Bell work:
Do seasons effect people’s moods?
(At least 50 words.)
Objective:
Students will analyze word
choice, setting, mood, and
characterization by annotating
the opening paragraphs of “The
Scarlet Ibis.”
CCSS
RL.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings;
analyze the cumulative impact of several word choices on meaning and
tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it
sets a formal or informal tone).
L.9-10.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word
relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
SL.9-10.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative
discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse
partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’
ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Close Reading
Read the opening paragraph of “The Scarlet Ibis.”
Annotate the first paragraph paying special attention to
Hurst’s choice of words and details about the setting.
What mood is established in this opening paragraph?
It was in the clove of seasons, summer was dead but
autumn had not yet been born, that the ibis lit in the
bleeding tree. The flower garden was stained with rotting
brown magnolia petals and ironweeds grew rank amid the
purple phlox. The five o'clocks by the chimney still
marked time, but the oriole nest in the elm was
untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty
cradle. The last graveyard flowers were blooming, and
their smell drifted across the cotton field and through
every room of our house, speaking softly the names of
our dead. It's strange hat all this is still so clear to me,
now that that summer has since fled and time has had its
way. A grindstone stands where the bleeding tree stood,
just outside the kitchen door, and now if an oriole sings in
the elm, its song seems to die up in the leaves, a silvery
dust.
a type of millstone used to grind grains such as wheat
Bleeding Tree
A “bleeding tree” is one that
has a condition known as
gummosis. It causes the tree
to “bleed” sap through its
bark. This condition is a
symptom of several possible
diseases, and is commonly
seen in both pines and fruit
trees. An early warning sign
that something else is wrong,
gummosis doesn't necessarily
mean that the tree will die,
but it does mean that you
should take a closer look to
see what's causing the
bleeding
The Landscape
Objective:
Students will explore the concept
of the unreliable narrator by
using Cornell notes to find
textual evidence in “The Scarlet
Ibis.”
CCSS
RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to
support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.
L.9-10.5 Demonstrate understanding of figurative language,
word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
SL.9-10.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of
collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and
teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics,
texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing
their own clearly and persuasively.
Bell work:
What responsibilities if any do older
siblings have towards their younger
siblings?
Bell work:
Do you believe that you can
transform somebody else?
The narrator in a 1st person narrative is often called a persona.
A persona in the
word's everyday
usage is a social role
or a character played
by an actor. The word
is derived from Latin,
where it originally
referred to a
theatrical mask.
Ask yourself, can I trust this narrator?
Is he or she credible?
Unreliable Narrators
The unreliable narrator is a narrator who can't be trusted.
Either from ignorance or self-interest, this narrator speaks
with a bias, makes mistakes, or even lies. Part of the
pleasure and challenge of the 1st person narrator stories is
finding the truth, and understanding why the narrator is not
straightforward.
“Scarlet Ibis” Cornell Notes
Original Text
So what…
My Inferences
Objective:
Students will conduct a character trial by using a graphic
organizer to support their claims with textual evidence.
Literary Definition of Motivation
Motivation
A reason that explains
why a character
behaves in a certain
way.
Question of the Day
Is the narrator guilty of murdering his little
brother?
Legal Definition of Murder
1st degree murder: The killing of a human
being by a sane person, with intent,
malice aforethought (prior intention to kill
the particular victim or anyone who gets
in the way) and with no legal excuse or
authority. In those clear circumstances,
this is first degree murder.
2nd Degree murder: The killing of a human
being without premeditation, as in the
heat of passion or in a sudden quarrel or
fight. Malice in second degree murder
may be implied from a death due to the
reckless lack of concern for the life of
others (such as firing a gun into a crowd or
bashing someone with any deadly
weapon). Depending on the
circumstances and state laws, murder in
the first or second degree may be
chargeable to a person who did not
actually kill, but was involved in a crime
with a partner who actually did the killing
or someone died as the result of the
crime.
Manslaughter: the unlawful killing of another
person without premeditation
Bell Work:
Objective:
Students will understand the use of
symbols and analyze their use in
several literary texts using semantic
feature analysis.
What is a symbol?
•A symbol is a word, place, character, or object
that means something beyond what it is on a
literal level.
•Authors use symbolism to emphasize
important ideas in a story or text.
How are symbols used?
•Symbolism allows people to communicate
beyond the limits of language
•Humans use symbolism all the time. Words
themselves are mere symbols for something
else.
•Ex: White flag represents surrender
Strategies to use when
searching for symbols
•Pay special attention to objects or places
accompanied by a lengthy description,
repetition, or special placement.
• Analyze the title.
•List objects mentioned more than once.
Strategies to use when
searching for symbols
•List objects that appear at crucial moments.
•Consider what the author is trying to say and
how it relates to the concrete objects or ideas in
the text. Is there a link between the message
and the object or idea?
Is “the bleeding tree” a symbol?
• The bleeding tree represents Doodle
• Concrete: Like the tree the bleeds a red sap,
we see Doodle bleeding at the end of the
story
• Figurative: There is an underlying issues (like
the disease in this tree) that will eventually
lead to Doodle’s death