Unit 1, Part 2 Click the mouse button or press the space bar to continue UNIT 1, Part 2 Making...

Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2

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UNIT 1, Part 2Making Choices

Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 MAIN MENUMAIN MENU

Making Choices (pages 148–190)


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

Click a selection title to go to the corresponding selection menu.

Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 SELECTION MENUSELECTION MENU

Before You Read

Reading the Selection

After You Read

Selection Menu (pages 148-161)

Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 BEFORE YOU READBEFORE YOU READ

Meet Paule Marshall

Click the picture to learn about the author.


Have you ever felt the need to compete with someone? In Paule Marshall’s short story, a young girl from New York City and her grandmother from Barbados become embroiled in a clash of cultures and a contest of one upmanship. Before you read, think about the questions on the next slide.

Connecting to the Story



• Is it ever acceptable to argue with a grandparent or older relative?

• How important is it for you to prove that your life is better than someone else’s?


“To Da-Duh, in Memoriam” takes place in Barbados in the

1930s. Barbados is a tiny Caribbean island with mostly flat

terrain. It’s highest point, Mount Hillaby, is shorter than

New York City’s Empire State Building. The stalks of sugar

cane referred to in the story can grow from seven to thirty

feet high. Although the people of Barbados speak English,

the folk culture is of African origin. The island became an

independent state in 1966 after being under British

colonial rule for more than three centuries.

Building Background


As you read, consider how the narrator’s relationship with her grandmother affects her later in life.

Setting Purposes for Reading

Making Choices


Characterization is the method a writer uses to reveal a character’s personality. A writer may use direct statements, or direct characterization, to describe a character. The writer may also choose to reveal the character’s personality through indirect characterization, or through his or her words, thoughts, and actions or through what other characters think and say about the character.


Characterization


As you read the story, examine how Marshall uses characterization to reveal the personalities of the narrator and her grandmother.


Characterization


Making Inferences About Characters

To infer is to make a reasonable guess about some element of a story from what a writer implies. In a short story such as “To Da-Duh, in Memoriam,” we must observe details to make inferences about characters.


Reading Tip: Taking Notes Use a chart to record the inferences you draw about the narrator and Da-Duh.



formidable adj. causing fear, dread, or awe by reason of size, strength, or power (p. 151) Defeat was almost guaranteed against such a formidable opponent.

decrepit adj. broken down by long use or old age (p. 153) A strong wind would surely blow down the decrepit wooden shack.

Click a vocabulary term to listen to the definition.


hurtle v. to move rapidly, especially with much more force or noise (p. 154) They hurtle toward the finish line on their homemade scooters.

arrogant adj. full of self-importance; haughty (p. 154) She spoke in an arrogant tone, as if the rest of us were inferior to her.



malicious adj. having or showing a desire to harm another (p. 158) His malicious actions resulted in injuries to several bystanders.


Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 READING THE SELECTIONREADING THE SELECTION

Making Choices Keep the following question in mind as you read. What are some ways that the author and her grandmother are different? In what ways are they similar?


Answer: They were born and raised in different places; they have experienced different types of events; their cultural frames of reference are very different. On the other hand, they share a family tie; they are both strong and determined; they have affection for each other.


Look at the painting on page 150. How is this house similar to Da-duh’s? How do the grounds reflect the island in the story?

READING THE SELECTIONREADING THE SELECTION

Answer: Like Da-duh’s, the house in the painting is a weathered wooden structure. The grounds are remarkable for dense, lush and sloping terrain.

Viewing the Art


Characterization Read the text highlighted in purple on page 151. What does the description reveal here about this old woman?

Literary Element


Answer: She is a small, elderly woman who is making an effort to keep her body erect, or straight. She appears decisive, determined, and not the least bit hesitant or shy.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 151. What can you infer about Da-duh from how she is dressed?

Reading Strategy


Answer: She does not seem to care about current fashions; her old-fashioned dress contrasts sharply with the narrator’s present time.


Characterization Read the text highlighted in purple on page 152. Why do you think Marshall has the narrator describe herself in this way?

Literary Element


Answer: She wants readers to realize that the narrator is an independent, feisty, defiant child, and a worthy opponent for her headstrong grandmother.


Characterization Do you think the narrator has a high degree of self-confidence in relating to her grandmother? Explain.

Literary Element


Answer: The narrator seems to exhibit independence and to be a match for her grandmother in will and strength.


Characterization Read the text highlighted in purple on page 153. What does this detail tell you about Da-duh?

Literary Element


Answer: Da-duh seems to like the child and, by taking her hand, gives her a special status in the family. The child sees her grandmother as an anchor in an unfamiliar place.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 154. What kind of inference can you make about the narrator from this detail?

Reading Strategy


Answer: While Da-duh sees the cane as “pretty enough,” her granddaughter seems intimidated by it. She may be more accustomed to nature kept at a distance.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 154. Based on what you already know about Da-duh, why do you think she wants to show her land to her granddaughter?

Answer: Da-duh seems proud of her land and wants the child, with whom she feels a special kinship, to appreciate the land and to know that New York does not have everything.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the first text highlighted in blue on page 155. Why does the child make a negative comment about sugar?

Reading Strategy


Answer: She attempts to dismiss the importance of her grandmother’s land by indicating that sugar has little to do with her life.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the second text highlighted in blue on page 155. Why does the grandmother show the child all of these wonderful places?

Reading Strategy



Answer: She wants the child to love the land as she does; she wants the child to be impressed with the land and to believe that the way of life in Barbados is equal or superior to that in New York.

Reading Strategy



Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 156. Why does the child choose to respond to her grandmother’s question in this way?

Answer: She may want to show her grandmother that life in Barbados has not prepared her grandmother for life in what the child thinks is the real world.


Making Choices Read the first text highlighted in tan on page 157. Why do you think Da-duh chooses to take the child with her, instead of someone else?


Answer: She enjoys her granddaughter’s free spirit, and she also wants her granddaughter to appreciate her land.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the first text highlighted in blue on page 157. Why does Da-duh have this reaction when the child talks about New York City?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Da-duh seems threatened by her granddaughter’s description. She may question her own ability to survive in a place like New York City.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the second text highlighted in blue on page 157. What does this comment tell you about the relationship between the child and Da-duh?

Reading Strategy



Reading Strategy


Answer: The narrator seems to feel more protective of her grandmother at this point, but she still agitates Da-duh by describing New York City. She is torn between wanting to shield Da-duh from the realities of modern life and wanting to boast about the skyscrapers in her city.


Making Choices Read the second text highlighted in tan on page 157. Why does the girl choose to answer as she does?


Answer: The urge to top her grandmother overcomes her, and she brags about the height of the buildings in New York City.


Characterization Read the text highlighted in purple on page 158. How does the light in Da-duh’s eyes help to characterize her in this scene?

Literary Element


Answer: Da-duh’s strong will seems to be failing.


Making Inferences About Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 159. What does the narrator mean when she says she lives within the shadow of her grandmother’s death?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Her competitive relationship with her grandmother continues to haunt her.


Characterization Read the text highlighted in purple on page 159. How does the author reveal that the narrator remains troubled by the conflict with her grandmother?

Literary Element



Literary Element


Answer: She paints peaceful, beautiful scenes that reflect her grandmother’s pride and love for Barbados. However, as she paints, she is reminded of New York City’s huge, loud, industrial nature by the sounds and vibrations of machinery downstairs.

Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 AFTER YOU READAFTER YOU READ

Answer: There is no “winner.” The narrator appears to win, but because of the child’s triumph, her grandmother becomes dispirited.

Responding and Thinking CriticallyRespond

1. Do you think that either Da-duh or the child “won” their battle of wills? Explain.


Answer: (a) A formidable and mysterious person (b) To assert herself

Responding and Thinking CriticallyRecall and Interpret

2. (a) Describe the narrator’s initial impression of Da-duh. (b) Why do you think the narrator tries to “win” the initial encounter between Da-duh and herself?



3. (a) Summarize what happens the first time Da-duh takes her granddaughter “out into the ground.” (b) In your opinion, why does Da-duh compare Barbados with New York City?



Answer: (a) Grandmother shows off her favorite places. Granddaughter tells her about snow, sings, and dances. (b) Da-duh is not familiar with anything outside of Barbados, her point of reference.



4. (a) How does Da-duh react to her granddaughter’s descriptions of New York City? (b) What conclusions can you draw about Da-duh based on her reaction to the girl’s descriptions?



Answer: (a) Initially, she doubts the child’s claims, but ultimately she is awed. (b) Da-duh has experienced little of the world outside of Barbados.


Responding and Thinking CriticallyAnalyze and Evaluate

5. (a) At what point in the story do Da-duh’s appearance and behavior abruptly change? Describe this change. (b) What do you think causes this change, and what does it signify?


Answer: (a) After her granddaughter says New York City has buildings taller than Bissex hill, Da-duh’s health begins to fail. (b) The grandmother realizes that her world seems insignificant.



Answer: The modern, urban world


6. In your opinion, what does the Empire State Building symbolize, or represent, in this story?



7. Which of these aphorisms best describes the relationship between the narrator and Da-duh: “Birds of a feather flock together” or “Opposites attract”? Explain.



Answer: “Birds of a feather flock together”; although they are from different worlds, their personalities are similar.


Answer: She stood up to her grandmother. Answers will vary.

Responding and Thinking CriticallyConnect

8. How did the narrator choose to treat Da-duh? Do you approve of this decision? Explain.

Making Choices


Characterization

The two basic methods that a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character are direct and indirect characterization.


Characterization

For example, Marshall uses the method of direct characterization when the narrator describes Da-duh’s face as “stark and fleshless as a death mask.” She uses indirect characterization when Da-duh describes her granddaughter as “one of those New York terrors.”


Characterization

Answer: When the narrator describes Da-duh’s fear of the lorry

1. Give another example of direct characterization that describes the narrator.


Characterization

Answer: When Da-duh describes some trees and says, “I know you don’t have anything this nice where you come from.”

2. Find another example of indirect characterization in the story. What does it show about the character?


Characterization

3. What method of characterization does the author use to show how Da-duh has changed by the end of the story? Use evidence from the story to support your response.


Characterization

Answer: Direct characterization: “thinner and suddenly indescribably old,” “listless,” “the features drawn and almost distorted by an ancient abstract sorrow.”


As you learned on pages 10–11, setting is where and when a story takes place. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of the people in that place and time.

Review: Setting


Review: Setting

Partner Activity Meet with a classmate and discuss the details that Paule Marshall used to re-create Barbados in the 1930s. Think about how the setting influences the characters and events.


Review: SettingWorking with you partner, create a web diagram like the one below. Fill it in with specific examples and details that evoke the setting and help youunderstand its importance to the story.


Paule Marshall does not tell you everything about the narrator and Da-duh. Instead, she provides specific and vivid details to help you make inferences about their personalities. Review the inference chart you created for clues about the narrator and her grandmother.



1. In your opinion, how are the personalities of the narrator and Da-duh alike? How are they different?



Answer: They are alike in that they are proud, stubborn, and determined. They are different in that Da-duh is comfortable, appreciative, and at peace in the natural world, while the narrator appreciates the liveliness of the city.



2. List at least two important details that helped you form each opinion.



Answer: At the beginning of the story, the two characters stare each other down. The grandmother shows off her trees and orchard. The narrator thinks of the canes as giant weeds and considers the gully violent. Da-duh speaks about the city with scorn, while the narrator dances and sings to tell about her home.



Practice

Practice with Synonyms Find the synonym for each vocabulary word listed on the following slides.


Practice

1. malicious

A. toxic

B. evil


2. decrepit

A. dilapidated

B. depressed

Practice


3. arrogant

A. haughty

B. gallant

Practice


4. hurtle

A. loud noise

B. propel

Practice


5. formidable

A. fearsome

B. gentle

Practice


Academic Vocabulary

Here are two words that will help you think, write, and talk about the selection.

instance n. an example or illustration of an event or thing

correspond v. to be the same as something else; to match


Academic VocabularyPractice and Apply

Answer: Examples: the child describes snow; Da-duh shows her royal palm.

1. What instance from the story do you think best captures the conflict between Da-duh and the girl?



Answer: Da-duh values nature; granddaughter values the modern world.

2. How do the values of Da-duh correspond with those of her granddaughter?


Writing About Literature

Analyze Character A character who grows or changes during a story is called a dynamic character. Write an essay in which you analyze how the narrator of “To Da-duh, in Memoriam” grows and changes as a result of her visit to Barbados. Use specific details from the story to support your ideas.



As you draft, write from start to finish. Follow the writing chart shown on the next slide to help you organize your essay.


Explain how the narrator grows and changes in the story.

Offer evidence that supports your ideas.

Briefly summarize your analysis of the changes the narrator experiences and tell how these changes affected her later life.



After you complete your draft, meet with a peer reviewer to evaluate each other’s work and to suggest revisions. Then proofread and edit your draft for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.


Internet Connection

Work with a partner to create a tourist brochure about Barbados. Use the Internet to locate information about the sights, sounds, and tastes of this West Indian island. Include in your brochure key attractions, up-to-date travel information, and brief advice on what to do, where to eat, and where to stay. Illustrate your brochure, if you wish.


Before You Read


After You Read

Selection Menu (pages 162–179)


Meet Jack Finney



It is often easy to take for granted what we value most in our lives. Other things can consume our attention, making it difficult to maintain our priorities.



Before you read “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” think about the following questions:

• What are your priorities in life?

• How well do you divide your attention among your priorities?

• When have you regretted neglecting your priorities?



This story takes place in New York City, probably during

the 1950s—a time before personal computers and

widespread use of photocopying machines. Therefore, you

will note that the main character types documents on a

portable typewriter and uses carbon paper—thin, ink-

coated sheets of paper placed between two pieces of

writing paper—to make a copy of a typewritten document.

You will also note that the change in his pocket includes,

among other pieces, a fifty-cent piece, know as a “half-

dollar.”

Building Background



As you read, think about the choice that leads the main character to thrust himself into deadly circumstances.

Making Choices


A symbol is any object, person, place, or experience that exists on a literal level but also represents, or stands for, something else, usually an abstract concept. For example, a dove is literally a bird, but it is also used often figuratively as a symbol of the abstract concept of peace.


Symbol


Understanding the author’s use of symbols can help you better comprehend the story. As you read “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” look for a literal expression or object that also represents an abstract concept.


Symbol


Responding to Characters

When you respond to what you are reading, you interact with the text in an important way. To respond to characters in a literary work, ask yourself questions about what you like, what you do not like, what surprises you, and how you feel about the characters in a story. As you read “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” think about how the main character, Tom Benecke, makes you feel.


Reading Tip: Taking Notes To better understand your responses to characters, take notes about them as you read.



convoluted adj. turned in or wound up upon itself; coiled; twisted (p. 166) Instead of a flat piece of wood, the ornate, antique railing was convoluted.

improvised adj. invented, composed, or done without preparation (p. 166) Because I was unprepared for John’s strange question, I had to offer him an improvised answer.



taut adj. tense; tight (p. 169) The leash grew taut and straight when the dog leaped forward.

pent-up adj. not expressed or released; held in (p. 171) I remained calm until I hung up the phone, but then my pent-up sadness made me burst into tears.

reveling adj. taking great pleasure (p. 172) Reveling in delight, the little boy ran up and down the aisle of toys.



Making Choices Keep this question in mind as you read. What are the consequences of the main character’s choices?


Answer: His choice to dedicate himself to his work means that he doesn’t spend much time with his wife.


Making Choices Keep this question in mind as you read. How do his choices lead to a change in what he considers most important?


Answer: His choice to retrieve his important paper puts his life in danger. This danger causes him to re-evaluate his priorities.


Look at the painting on page 164. What does this painting suggest about the relationship between the man and the woman?


Answer: The man is ignoring the woman, who looks sad or lonely.

Viewing the Art


Responding to Characters Read the first text highlighted in blue on page 165. What is Tom’s attitude toward his wife?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Tom regards his wife with tender concern tinged with guilt for letting her go to the movies alone.


Responding to Characters Read the second text highlighted in blue on page 165. How do you feel about Tom’s decision to miss the movie? Would you have made the same choice?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Answers will vary.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 165. Why does Tom choose to work on his special project?


Answer: Tom has fierce career ambitions and a strong sense of purpose to succeed at his job.


Symbol Read the text highlighted in purple on page 166. What does the yellow sheet of paper represent to Tom?

Literary Element


Answer: To Tom, the yellow sheet of paper represents a significant portion of his past and the possibility of future success.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 166. How might you summarize the two choices that Tom is weighing about how to solve this problem?


Answer: He will either go out on the ledge to retrieve the paper or redo his research.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in yellow on page 167. Now that Tom has made his choice, why does he act “on a sudden impulse,” “before he thought too much”?


Answer: Tom is trying to avoid becoming paralyzed by fear or to trick himself into thinking that he is safe.


Responding to Characters Read the first text highlighted in blue on page 169. What is your reaction to Tom’s current situation?

Reading Strategy


Answer: You may empathize with Tom as he struggles to control his fear.


Responding to Characters Read the text highlighted in blue in the first column on page 167. What is your reaction to Tom’s current situation?

Reading Strategy




Responding to Characters Read the second text highlighted in blue on page 169. Why does Tom feel a surge of terror when he actually grasps the yellow paper?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Tom gets his first glimpse of Lexington Avenue, eleven stories below, with its throbbing vitality from which Tom has excluded himself.


Metaphor Read the second text highlighted in blue on page 169. What purpose do these metaphors serve?

Writer’s Technique


Answer: The image of a violent explosion coupled with the word roared vividly conveys the suddenness and power of Tom’s fear.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in yellow on page 171. What leads Tom to realize that he has no other choice but to “try moving”?


Answer: Even though there are hundreds of people in apartments or on streets nearby, no one will hear Tom’s cries. If he waits too long for help, he may lose his strength.


Responding to Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 171. How does Tom try to cope with his fear?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Tom tries to cope with his fear by drawing upon his sense of purpose, forcing himself to inch closer toward his window.


Suspense What do you predict will be the outcome of Tom’s situation? What role does the title play in your prediction?



Answer: You may predict that Tom will fall to his death, based on the title of the selection.


Symbol Read the first text highlighted in purple on page 172. As Tom thinks about his apartment, what does the apartment suddenly symbolize to him?

Literary Element


Answer: Security and simple happiness


Symbol Read the second text highlighted in purple on page 172. What might the glass window symbolize?

Literary Element


Answer: The glass window symbolizes a barrier separating the safe, domestic world of the past from the dangerous, isolated one of the present.


Responding to Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 173. How have your feelings toward Tom changed? Explain.

Reading Strategy




Encountering the Unexpected Read the text highlighted in tan on page 173. Why might Tom imagine himself downplaying the severity of his choice while speaking to Clare?



Answer: Either he is trying to calm himself down with humor, or he is planning to downplay the disaster to Clare so that she will not be frightened or angry at him. Tom may also be ashamed that he put himself in such great risk for a piece of paper.


Focus In what ways does the detailed focus on balance serve to heighten the dangerous nature of Tom’s situation?


Answer: The focus on his balance and moments of losing balance demonstrates to the reader how dangerous Tom’s situation is.



Responding to Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 174. What does this action suggest about Tom’s state?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Compared with the life-threatening situation Tom is in, a little burn scarcely matters. He probably is so charged with adrenaline that he may not even feel the burn.


Responding to Characters Read the paragraph below the text highlighted in blue on page 174. What do you predict that Tom will do next, after he fails to attract attention by burning the letters?

Reading Strategy




Symbol Read the text highlighted in purple on page 175. What symbol does Tom now see in this phrase?

Literary Element


Answer: Signs of a wasted life or the inability to recognize important priorities, such as his marriage


Responding to Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 175. Have you ever felt similar regret over a choice you made? Explain.

Reading Strategy




Making Choices What “all-or-nothing” choice does Tom make now?


Answer: Either to break the window or lose his balance and fall to his death in the attempt.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 176. Express in your own words why Tom chooses to pause before striking the glass with his fist.


Answer: He figures that a few more guaranteed seconds of life are better than immediate death.


Responding to Characters Read the text highlighted in blue on page 176. What do you think is most important to Tom? How does this affect your opinion of him?

Reading Strategy


Answer: Tom’s wife and marriage are most important to him. Answers will vary.


Symbol Read the text highlighted in purple on page 176. What do you think that piece of paper has come to symbolize to Tom?

Literary Element


Answer: The yellow paper may symbolize concerns that are less important than his marriage and the pleasant company of his wife.


Answer: You may say that you reacted most strongly to Tom’s terror on the ledge.


1. Which part of the story did you react to most strongly? Explain.


2. (a) Why does Tom decide not to go to the movies with Clare? (b) What do you learn about Tom from this decision?

AFTER YOU READAFTER YOU READ

Answer: (a) He wants to work on his project. (b) He is ambitious and determined to succeed.



3. (a) After Tom begins work, what happens to interrupt him, and what does he decide to do? (b) What rules does he make up for himself, and why?




Answer: (a) The piece of paper flies out the window, and he decides to retrieve it. (b) He tells himself not to look down or think too much. He is trying to keep calm.




4. (a) Briefly summarize Tom’s risky adventure. (b) What lesson do you think his adventure teaches him?




Answer: (a) He edges along the ledge, almost falling. He tries to draw people’s attention, but has no luck. When he gets back to the window, he cannot open it and must smash it. When he gets back inside, the yellow paper flies away again. (b) Not to risk his life for his career




5. (a) At the beginning of the story, what did Tom do that might lead someone to judge him as untruthful? (b) What might he have done to be more honest and fair?




Answer: (a) He tells his wife that he has to work, when he really does not have to finish his project that night. (b) He might have explained to her why the project was so important.




6. (a) What inferences can you draw about Tom, based on his decision to retrieve the paper? (b) Do you think his decision is realistic or does the author create an unbelievable situation? Explain.




Answer: (a) He is confident, ambitious, and willing to take risks. He is unwise in weighing risks with benefits and in judging what is most important. (b) Answers will vary.




7. (a) For about how long was Tom out on the ledge? (b) Do you think that the author does a good job of holding the reader’s attention and making that amount of time seem much longer, due to the suspense? Explain.




Answer: (a) The action lasts for about eight minutes. (b) Answers will vary.




8. What message is the author presenting about the choices people sometimes make regarding priorities in life? Explain.


Responding and Thinking CriticallyConnect Making Choices


Answer: People sometimes give greater value than necessary to work and other pursuits; their priorities get mixed up. The real value in Tom’s life is his marriage. Answers will vary.




Symbol

A symbol is an object, person or idea that represents something else, usually an abstract concept. For example, on the literal level, a flag is a piece of cloth. However, a flag can also be the symbol of a nation. In this story, several objects are used as symbols.


Symbol

1. the yellow piece of paper (at the beginning of the story)

Answer: The research he needs to get ahead; his “ticket”

Write a brief description of what the following items symbolized in this story.


Symbol

2. the burning cigarette, as Tom saw it through the window

Answer: The ordinary comforts of the life that he risked



Symbol

3. the contents of the dead man’s pocket, as envisioned by Tom in a police report about his death.

Answer: Evidence of his wasted life and mixed up priorities



Symbol

4. the yellow piece of paper (at the end of the story)

Answer: Something that can easily be replaced; something of far less value than his marriage and his wife.



As you learned on page 97, a character’s motivation is the stated or implied reason or cause for that character’s actions.

Review: Motivation


Review: Motivation

Partner Activity Meet with another classmate to discuss what motivates Tom at different stages within the story. Use a “clock” diagram like the one on the next slide to jot down your thoughts.


When you respond to characters as you read, you are likely to get more from your reading. By paying attention to how characters make you feel, what questions they create for you, and how they might surprise you as you read, you become more engaged in your reading. Refer to the notes that you took about the characters as you read to answer the following questions.



1. How did you feel about Tom Benecke at the beginning of the story?


Answer: You may disapprove of his apparent priorities.


2. Were you surprised by Tom Benecke’s decision to go after the yellow piece of paper? Explain.

Answer: You may say that you were not surprised, because Tom was so determined to move ahead in the company.



3. How did you feel about Tom Benecke at the end of the story? Did your opinion of him change?

Answer: You may say that you felt better about Tom after he reevaluated his priorities.



Practice

Practice with Analogies Choose the word that best completes each analogy on the following slides.


1. knot : convoluted :: noose :

A. tight

B. looped

C. stretched

Practice


2. tightrope : taut :: noodle :

A. safe

B. delicate

C. slack

Practice


3. improvised : rehearsed :: temporary :

A. voluntary

B. permanent

C. brief

Practice


4. pent-up : held in :: soldier

A. warrior

B. war

C. weapon

Practice


5. reveling : pleasure :: weeping :

A. sadness

B. crying

C. tears

Practice


Academic Vocabulary

Here are two vocabulary words that will help you think, write, and talk about the selection.

document n. a printed record

estimate n. an educated guess, based on approximated numbers or volumes



Answer: It represents hours of research, and he felt that it would help him get ahead at work.

1. Why was Tom’s document so important to him?



Answer: Estimates of types of customers, buying habits, and related information

2. What types of estimates appeared on it?



Authors often give hints about the theme, or message about life, that they want to communicate in their written work. What hints about the theme appear in the title of this story? Write a brief essay exploring how the theme and title of this story are related.



To organize your thoughts for the essay, use a cluster web like the one shown on the next slide.



After you complete your draft, have a peer read it and suggest revisions. Then proofread and edit you work for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.


Performing

To let the reader understanding Tom’s predicament and his character, Finney writes what Tom is thinking as he gropes his way along the ledge. However, if this story, like many of Finney’s other works, was adapted into a movie, the character playing Tom would have to speak his thoughts aloud for the audience to gain the same insight.


Performing

Write a first-person monologue for Tom, based on part of the story. Deliver it to the class, using facial expressions and a tone of voice appropriate to Tom’s precarious situation on the ledge. Remember: Don’t look down!!


Using Introductory Phrases In this story, Jack Finney uses many introductory prepositional and participial phrases to describe Tom’s actions and emotions. An introductory phrase is a phrase at the beginning of a sentence.

Finney’s Language and Style


A prepositional phrase consists of a prepositional phrase, its object, and any modifiers of the object. A prepositional phrase can function as an adjective or an adverb, depending on what it modifies.



A participial phrase contains a participle and any complements or modifiers necessary to complete its meaning. Look at the examples on the next slide.



Introductory Prepositional Phrase: For many seconds he believed he was going to abandon the yellow sheet, that there was nothing else to do.


Introductory Participial Phrase: Dropping his palms to the sill, he stared into his living room….



Activity On a sheet of paper, combine each of the following sentence pairs by changing one of the sentences into an introductory prepositional or participial phrase.



1. Tom waved to Clare. He wished he could go with her.

Answer: Wishing he could go with her, Tom waved to Clare.



2. Tom sidled across the ledge. His heart was in his mouth.

Answer: With his heart in his mouth, Tom sidled across the ledge.



3. Tom took deep breaths. He was afraid that he would faint.

Answer: Afraid that he would faint, Tom took deep breaths.



4. Tom felt the rough bricks. He pressed his face to the wall.

Answer: Pressing his face to the wall, Tom felt the rough bricks.



5. A man was reading. He was in a nearby apartment.

Answer: In a nearby apartment, a man was reading.


Revising Check: Introductory Phrases

Revise the essay that you wrote regarding the title of this story. Alter some of the sentences by changing them to include an introductory prepositional or participial phrase.


Before You Read


After You Read



Meet Luisa Valenzuela



A story of censors and censorship could take place almost anywhere and at any time. Before you read the story, think about the following questions:

• Do you take freedom of speech for granted?

• Do you think other people take freedom of speech for granted?



Luisa Valenzuela does not name a specific city, country, or time in which “The Censors” takes place. However, Valenzuela often writes about the political struggles and repressive governments in Argentina in the twentieth century.

Building Background


“The Censors” was first published in 1976, the year that a military faction overthrew Argentina’s government. The new government severely restricted constitutional liberties and systematically began to eliminate any opposition to its new regime. Innocent citizens as well as dissidents were tortured and killed. Some thirteen-thousand to fifteen-thousand citizens were killed in the Guerra Sucia—the “Dirty War,” as it came to be called.

Building Background



As you read “The Censors,” think about the choices that Juan makes in order to “protect” himself and Mariana from the censors.

Making Choices


Satire is the use of humor or wit to ridicule institutions or humanity with the goal of entertaining or causing change. Recognizing satire can help you discern a persuasive argument that is presented as a humorous or witty portrayal.


Satire


As you read, try to determine what Valenzuela is satirizing and what she might like to change.


Satire


Analyzing Cause-and-Effect Relationships

In life and in literature, one event often has some sort of impact upon another event. Knowing how to analyze cause and effect can help you better understand both the relationships between those events and the literary work as a whole.

BEFORE YOU READBEFORE YOU READ


Reading Tip: Taking Notes Use a graphic organizer like the one on the next slide to help you determine the order of events.



irreproachable adj. free from blame or criticism; faultless (p. 182) The boy’s kind behavior was irreproachable.

albeit conj. although; even if (p. 183) I like the fall, albeit I am always eager for spring.

ulterior adj. intentionally withheld or concealed (p. 183) Sam had an ulterior motive for not wanting to tell the truth.



staidness n. the state or quality of being serious, steady, or conservative in character (p. 183) The stern old woman had a certain staidness about her.

subversive adj. seeking to weaken, destroy, or overthrow (p. 184) Subversive people wished to overthrow the government.



Making Choices Keep the following question in mind as you read. What is Juan’s initial attitude toward the censors?

Answer: At first, Juan believes the censors employed by the government try so hard to find treachery that they find what does not exist. In an attempt to sabotage the system, he becomes a censor.



Tone Read the first paragraph onpage 182. What phrases create an ominous tone?

Literary Element


Answer: “poor Juan!” “they caught him with his guard down”; “one of fate’s dirty tricks”; “a feeling you can’t trust”; “without thinking twice”


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 182. Considering the title of the story, why do you think Juan’s choice to write a letter might be significant?

Answer: A censor might read Juan’s letter and find something that would get Juan or Mariana in trouble.



Look at the painting on page 183. How does this image relate to your idea of censors?



Viewing the Art


Satire Read the first text highlighted in purple on page 184. How does Valenzuela use satire here?

Literary Element


Answer: Valenzuela ridicules the corruption of the government by showing how the Post Office’s Censorship Division rewards employees for currying favor with a repressive authority.


Analyzing Cause-and-Effect Relationships Read the text highlighted in blue on page 184. What do the cause and effect in this sentence reveal about Juan’s superiors?

Reading Strategy

Answer: Juan’s superiors reward him for censoring the most harmless of letters, even though his actions will bring his fellow citizens great harm.



Satire Read the second text highlighted in purple on page 184. Explain what is satirical in this passage.

Literary Element


Answer: In reality, Juan’s work is not that demanding. Instances that require him to be truly discerning are rare, and he often detects threatening material when it actually is not present.


Making Choices Read the text highlighted in tan on page 184. How does Juan’s choice affect his final outcome?

Answer: By the time Juan and his letter cross paths again, the job of finding hidden messages has so changed him that he does not even think twice about censoring his own innocent letter.



1. (a) What feelings did you have about Juan at the end of the story? (b) Did your feelings about him change during the course of the story?





2. (a) What does Juan fear will happen to Mariana as a result of his letter? (b) What does this tell you about the kind of government Juan lives under?

Answer: (a) Juan fears that the censors will go after Mariana. (b) The government is totalitarian.




3. (a) What is Juan’s “unoriginal idea”? (b) Why are “more and more censors” needed, making it easy for Juan to get hired?




Answer: (a) To get a job as a censor and retrieve his letter (b) The government wants to exert more and more control over citizens’ private messages.




4. (a) What parts of this story seem logical and believable to you? (b) Are there any parts that are unbelievable? Use details from the story to support your answer.




Answer: (a) Censorship, fear of censors, and executions seem believable. (b) You may find it unbelievable that Juan would convict himself.




5. What does Valenzuela achieve by keeping the tone of the story light and casual?



Answer: It keeps the story from being somber and supports the author’s wish to mock the government’s absurdities.


6. Whose choices, Juan’s or the government’s, do you think had a greater impact on the outcome of the story? Explain.





Satire

Humor—a common element of satire—can often be persuasive as well as entertaining because it is less likely to alienate people who might initially disagree.


Satire

1. How does Juan’s transformation into the perfect censor become the “punch line” for this satire? Explain.

Answer: Juan becomes such a perfect censor that he censors his own letter.


Satire

2. Is the author’s satire aimed more at the government or at the individuals like Juan?

Answer: It is aimed at the government, with the Censor’s Secret Command, the dehumanizing nature of the censor’s job, and the building’s outwardly “festive air.”



Respond to Theme Valenzuela uses satire to make a statement about a government’s control over the lives of its citizens. Write a brief essay in which you identify and discuss the theme of “The Censors.” Include elements from the story that are related to the theme, as well as any impressions or ideas that struck you as you read.



After you complete a draft of your essay, meet with a peer reviewer to evaluate each other’s work and suggest revisions. Then proofread and edit your draft for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.


When authors do not tell their stories chronologically, the reader must pay close attention in order to determine the actual sequence of events and the cause-and-effect relationships of those events to one another.



1. Describe how the story is organized.


Answer: Begins with a reference to Juan’s fate and then is told chronologically


2. How would the impact of the story change if events were ordered differently?




Practice

Practice with Word Parts Read the roots and definitions on the next slides. Then pick the best definition for each of the boldfaced vocabulary words.


Practice

• Latin root: ulter–“farther, beyond”

• Old French root: reprochier–“to blame, accuse”

• Latin root: subvertere–“to turn upside down, overthrow”


Practice

1. Her ulterior purpose was to meet with friends.

A. cruel

B. concealed

C. necessary


Practice

2. The irreproachable candidate got the job.

A. historical

B. experienced

C. faultless


Practice

3. The subversive group overthrew the government.

A. rebellious

B. powerful

C. evil


Before You Read


After You Read


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

http://www.glencoe.com/


In “Cry of the Ancient Mariner,” the writer and environmentalist Carl Safina examines the reasons why marine life is being destroyed and provides some possible solutions.

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

Preview the Article



1. From the title, what words would you use to describe what the tone of the article might be?

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

2. Skim the article. What do you think it will be about?

Preview the Article



Read to discover an environmental concern and the writer’s viewpoint on saving ocean life.


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

Set a Purpose for Reading



Determining the Main Idea and Supporting Details

Determining the main idea involves finding the most important thought the writer is trying to convey about his or her subject. The main idea is not always obvious, so use the supporting details in the text to guide you. As you read, create and complete a graphic organizer like the one shown on the next slide.


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



Making Choices Consider the following question as you read. What are some other choices you can make to help preserve wildlife and the environment?

Answer: You may mention using alternative energy sources, recycling, consuming less, and disposing of trash properly.


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



Determining Main Idea and Supporting Details Read the section “Message from the Albatross” on pages 186 and 187. What is the main idea of Safina’s essay?

Reading Strategy

Answer: The destruction of marine life can and should be prevented.


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



Determining Main Idea and Supporting Details What are some supporting details you found when reading?

Reading Strategy

Answer: Fishing captures more than 80 million tons of sea creatures each year; sewage and other waste runoff from the land has made entire areas of the sea uninhabitable; commercial and recreational fishing damage sea-floor habitats.


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



Making Choices Do you believe enough time, energy, and funding is being directed toward solving the problems plaguing the oceans?



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



1. How did you feel about the importance of preventing the destruction of marine life before and after you read the article?




Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



2. (a) What is one solution to the problem of overfishing that the writer provided? (b) Did he provide substantial evidence as to why this solution would work?

Answer: (a) Setting fishing limits or eliminating government subsidies (b) He said eventually we could catch 10 million more tons of sea life.



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



3. (a) What was the writer’s opinion of aquaculture, or fish farming? (b) How did this article affect your views of fish farming?

Answer: (a) The writer believes fish farming causes more problems than it solves. (b) Answers will vary.



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



4. (a) On what, in the writer’s opinion, doe the ocean’s future depend on? (b) How did the writer support his opinion on this concern?



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



Answer: (a) The writer says that the ocean’s future depends on international cooperation. (b) He identifies several laws and treaties that have been created to protect the ocean, but they are not effective when some countries fail to abide by them.



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



5. Choose the sentence from the following three that best describes the main idea of the reading selection.



i Saving the environment is a necessity for humankind.

ii Marine life can only continue to survive if immediate action is taken.

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner





iii Overfishing, fish farming, and pollution must be curbed and/or prevented in order to save the oceans and marine life.

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

Answer: The third sentence is the main idea.



6. (a) How can you tell which of the writer’s claims are facts and which are opinions? (b) How do you think this affects the validity of his claims?



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner





Answer: (a) When the writer speaks of the future or what he believes will happen, he is expressing opinions, because we do not know the future. These statements are not verifiable. (b) It leaves room for disagreement, but the facts he does include still make his opinions look reasonable.

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



7. The writer is the founder of the National Audubon Society’s Living Oceans Program. The National Audubon Society is a network of community-based centers as well as scientific and educational programs geared toward sustaining the life of birds and promoting conservation. How do you think the writer’s background influences his opinions and writing style?



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner





Answer: He is probably well informed about harm done to the environment and the steps to conserve it.

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner



8. (a) Restate the choices that the writer provides as a solution for preserving ocean life. (b) Which of these choices do you think would be the easiest to achieve and why?



Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

Making Choices





Answer: (a) We need to enforce fishing limits, end fishing subsidies, improve sewage treatment, create marine sanctuaries for aquaculture, get all countries to cooperate, and create fishing zones. (b) Answers will vary.

Cry of the Ancient

Mariner

Making Choices



How would you describe your city or town to someone who has never been there?

BELLRINGERBELLRINGERUnit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2


When is it worth the risk? How for would you go to protect a possession that is very important to you?



What people have an influence on you? What methods might these people use to sway your opinions?


Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 BELLRINGER OPTION TRANSPARENCYBELLRINGER OPTION TRANSPARENCYUnit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2

Click on the image to see a full version of the Bellringer Option Transparency.


0%

0%

0%

0%A. the sun in a Van Gogh painting

B. a child’s face

C. a religious statue’s face

D. a death mask

To what does the narrator initially compare Da-duh’s face?

CHECKPOINT QUESTIONSCHECKPOINT QUESTIONS


0%

0%

0%

0%A. to accept the color of her skin

B. to think she is a beautiful girl

C. to recognize her small strength

D. to smile at her

What is all the narrator asks of the adults in her life?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. Da-duh gave the girl a penny.

B. Da-duh walked away in disgust.

C. Da-duh began to sing and dance.

D. Da-duh started to cry.

What happened after the narrator sang and danced for Da-duh?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. getting in a fight

B. the height of the Empire State Building

C. the size of her school in New York

D. electric lights in New York

About what did Da-duh accuse the narrator of lying?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. Da-duh died.

B. Da-duh’s palm tree was cut down.

C. The narrator’s family moved back to Barbados.

D. Barbados gained its independence from Britain.

What significant event happened during the 1937 strike?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. It was his own project.

B. It would earn him a promotion.

C. It had to be done on a tight deadline.

D. It was a secret assignment he shared with his boss.

What was significant about the work Tom wanted to complete that night?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. payroll records for Tom’s office

B. movie schedules and ticket prices

C. the address and telephone numbers of Tom’s boss

D. notes and research to support Tom’s idea

What was on the yellow piece of paper that blew out the window?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. A cab driver heard him.

B. His cries were drowned out by the wind.C. His neighbors heard him.

D. He lost his balance.

What happens when Tom first yelled out for help?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. His wife returned home.

B. He dropped the piece of paper.

C. The window fell shut.

D. His right shoe fell off.

What happened as Tom reached his apartment window after getting the yellow piece of paper?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. He screamed “Clare”!

B. He tired to calm his nerves.

C. He went back to work on his project.

D. He went to find his wife.

What did Tom do after safely getting into his apartment?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. It was the best-paying position in the

country.B. He wanted to intercept his own letter.C. He wanted to be sure he was the first

person to see a reply from Mariana.D. He needed the job.

Why did Juan apply for a censorship job?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. He knew the boss.

B. He was the best censor in his department.

C. He discovered a letter bomb.

D. He reported a coworker who organized a strike.

How did Juan earn his first promotion?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. It explodes while being examined in

Section K.B. Juan destroys it.

C. Juan censors it.

D. Juan secretly mails it.

What happens to Juan’s letter to Mariana?



0%

0%

0%

0%A. a pile of colorful plastic particles

B. poison residues

C. fishing nets

D. human footprints

What often marks the spot where albatross chicks die?


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner


0%

0%

0%

0%A. air pollution

B. weather catastrophes

C. fishing

D. oil spills

According to the writer, what causes the most harm to ocean life?


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner


0%

0%

0%

0%A. fish farming

B. land

C. acid rain

D. fishing boats

Where does most ocean pollution come from?


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner


0%

0%

0%

0%A. Native fish populations can be reduced

and infected with disease.B. The fish are mistreated.

C. Prices for local fish become less stable.D. Habitats are destroyed and jobs are lost.

What major problem arises from raising fish species foreign to the local habitat?


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner


0%

0%

0%

0%A. It is not an effective method to save

marine life.B. Most fishers ignore the treaty.

C. Very few countries agree with the treaty.

D. Policing the treaty at sea is impractical.

According to the writer, what is wrong with the U.N. marine pollution treaty?


Cry of the Ancient

Mariner


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Unit 1, Part 2Unit 1, Part 2 REFERENCEREFERENCE

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