As I Lay Dying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_gACelB6qs
Preview for AILD with James Franco (YouTube)
 Dorothy Lange grew up in a comfortable middle-class
family in New Jersey. She studied photography at
Columba University, and took notice when the great
depression hit with labor strikes and bread lines.
 She and Paul Taylor traveled documenting rural
hardships for the U.S. Agriculture Department.
 She became famous for her portraits of displaced farmers
and families—wanted to promote social change for the
injustices she captured.
Images from William Faulkner’s
As I Lay Dying:
Story of Bundren family’s journey—before, during,
and after the death of their mother, Addie.
 1. Dying is a wonderful experience.
 2. Being pregnant is exciting.
 3. Social class determines who you feel you are (your
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sense of “self”).
4. All people are equal.
5. Words don’t truly hurt people.
6. Seeing is important step in leading to believing.
7. Anyone can be a hero.
8. Parents always want what is best for their children.
9. Mothers are the center of families.
10. Love, not money, binds a family together.
SURVIVAL/SACRIFICE
WORK / DUTY
POVERTY / SUFFERING
FAITH / RELIGION
PERCEPTION / REALITY HEROES
SANITY / INSANITY
WOMEN’S ROLES
MORTALITY / DEATH
COMEDY / TRAGEDY
COMMUNICATION
LANGUAGE / ACTION
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IDENTITY
*** Why should we QUESTION things? ***
What are some TYPES of questions?
1. Factual Questions:
“What did Fred say to his sister?”
2. Inductive Questions:
“Why did he say that?”
3. Analytical Questions:
“How did Fred use his illness to
manipulate his sister?”
*Coming up with QUESTIONS to GUIDE YOUR
READING
*Choose a THEME you’re interested in and
come up with at least ONE QUESTION
you’d like to focus on and explore as you
read the text. Make sure it is analytical
or inductive, not just factual. We will
work in groups to come up with good
questions, then discuss them as a class.
*We will eventually base a Multi-Genre
Writing Project on these.
SURVIVAL/SACRIFICE
WORK / DUTY
POVERTY / SUFFERING
FAITH / RELIGION
PERCEPTION / REALITY HEROES
SANITY / INSANITY
WOMEN’S ROLES
MORTALITY / DEATH
COMEDY / TRAGEDY
COMMUNICATION
LANGUAGE / ACTION
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IDENTITY
 As a group, come up with 2-4 open-ended questions
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for your topic.
Choose one to use to guide your reading (and writing
projects for the unit), and write it on your own paper.
As a group decide on one question you’d like to share
with the class (choose someone to read/share it).
We will discuss these questions and talk about ways to
revise them, and which ones lead to critical thinking.
You will have a chance to revise your question (make
sure your name is on your paper). This is an
opportunity ask any other questions you have about
this project/focus for me before turning them in.
 Returning your “culminating questions,” hold on to
them and refer to them often (can change/add).
 What characters were you introduced to?
 What did you learn about the characters and overall
situation/plot?
 What questions do you have about what you read or
what’s to come?
 What did you notice about VOICE?
Dramatic Reading of Faulkner (help us hear voice):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqiTMMGMXXo
 Dialect
 Narrative Style/Point of View
 Voice
 Modes of Communication
 Setting
 Imagery & Symbolism
 Vocabulary—may possibly see words that
are new to you:
Ubiquity Penurious Cessation Travail
Inertness Uninferant Uncurried Rutting
Flotsam
Plaintive
Victuals Ascetic
Circumscribe
Conical
Cubistic
Skummed
Facade
Ubiquity: being everywhere all the time
Penurious: extremely poor, poverty stricken
Cessation: process of ending or stopping
Uninferant: unable to be inferred
Flotsam: goods floating on water or something
discarded
Plaintive: mournful, expressing sorrow
Some words are just made up, or sound like their
meaning: Uncurried, Rutting, Skummed,
Cubistic
DIALECT:
“reckon” “sho” “durn”
“ain’t” “make out” “ et”
 Some of these words are new to us, some of
them remind us of the term “accent”
(southern).
 Are there any examples you can think of
from your own experiences or background?
 With the text in mind, write a first-person narrative
with instances of “dialect” use.
 Can borrow examples from Faulkner, or draw from
your own knowledge of a similar or different dialect.
 The point of view can shift from person to person, or
only have one person’s thoughts/actions/words.
 Try to focus on the theme of your personal
“culminating question.”
 Write continuously for 10 minutes!
 Characterization Graphic Organizer:
 Start writing down characteristics, quotes, or
thoughts you have relating to a character you’re
interested in (can change the character you
focus on at any point).
 Will eventually write a letter through this
character’s perspective (to their dead mother,
Addie).
Darl:
“Before us the thick dark current runs. It talks up to us in a
murmur become ceaseless and myriad, the yellow surface
dimpled monstrously into fading swirls travelling along
the surface for an instant, silent, impermanent and
profoundly significant, as though just beneath the surface
something huge and alive waked for a moment of lazy
alertness out of and into light slumber again.
It clucks and murmurs among the spokes and about the
mules’ knees, yellow, skummed with flotsam and with
thick soiled gouts of foam as though it had sweat,
lathering, like a driven horse” (Faulkner 82).
 Give a GLIMPSE, with descriptive words/images,
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whether your perspective, or another person’s
Use a first person narrator just as Faulkner does.
Center your writing around your culminating question
if possible.
Can be about the characters in AILD, you, or anyone
you’ve been thinking about lately.
Use rich descriptions to take your reader to your
setting or situation.
Write for 10 minutes (continuous, no stopping).
“Too often we underestimate the power of a
touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an
honest compliment or the smallest act of
caring, all of which have the potential to turn
a life around.” –Leo Buscaglia
“You don’t develop courage by being happy in
your relationships everyday. You develop it by
surviving the difficult times and challenging
yourself.” –Epicurus
 Choose one of the quotes to use as a “prompt” for
a freewrite.
 Thinking of the quote in terms of your
theme/question/focus, write…just write. Any
point of view, any situation/plot/characters…just
write!
 Write your thoughts relating your “culminating
question” (&/or your chosen character if you’ve
decided) to “relationships” & the quote.
 Write continuously for 10 minutes!
 Conducting interviews (in groups of two) with an
assigned partner about their theme or topic.
 Come up with questions to ask (questions to help you,
but also to help them think deeper about their chosen
theme or topic and question). No “yes” or “no”
questions!
 For example: “What does your culminating question or
theme have to do with relationships?” “Why is this
theme important to you personally?” “What does the
quote or Faulkner’s book teach you about this theme?”
 Class discussion: how did this interview help your
understanding? (in both ways: them interviewing you
and you interviewing them).
 Share quotes and ideas from your graphic
organizers, refer to the book as a group to come up
with additional evidence to shape your
understanding of the character.
 Discuss possible events from the plot to frame the
letter around (Addie’s death, crossing the river,..).
 As a group, come up with one culminating
statement or question (from the point of view and
in the words of your character) to direct toward
Addie to share with the class. Choose someone to
share it.
Write a letter to Addie in the voice of your chosen
character (using notes from character graphic
organizer about character’s personality and
viewpoints).
Pay attention to the character’s voice in the text, and
use similar speech and techniques when
constructing your letter.
Frame your letter around a specific incident or scene
(for example, when the character realizes Addie is
dead, or when they find that Anse has remarried).
 What is stream of conscious writing?
 How does Faulkner employ this?
 Can you find examples of this from the text?
 Freewrite on your chosen character for 10 minutes,
nonstop.
 Can begin by listing feelings you see your character
having, but make sure you employ “continuous stream
of conscious” as you write.
 Pay attention to “voice” when writing.
 Share your writing with your partner (can read aloud
one at a time, or switch journals and read silently to
yourselves)
 Discuss how each of you used “stream of
consciousness,” and its affect on your writing.
 Suggest any changes or additions your partner could
make (“if this were my paper I would try…”)
 Return to individual work and make any changes you’d
like to.
“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in
common. Celebrate it every day.” –Anonymous
 Consider your experiences with group activities in this
class; how have others’ perspectives helped you?
 Consider an experience meeting a new, intriguing
person or hearing a “crazy awesome” story. Why are
we drawn to things that are new to our every day life?
 Why is diversity important? Is it possible to ignore
those who are different? Why should we be open to
new ideas and relationships?
 Using the text (AILD), your characterization
chart, and any additional notes, begin
writing a “rough draft” of your letter to
Addie.
 If you prefer to list ideas or phrases that is
fine, this is an exercise in getting your
thoughts and ideas written on paper.
 Write continuously for 10 minutes!
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Rubric/Guidelines
One page, single spaced, no more than two pages.
Tie it into your culminating question and theme (this
is going to be part of a larger multi-genre portfolio).
Pay attention to “voice” when writing (consider their
experiences and attitude, and any other observations
you’ve made while reading our text). Try to create
“glimpses” or use other literary techniques we have
discussed in this unit.
Frame the letter around a specific incidence from the
text (e.g. Vardaman drilling holes in Addie)
Remember, be kind and respectful! “Do unto others”
1. What is your overall response to the piece?
2. Do you hear the character’s voice? When/how?
3. Flow/Style: does the letter seem organized
logically and flow coherently?
4. Is it based on one of the events from the novel?
5. Is there anything that seemed confusing?
6. What would you do if this were your letter to
Addie?
7. Discuss/share. Be a resource for your peers!
 What do you consider “literature?”
 Who decides what is and what isn’t?
 A multi-genre project is a chance for you to use your
IMAGINATION! We will still research and use your
knowledge of literary devices, but you decide what types
of genres you add to your letter to Addie.
 End with a portfolio of FIVE different genres of writing
(including your letter to Addie & an Reflective
Introductive piece, so three in addition to those). Each
piece should stand alone as a text, but all should connect
to the theme of your CULMINATING QUESTION. You
may use your own voice in each piece, or use many voices
among them—be creative and HAVE FUN! Remember,
every career requires some kind of writing, so let’s
become better writers and enjoy doing it!
 Personal Letter
 Greeting Card
 Schedule/Things to Do List
 Inner Monologue Representing Internal Conflicts
 Classified or Personal Ads
 Personal Essay or Philosophical Questions
 Top Ten List/Glossary or Dictionary
 Poetry
 Song Lyrics
 Autobiographical Essay
 Contest Entry Application
 Local News Report
 Pop-Up book
 Review and Poster for a Movie, Book, or TV Program
 Restaurant Description and Menu
 Travel Brochure Description
 How-To or Directions Booklet
 Comic Strip or Graphic Novel excerpt
 Informational Video
 Web Site
 Future News Story
 Letter to the Editor
 Newspaper or Magazine Feature/Human Interest Story
 Map with Explanation and Analysis
 Ghost Story
 Myth, Tall Tale, or Fairy Tale
 Talk Show Interview or Panel
 Recipe and Description of Traditional Holiday Events
 Classroom Discussion
 Character Analysis or Case Study
 Comedy Routine or Parody
 Liner Notes
 Picture book
 Chart or Diagram with Explanation and Analysis
 Brochure or Newsletter
 Short Scene from a Play or Movie
 Dialogue of a Conversation among Two or More People
 Short Story
Lyrics to "Timshel” by Mumford & Sons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOH
V7ZJZkTw
Cold is the water
It freezes your already cold mind
Already cold, cold mind
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your
hand
Hold your hand
And you are the mother
The mother of your baby child
The one to whom you gave life
And you have your choices
And these are what make man great
His ladder to the stars
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your
hand
Hold your hand
And I will tell the night
Whisper, "Lose your sight"
But I can't move the mountains for you
 Discuss and list ideas for genres of writing you are
interested in, and ways you can relate them to your
question and the text (AILD).
 As a group decide on 2-3 genre types to share with
the class, and write 1-2 sentences describing how
the genre can relate to AILD and various
themes/questions.
 Try your hand writing within one of your
chosen genres in your journal.
 Even if you’re just listing characteristics of the
genre or how you think you could tackle
writing, just WRITE!
 Write continuously for 10 minutes!
GREETING CARD:
-What are the general conventions?
-Fold a plain sheet of paper in half or three ways
(words or picture on the front)
-Decide on who (which character) it is from and who
it will be addressed to (both do not necessarily need
to be from the story itself)
-What type of card is it? (occasion—birthday,
sympathy, etc.)
 The last addition to portfolio: Introduction
 Overview of portfolio contents.
 Should guide readers, giving any added
information they may need to understand the
portfolio contents.
 Reflects: tell the reader how this experience
(putting this portfolio together) has affected you.
 Identify your favorite piece, and why.
 Identify your least favorite experience (or you’re
the genre you feel the weakest in writing).