Student Name: __________TEACHER EXAMPLE________________________________________Hour: ________ Date:
Chains Epigraph Assignment
Each chapter in Chains is introduced with an epigraph. An epigraph is an introductory quotation. For
this activity, you will choose an epigraph from the novel, and explain its significance to not only the
chapter it precedes, but the overall theme of Chains.
1. First, choose an epigraph from the suggested list. Write the epigraph here, and cite it:
Chapter 15: “As for young children liable to be attacked with this distemper, you must begin with
giving them wholesome food…apply to their heads a small plaister of treacle, which must be renewed
every eight days. Let them always have some pleasant and agreeable smells, let their common drink
be aromatized and sweetened with a little cinnamon, anise, coriander, and sugar” (Anderson 93).
-Noel Chomel and Richard Bradley, Family Dictionary. Containing the most experience methods of
improving estates and of preserving health…
2. Now, you need to figure out the theme for the epigraph. What does the author of the epigraph want
you to think about his/her topic?
The topic of the epigraph from Chapter 15 is the health and wellness of children. The author has the
opinion that pleasant smells can improve a child’s “distemper” greatly.
3. How does your epigraph relate to the chapter it precedes? How is the epigraph relevant to the
chapter? Your answer should be a paragraph, and look somewhat like this: The
epigraph on
page _____ is relevant to chapter ____ because…
The epigraph on page 93 is relevant to chapter 15 because in this chapter Ruth is having a fit.
Madam thinks it is the devil in her.
4. Now, example on your answer by developing that with an example. You could start with:
For
example,…_________________
Isabel intervenes by trying to convince Madam that Ruth is ill when she says “No, Madam, it’s an
illness!... And ailment, nothing more” (Anderson 93). Madam still thinks Ruth is cursed so she
demands Ruth be sold. Isabel bursts out that Madam cannot sell Ruth because “she’s too little.
She’ll be hurt” (Anderson 95).
5. Figure out the theme of Chains. What is Chains about? Write down three to five topics:
1.
4.
2.
3.
5.
5. Now, choose a topic from your list to answer this question: What does Laurie Halse Anderson
want the audience to think about the topic? You could start your answer with:
The author
wants us to think…_________________________________________
The author wants us to think about a child, like Ruth, who is ill. Anderson, the author, wants us to
make the connection between the young innocence of a child and the need for attention and care
when that child is ill. Ruth cannot help her fits. Isabel knows that and must protect Ruth at all costs.
6. Build on that topic of theme by showing how the epigraph you are researching relates. To begin,
finish out this sentence: The
author introduces the theme of ______________ in the
epigraph, and extends the theme throughout the chapter through …
The author introduces the theme of health and wellness in the epigraph, and extends the tone
throughout the chapter by showing how Ruth will stay healthy and well as long as Isabel can protect
her.
7. Now, you will research the author of the epigraph you have chosen. Go to Google, and type in the
name of the person who wrote the epigraph. Find a credible source from the list, and read about the
person. After you have read, write a one-paragraph biography of that author in your own words.
Remember to cite your source.
The authors of this epigraph are Noel Chomel and Richard Bradley. They wrote Dictionaire
Oeconomique, or The Family Dictionary, which was published in 1725. The dictionary provides
information about food, drink, hunting, trapping, cooking, agriculture, gardening, perservation,
veterinary matters and how to make soaps and perfumes. The authors wrote this dictionary to
provide helpful information to benefit the way of life for the people of the late 1700s. The authors’
work relates to Chains because the epigraph used from this dictionary foreshadows Ruth’s fits which
lead to her being sold by Madam. This chapter begins Isabel’s greatest internal and external
conflicts. This chapter motivates and changes Isabel throughout the rest of the novel.
8.You are now going to create a visual to accompany your assignment. It can be a letter, newspaper,
drawing, flyer, poster, journal entry, or any other genre that represents the theme, tone or topic of
your epigraph assignment.
Epigraph Analysis Put Together: The epigraph on page 93 is relevant to chapter 15 because in this
chapter Ruth is having a fit. Madam thinks it is the devil in her. Isabel intervenes by trying to
convince Madam that Ruth is ill when she says “No, Madam, it’s an illness!... And ailment, nothing
more” (Anderson 93). Madam still thinks Ruth is cursed so she demands Ruth be sold. Isabel bursts
out that Madam cannot sell Ruth because “she’s too little. She’ll be hurt” (Anderson 95). The author
introduces the theme of health and wellness in the epigraph, and extends the tone throughout the
chapter by showing how Ruth will stay healthy and well as long as Isabel can protect her. The author
wants us to think about a child, like Ruth, who is ill. Anderson, the author, wants us to make the
connection between the young innocence of a child and the need for attention and care when that
child is ill. Ruth cannot help her fits. Isabel knows that and must protect Ruth at all costs.
Works Cited
1.
2.
Anderson, Laurie H. Chains. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008. Print.
"Chomel (Noël) Dictionaire Oeconomique: or The Fami." Bid in Online Auctions - Live
Auctioneers. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9773158>.
Chapter 15:
“As for young children liable to be attacked with this
distemper, you must begin with giving them wholesome
food…apply to their heads a small plaister of treacle, which
must be renewed every eight days. Let them always have
some pleasant and agreeable smells, let their common drink
be aromatized and sweetened with a little cinnamon, anise,
coriander, and sugar” (Anderson 93).
-Noel Chomel and Richard Bradley, Family Dictionary. Containing the most
experience methods of improving estates and of preserving health…