'THE FLOWERS'
BY ALICE WALKER
Analysis and Evaluation
Unit
We are going to:
• Learn about turning point, mood and
symbolism
• Explain how these are created in a story.
Skills we will be developing:
• Discussion
• Negotiation
• Active listening
• Analysis
• Evaluation
• Critical reading.
Plot and Theme
◦Once we have read the story as
a class, discuss in pairs what you
think the story was about – the
plot and theme.
.
Literary Terms to Know
COPY THESE DOWN AND FAMILIARISE YOURSELVES WITH THEM.
◦ imagery –the use of vivid language to create images in the
reader’s mind.
◦ symbol –something that stands for itself and something else.
◦ setting –the time and place in which a story occurs.
◦ narrative pace ‐the speed at which an author tells a story; the
movement from one point or section to another.
◦ diction ‐the choice of words used in a literary work.
◦ style ‐A writer’s way of saying things, or a philosophy that
influences the author’s viewpoint.
◦ theme ‐an abstract idea that emerges from a literary work’s
treatment of its subject‐matter, or a topic recurring in a number of
literary works.. Themes include love, war, revenge, betrayal, fate,
etc.
◦ epiphany ‐an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
Turning Point
◦ A turning point in a story is the point when
there is a significant change in the way a
character is thinking or behaving, in the
mood or atmosphere of the story, in the
tension and so on.
◦ Decide where in the turning point occurs
in ‘The Flowers’. Be prepared to explain
your reasoning to the class.
Turning Point and Mood
◦ In your pairs, one will look at the first part
of the story, and one will look at the
second half – the separation will be the
turning point.
◦ We are going to look at how the author
creates mood.
◦ How does the turning point influence the
mood of the story?
Turning Point and Mood
For your section of the story, highlight the following:
• references to light and colour
• references to setting
• references to Myop’s actions.
In pairs, discuss how these references create mood.
Symbolism
In the story, flowers could be said to be symbolic, i.e.
they are used to represent an idea.
◦ For your half of the story, find all the references to
flowers.
◦ In your pairs, take turns to read out the references to
flowers.
◦ Think about what’s happening at the point in the story
when flowers are mentioned, and discuss what the
flowers might represent.
• In pairs, work through all the references to flowers in the
story, and complete a table like this one.
• You should quote the reference, describe what is
happening in the story at that time, and then comment on
what the flowers could represent/symbolise.
Reference to
flowers
What’s
happening in
the story
'silver ferns and Myop is near
wildflowers
her home and
grew'
picking flowers
What the
flowers might
represent
Group Analysis
◦ In your groups, discuss and make notes on
the following:
How does Walker create mood, use a turning
point and use symbolism in her story?
◦ You should discuss and note down as much
as you can, using quotations, analysis and
evaluation.
◦ Group with the most detailed A3 sheet gets
a pony.
Self-evaluation
Answers these questions on the post-it note, and be
honest:
• How well do I understand mood, turning point and
symbolism in this story?
• How well do I think I understand these terms in
general?
• How well did I work in pairs/groups?
The Flowers
Learning Intentions:
◦ Improve our understanding of the context of the
story.
◦ Develop critical reading skills with textual analysis
questions.
Skills:
•
Understanding
•
Analysis
•
Evaluation
•
Critical reading
Textual Analysis 1
1. Look up the following words in bold and answer the
questions that go with them.
2. Referring to the first three paragraphs of the story, explain
what the setting of the story is and what words in the story
give you that idea.
3. Myop's family is a family of sharecroppers. What does this tell
you about the time they are living in? What other things
does this tell you about what Myop's family is like?
4. Describe Myop. Use quotes from the story to explain why
you think she looks like she does. (Write 3 or more
sentences.)
5. Describe the mood (the emotional atmosphere the story
creates for you) of the first four paragraphs of the
story. Explain why you think that is the mood of those
paragraphs using quotes from the story.
Textual Analysis 2
1. Describe the mood starting with the fifth paragraph of the story
(to the end). Explain why you think that is the mood of those
paragraphs using quotes from the story.
2. Considering the time period and what you know of Myop and
her family, what do you think happened to the the man Myop
finds disintegrating in the woods? Explain why you think that is
what happened.
3. What connection(s) does the origin of Myop’s name have with
her in the story (other than the first four letters match!)? Explain
these connections.
4. An epiphany is a sudden realization or understanding about
something. Myop has an epiphany in this story which is why she
lays down her flowers at the end of the story. What is it that
Myop suddenly understands about her world? Explain your
answer based on information from the story.
5. The last line of the story is figurative, not literal. What deeper
meaning do you think that line has in this story? Explain why you
think so based on information from the story.
Task
Discuss this question in pairs and develop a
detailed essay plan.
◦ In a well‐organized essay discuss how Alice
Walker conveys the meaning of "The Flowers" and
how she prepares the reader for the ending of
this short story. Consider at least two elements of
the writer's craft such as imagery, symbol, setting,
narrative pace, diction, and style.