peony : /44 * Question #1 /6 * Question #2 /6 * Question #3 /6 * Question #4 /6 * Paragraph /20
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