The Short Story Unit
ELA 9

Read the poem ‘A Poison Tree” by
William Blake.
* After you have read the poem underline all the words you don’t understand, and look them up in a dictionary.
* Next circle all the figures of speech that you find and label them.

1. What allows the tree to grow?
2. What does the apple represent?
3. What is the theme of the poem (message)?
4. Write a one paragraph summary of the poem.
5. Journal Response:
Do you agree with Blake’s message? How is this a lesson we can apply to our daily lives?
• If you were going to put this poem to music what genre of music would be the most effective?
• Why?

With a partner, research 4 famous feuds that have happened in history.
Make a chart that includes; the two parties are that are feuding, what the feud is about, and the outcome .

The Interlopers by “SAKI” (H.H. Munro)

Using the picture below (or the picture on page
33 in your text), as well as your definition, predict what the story is about.

If you don’t know what a word means you can use context clues to figure out the meaning. Try the following strategies to find context clues.
*Make an educated guess about the meaning
*Restate the sentence in a different way that makes sense….if you still don’t know
Find the definition of the word in the dictionary

As you read, locate the following words in the text.
Based on the context of the story, make an educated guess about what the word means. Write your “guess” in the vocabulary handout sheet.
Precipitous
Wrested
Acquiesced
Languor
Marauders
Pious
Poaching
Condolences
Succor
Pestilential
Unstrung

Use context clues in the story to guess the word meaning.
Precipitous ___________________________________________________________
Marauders ___________________________________________________________
Succor
Wrested
Pious
Pestilential
Acquiesced
Poaching
Unstrung
Languor
Condolences
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

• Now read the short story on page 33 of your
Sightlines textbook.

A. Condolences
B. Wrested
C. Languor
D. Succor
E. Precipitous
F. Acquiesced
G. Marauders
H. Pious
I. Pestilential
J. Poaching k. Unstrung
The Interlopers Post Reading Activity
Match the word with it’s definition
____ The state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness
____ An often jumbled assortment; a mixture
____ Take (something, esp. power or control) from someone or something else after considerable effort or difficulty.
____ to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent
____to roam or go around in quest of plunder; make a raid for booty: Freebooters were marauding all across the territory.
____ help or assistance, especially in time of difficulty
___Cook (an egg), without its shell, in or over boiling water; or illegally hunt or catch (game or fish) on land that is not one's own or is under official protection.
____ Resembling a precipice; extremely steep.
____Having a string or strings loosened or removed; Informal Emotionally upset.
_____having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
____Harmful or destructive to crops or livestock; relating to, or tending to cause infectious diseases.

Simple and Complex Sentences
Experienced writers use a variety of sentences to make their writing interesting and lively. Too many simple sentences, for example, will sound choppy and immature while too many long sentences will be difficult to read and hard to understand.
A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. In the following simple sentences, subjects are in yellow, and verbs are in red.
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator.
The coordinators are as follows: for, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so.
(Helpful hint: The first letter of each of the coordinators spells FANBOYS.)
Except for very short sentences, coordinators are always preceded by a comma.
In the following compound sentences, subjects are in yellow, verbs are in red, and the coordinators and the commas that precede them are in black.
A. Some students like to study in the mornings.
B. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon.
C. Alicia goes to the library and studies every day.
A. I tried to speak Spanish , and my friend tried to speak English.
B. Alejandro played football , so Maria went shopping.
C. Alejandro played football , for Maria went shopping.

Using the vocabulary words from the story create complex sentences.
Condolences
Languor
Acquiesced
Wrested Succor
Marauders
Pious
Precipitous poaching
Pestilential
Unstrung

Briefly respond to the story. Record any thoughts or feelings you have after reading the story.

Irony
Irony: is a literary device which reveals concealed or contradictory meaning(s).
Three common forms of irony are:
1.
Verbal irony, which occurs when a contrast is evident between what a character says and what that character actually means.
Match the example with the meaning.
*_____ At the finish line of a marathon, a tired runner says, “Oh, yeah, I’m ready to run another 24 miles.”
2.
Dramatic irony, which occurs when the author shares with the reader information not known by the character. As a result, the reader becomes aware that a character’s actions may be inappropriate for the actual circumstances, and what is to come is the reverse of what a character anticipates as the outcome.
*_____A man drives down a quiet street instead of the busy the main road to avoid being hit by a speeding car and is suddenly hit by a truck!
3.
Situational irony, occurs when a set of circumstances turn out differently from what was expected or considered appropriate.
*_____ A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking tickets.

What is the irony in the story “The
Interlopers? (make sure you back up your answer with proof)
Atmosphere or mood: is the prevailing feeling that is created in the story. The atmosphere usually sets up the reader’s expectations about the ending or outcome of the plot. Atmosphere is usually created through the dialogue and the imagery.

complete the handout conflict handout.
Type of conflict
Example from story
Real life example
Type of conflict
Example from story
Real life example
Type of conflict
Examples from story
Real life example
Type of conflict
Example from story
Real life example

QUESTIONS: Answer the following ( Remember to follow the format we have been practicing with a topic sentence and proof from the text.)
1. (a) As you read the story, how did you think it would end? (b) What thoughts went through your mind at the end of the story?
2. (a) What started the feud between the von Gradwitz and Znaeym families? (b) In your opinion, why do Ulrich and Georg hate each other so much?
3. (a) How does the men’s relationship gradually change while they are trapped under the tree?
(b) What causes the change in the men’s relationship? Explain.
4. (a) Who are the figures that Ulrich sees coming through the forest? (b) What is ironic about the way the story ends?
5. To whom or what might the title of this story refer?
6. Do Ulrich and Georg seem to meet by chance or by design? Explain your answer.
7. Saki is well known as a master of surprise endings, but he also drops hints to prepare a careful reader for the surprise. (a) What hints about the ending appear in “The Interlopers”? (b) How well has Saki prepared readers for the ending?
8. What does Ulrich’s statement that “there are better things in life than getting the better of a boundary dispute” suggest about how the two men have spent their lives?

Characterization: below give some traits of the characters and then give examples from the story that illustrate the characteristics.
pg. # Character Trait/Characteristic
Gradwitz stubborn
Example of trait/and explanation
“If only on this wild night, in this dark, lone spot, he might come come across Georg Znaeym.”
Gradwitz seems to be obsessed with murder. . . .

Watch the short video version of “The
Interlopers” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upw0e5j2uJg and answer the following questions:
1. How did viewing and listening to the story affect your understanding of the story?
2. How were the camera shots used to add meaning to the story?
3. Did the use of light and sound add to any of the literary elements (mood, theme, etc.)? List the literary element and explain how light and sound highlighted or hindered the portrayal the elements.