“Ordeal by Cheque” by Wuther Crue
A.P. – Ambiguous Pursuits
Close Reading Ritual
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First, read through a lens - gathering details.
Second, use the lens to find patterns.
Finally, use the pattern to develop a new understanding of the text.
STEP 1
Purpose: to read closely, annotating for the “what” of the text, and to note text evidence details
Tasks:
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On your own, read the checks in their numbered order. Don’t worry if you are confused.
If you encounter problematic vocabulary, mark these, then take a moment to look up, define, & note
definitions in the margin.
Now read the checks a second time, more closely, paying attention to text evidence details. See next.
Reading Closely for Text Evidence
Note specific details to gather as data:
 Characters: recipients (where/to whom the checks are going), and
signatures
 Setting: place names
 Setting: dates, time, time period
 Dollar amounts
 Writing style
Outcome/Reflection: Did you find this “story” difficult to read/understand? If so, what made it hard? If not, why
not?
1. Read through a textual
evidence lens
STEP 2
Purpose: to read closely, annotating for the “What” the “How” of the text, and to determine patterns; these checks
form a story, and it is your job to explain the “what, how, and why/so what” of this story using evidence from the
text.
Tasks:
1. Re-read the details you have noted
2. Use symbols, color codes, charts, shapes, a map key etc. to group details by patterns you see
2. Use the text evidence details
you have identified to find
patterns
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What details fit together?
How do they fit together?
You may want to consider common character and plot questions. See below.
1. Characters & Characterization: Who are the characters? Protagonist?
Antagonist? What are the characters’ relationships? How do you
learn about each? What do you learn about each? How would you
characterize each?
2. Setting: What is the time period and/or span? What is/are the
place(s)?
3. Conflict: What is/are the conflict(s)? How do you know?
4. Climax: What is the climax of the story? How do you know? Why is
this the climax?
5. Resolution: What is the resolution? How do you know?
6. Title: What is the title? What does it mean? (What is an “ordeal”?
What’s a “cheque”?)
Outcome/Reflection: What do you think this story is about? What is the plot?
STEP 3
Purpose: to read closely, annotating for the “What,” the “How,” and the “Why? So What?” of the text in order to
create a new, overall understanding; these checks form a story, and it is your job to explain the “what, how, and
why/so what” of this story using evidence from the text.
Tasks: to use the patterns you see to create a new understating of the text.
3. Use the pattern to develop a
new understanding of the text
Look at patterns and think about:
 Characters/people
 Feelings/emotions, motivations
 Traits
 Relationships
Whole Text:
 Themes
 Key Concepts
Helpful phrases for Reflecting on Text Evidence and Meaning (Step #3)
The reason why the character _____ is because _____.
It seems like this character tends to _____.
My thinking about this characters has changed because _____.
These characters are really different because _____.
One issue I’m noticing in this book I _____.
I think the author is trying to show _____.
I think this because the author included _____.
You may want to consider the questions below.
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Consider what you know outside the text. Allow your
knowledge of history, politics, economics, math, and literature
to guide your inferences and conjectures. What has the author
included to help you create meaning? How does your
knowledge in any of these areas help you create meaning?
Overall Meaning: Why? So what?
 Why might the author write this story this way? Why did he/she
use this style, technique, devise? What is the purpose of _____?
So, what is the effect of ______? What is the overall purpose
and effect?
 So, what is the point of this piece? What is the meaning of the
work as a whole? So, what is revealed about us as human
beings? About us as a society, culture, nation, etc.? What does
this reveal about the world in which we live, have lived, or
might live?
Outcome: What is the story about? Concisely summarize the plot in 2-3 sentences. Make sure to identify the author,
title, and genre and then the dramatic situation.
Extension Activity:
Create Twitter handles for all the characters and compose several tweets (communicating in 140 characters or less) that
retell the story in this contemporary format.
Sample Prose Fiction Analysis Essay Question
The following is a complete short story entitled “Ordeal by Cheque” by Wuther Crue, originally published in Vanity Fair
in 1932. In this story, a series of checks is written by the Exeter family to a variety of people. Read the story carefully.
Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Crue uses literary elements and techniques to develop the complexity of this
family’s situation.