I AM THE MESSENGER
By
Markus Zusak
angieville.blogspot.com
“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in how they look. Not in
how they act. But in who they are.”
– I Am the Messenger
Major Characters
Ritchie
Marv
Audrey
Ed
Kennedy
Doorman
Ed’s
Father
Bank
Robber
Bev (Ma)
Kennedy
Tommy
Kennedy
In your notebooks:
(55 points)
1. Identify each character
2. Explain each person’s relationship to Ed.
3. Give three facts about each character (four for Ed).
4. Copy one quotation for each person that best shows that character’s personality.
protect the diamonds
The Cards
survive the clubs
Say a prayer at the
stones of home.
45 Edgar Street,Midnight
13 Harrison Street, 6 p.m.
6 Macedoni Street, 5;30a.m.
Graham Greene
Morris West
Sylvia Plath
The Suitcase
Cat Ballou
Roman Holiday
26 Shipping Street
dig deep through the spades
For each card explain:
1. How Ed figured out what he was to do.
2. The conflict each person faced.
3. The conflicts Ed faced in dealing with the
people and how he overcame them.
4. How Ed resolved the conflicts for the people.
(50 points)
feel the hearts
Plot Diagram
Climax
(Turning Point)
Falling Action (Resolution)
(The conflict unravels)
Rising Action
(Complications)
Exposition
(Protagonist; antagonist;
basic conflict; setting;
inciting moment)
1.
2.
Copy this diagram into your notebooks.
Outline the novel by filling in the
important plot points.
Denouement
(Conclusion)
25 points
Points to Ponder
for
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Class Discussions
For each character on Slide 2, choose his/her main motivation from the following emotions: love, curiosity,
self-preservation, self-satisfaction, greed, self-discovery, duty, revenge, other. Explain your choices with
examples from book.
Choose a character in the book and analyze how he/she handled a situation. Then, explain how you would
like to have seen the situation resolved. How would the character have to change to handle the situation in
this way?
Describe the setting/locale and explain how it fits the characters and plot.
What is the central conflict/problem the protagonist is facing? Is it psychological, physical or both?
You will be assigned one of the characters. Describe 3 ways the character’s personality is revealed (actions,
words, others’ words, etc).
As a class, decide on the theme of the novel; write it on the board; list other books, movies, songs with
same theme.
What is a symbol? What symbols can you find in room, school? Name other common symbols in the real
world. Discuss symbols you remember from past books read. List and analyze the symbols in this book.
Choose a specific belief a character holds throughout the novel and discuss whether you agree or disagree
with this belief; support your thoughts with examples from the book.
Let’s chat about Ed:
– Discuss whether he was a believable character or not.
– What did his father hope to accomplish by having Ed endure these experiences? Explain whether his
method was madness or genius.
– What changes do you expect Ed to make?
– Should Ed have ended up with Audrey or was this a cop-out ending on the part of the author? Explain.
– Pretend ten years have passed. What’s going on with Ed?
THEME
Theme: From the following themes, choose the one you think that the
author intended for his main message. Follow the Ten Sentence Format
to develop your answer (1 hook, 1 introductory/overview sentence, 1
thesis statement, 3 main ideas, each with a supporting detail, and 1
concluding statement). (50 points)
Themes:
Choices in Life
The Individual and Society
Life and Loss
Loss of Innocence
Nature of Evil
The Power of Pain and Love
Satire and the Absurd
The Search for Meaning
Transformations
The Uses and Abuses of Power
War and Peace
What is a Hero
Think: What universal point is the author making about life?
Individual Novel Project: Expository Writing (50 points for each activity; 250 points total)
For an A, complete five activities from the following list; a B= four activities; a C= three activities ; a D= two activities; an F
is anything less than a D. ANY WRITTEN WORK MUST BE TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACE
Activities List:
All writing must follow the Write Right paragraph and/or essay format (just a separate paragraph expansion of the Ten
Sentence Format). Proofread these carefully for grammar, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation.
1. Show how the theme of the story ties to the plots of two of the other novels that group members read. State the theme, and then give
at least two examples from each novel which illustrate the theme. (200 words)
2. Describe the setting then explain, with at least two reasons, why that setting is significant to the outcome of the story. (200 words)
3. Describe the end of the story and explain whether it is believable or not. (200 words)
4. List at least two symbols and explain what each one represents and why it is important. (200 words)
5. Explain the main conflict that arises in the story. Who is it between? How is it developed? (200 words)
6. List at least two examples of foreshadowing and explain what events they foretell. (200 words)
7. Write a summary of the story (200 words or less). Be sure to include all of the important events, the climax and the denouement.
8. Write a different ending for the story. (300 words)
9. Write a short story that could be a sequel. (500 words)* This counts as 3 activities.
10. Pretend you are dining at a Chinese restaurant with the protagonist and the antagonist of the book that you read. Tell what fortune
each of you receives and why it is fitting for each person. (200 words)
11. Write two consecutive diary entries for the main character. Write about the character’s emotions and reactions to what is
happening in his/her life. (200 words)
12. Lift the main character and drop him/her into the hallways of HHS. Is the character an administrator, a student, a custodian, a
cafeteria worker, etc. Don’t change the personality of the character; just show what would happen if he/she became one of us.
(200 words)
13. Find four paintings from classic to contemporary artists that connect with the characters, plot or theme of the novel. Copy/paste the
picture to a document, and below it write a 50-75 word explanation for each one that details the connection. BE SURE to include
the title of the work and the artist. (200-300 words)
14. Find a poem that reveals the same theme as the novel. Analyze how the poem shows this. Copy/paste the poem on a separate page
and include it with your explanation. (200 words)
15. Find a news story (local, national or international) that fits the characters, plot and or theme of the book. Compose an essay that
shows at least three connections. (200 words)
16. Create a CD soundtrack for the book. Include a decorated cover that fits the theme and gives the novel title and author. Include all
of the lyrics in the accompanying booklet. You should have 12-16 songs.
Individual Novel Project:
Artistic Interpretation
Directions: Choose any medium (crayons, colored pencils,
markers, paint) to complete ONE of the following projects:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Illustrate the protagonist, antagonist and setting of the story in a
mural, diorama or mobile.
Portray Ed and six other characters using puppets, costume
drawings or portraits.
Design and wear a T-shirt that represents the novel.
Make a board game (such as Trivial Pursuit or an adventure
game) depicting the characters, conflict and plot of the book.
Illustrate one scene for each of the segments of the book (Ace of
Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Ace of Spades, Ace of Hearts and the
Joker).
Using an 18’ x 22’ piece of poster board or construction paper, cut
out the first letter of the first name of one of the characters.
Completely fill in the letter in a collage format (75% pictures and 25%
words that describe the character).
100 points
Quotations: (Groups): Find and copy quotations (include page
numbers) that reveal Ed’s personality, conflicts and beliefs about
himself and life. 50 points (5 points/quote)
classyclassical.com
If Ed is the message,
what
is he saying to
everyone who
followed his saga?