The House of the Scorpionby Nancy FarmerUnit 1

Learning Targets

•How is the theme of identity developed in The House of the Scorpion? •How can I use textual evidence

to back up my argument?

Literary Terms

• Theme – the central idea in a work of literature• Metaphor – a comparison between two unlike things

Matt’s Identity

• Find the metaphor in which Tam Lin compares El Patron to a tree.

• Think about: Matt is El Patron’s clone. Does that mean that Matt will be exactly like El Patron?

• Using the tree graphic organizer, think of 2-3 adjectives from each section of The House of the Scorpion that describe Matt.• Ch. 1-5• Ch. 6-10• Ch. 11-14

• Find textual evidence (quote and page number) to back up each adjective you chose.

Notes: Old Age: 12-14

• Key Points:• Setting• Characters• Theme• Author’s style• Main plot developments• Chapters 6-14

• Extension:• Discuss the effect of

Matt’s newfound identity. Has power changed him?

Key Points

Summary/ Extension

Notes

Heading

• Genre• Point of view (1st or 3rd?)• Tone (humorous, serious, informative, etc.)• Sentence structure• Vocabulary• Pacing• Any unique features (flashbacks, cliffhangers, diary

entries, alternating points of view, etc.)

Author’s Style