Literary Analysis Day 6

Big Idea: What does it mean to be human?

After today I should be able to: write a thesis statement that identifies literary elements and states an interpretation of the short story's meaning.

Reading: 

Agenda:

1. Today we will add commentary to our paragraphs.
1. (Paraphrase or summarize language from the quote that proves topic sentence observation) (choose one: showcases, highlights, suggests, implies, demonstrates, creates, establishes, exposes) (insert unifying idea based on the claim in the topic sentence) because (explain how your evidence relates to the claim by articulating the assumptions that must be accepted to consider the evidence as valid).
2. Consequently, since (insert assumption related to evidence and literary observation), (finish sentence by explaining the logical outcome in relation to the story.
3. (Choose one: Therefore/Thus/Furthermore), (articulate an extended observation about the literary element in discussion) due to the fact that (articulate the assumption(s) that allow the observation at the beginning of the sentence to make sense). 
4. Here are some examples, to show what it looks like:
1. Example 1 (Simplest - Analyzing a Simple Symbol):
1. Topic Sentence (Implied): The bluebird in the story represents hope.
2. Text Example: For example, after the sad character cries, a small bluebird lands on the window. It sings a bright, cheerful song. The character smiles. The bird flies away.
3. Commentary:
1. The bird's "cheerful song" suggests hope because it makes the sad character smile.
2. Consequently, since the bird brings happiness, it shows that hope can come even in sad times.
3. Therefore, the bird symbolizes hope due to the fact that it changes the character's mood.
2. Example 2 (More Complex - Analyzing Character Development and Internal Conflict):
1. Topic Sentence (Implied): The character's hesitation to tell the truth reveals their internal conflict between honesty and fear.
2. Text Example: For example, following the discovery of the missing item, the character stares at the floor. They open their mouth, then close it. They fidget with their hands. Their eyes dart around the room.
3. Commentary:
1. The act of opening and closing their mouth demonstrates the internal conflict because it shows they want to speak but are afraid.
2. Consequently, since they are visibly nervous, the reader understands the struggle they are facing.
3. Therefore, their behavior reveals their internal conflict due to the fact that they are torn between two opposing desires.
3. Example 3 (Most Complex - Analyzing Symbolism and Theme):
1. Topic Sentence (Implied): The recurring image of the broken clock symbolizes the theme of time's destructive power.
2. Text Example: Take, for example, how after the old house is abandoned, the clock in the hall stops ticking. Its hands are frozen, bent at an awkward angle. Dust covers its face. The once loud tick-tock is replaced by an eerie silence.
3. Commentary:
1. The "frozen, bent" hands of the clock showcases the destructive power of time because it represents the cessation of life and movement.
2. Consequently, since the clock is broken and silent, it implies the passage of time has led to decay and stillness.
3. Furthermore, the broken clock articulates an extended observation about the inevitability of time’s impact, due to the fact that the object, once a symbol of constant motion, is now a testament to stagnation and ruin.
4. Example 4 (Analyzing Theme):
1. Topic Sentence (Implied): The theme of lost innocence is developed through the character's interaction with nature.
2. Text Example: For example, following the character's departure from the idyllic countryside, she finds herself in a barren cityscape. The once vibrant meadows are replaced by concrete and steel. The air, thick with smog, stings her eyes. The songbirds are gone, replaced by the relentless drone of traffic.
3. Commentary:
1. The contrast between vibrant meadows and concrete highlights the loss of innocence because it symbolizes the destruction of natural beauty and the shift to a harsh, artificial world.
2. Consequently, since the natural world is destroyed, the character loses a vital connection to purity and peace.
3. Therefore, the change in setting articulates an extended observation about the inevitability of lost innocence, due to the fact that the character is forced to confront the harsh realities of a corrupted world.

Homework:

1. Tenth Grade vocabulary assignment on Gimkit. You will find it on Google Classroom. You will have a test on Friday. It will be due on Sunday by 9 PM.