e10 march30 2011_upload

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Literature: “The Possibility of Evil”

Housekeeping

1. Due today: “All Summer in a Day” work• For Discussion Questions 2 and 5. • Vocabulary Paragraph

2. Cell phones• Please turn off or set to vibrate NOW!

“The Possibility of Evil”

• Now that you have read the story, what do you think the title suggests?


• What do you think about this story? Do you like it or dislike it? Why or why not?

“The Possibility of Evil” - Vocabulary

Work with a classmate to look up the assigned word and write a sample sentence for it.

“The Possibility of Evil” - Vocabulary1. infatuated (adj.)

– (adj.) foolishly in love.– Ex: (v.) He was infatuated with his new coworker and couldn’t stop thinking about her. (adj.)

The infatuated couple held hands and kissed often, even though it was inappropriate.

2. indulgently (adv.)– do something to allow oneself pleasure; allow someone else to have or do anything he or she

wants– Ex: The mother indulgently let her child stay up until midnight.– Ex: I ate the entire bag of chips, indulgently.

3. dryly (adv.)– said in a dry manner, flat or understated, with little emotion– Ex: “I am aware of that,” he said dryly, when told he had won the lottery.

4. absentminded (adj.)– inattentive or habitually forgetful, not thinking about what you are doing at the moment– Ex: She was so absentminded that she often wore two different coloured socks.

5. stationery (n.) (not stationary)– material for writing such as paper, cards and envelopes– Ex: Sally bought some perfumed stationery to write letters to her boyfriend.

“The Possibility of Evil” - Vocabulary

6. proverbial (adj.)– a well known or commonly referred to object or saying – Ex: I have found the proverbial fountain of youth.– Ex: She is always looking for the proverbial silver lining.

7. reprehensible (adj.)– blameable and disgusting, deserving of punishment– Ex: The fact that he stole from his company is reprehensible.

8. mock (v.) – (v.) tease scornfully, imitate in an unkind way, make fun of– Ex: The coach mocked the player for dropping the ball

9. soberly (adv.)– seriously, calmly, clearly– Ex: The police officer soberly described the murder scene

10. scoured (v.) to scour – to rub in order to clean– Ex: The police scoured the crime scene looking for evidence.– Ex: She scoured the bathtub until it was sparkling.

Homework

Write a vocabulary paragraph for the following words from “The Possibility of Evil”:

1. indulgently (adv.)

2. absentminded (adj.)

3. reprehensible (adj.)

4. mock (v.)

5. scoured (v. - past tense of “to scour”)


For the next 5-10 minutes, discuss any of the following points with a classmate

• any questions you still have about the story (including vocabulary)

• any of the story elements that you were not sure about (See “Reviewing Story Elements” Worksheet)


• What questions do you still have about the story? About vocabulary?


• What happens at the end of the story?

“The Possibility of Evil” Reviewing Story Elements

Point of view

Is the story told from first person or third person? How would it change the story if the point of view were changed?

• Third person – an unknown narrator “She. . .”

• We learn more about Miss Strangeworth from the narrator and other characters than she would tell us herself.

Setting

Where and when is the story set? How does this setting affect the story?

• Summer, small town on a pleasant street. This story must take place in a small town because the characters must know each other for the plot to work. Also we usually think of small towns as positive happy safe places so it helps to contrast with the main character’s evil thoughts and actions. It is a symbol of goodness.


Characters

Is the main character

– flat or round? How much do we know about her?

• Round – she appears one way at the beginning (good), but then she appears quite differently (selfish, evil)as the story progresses

• we know much more detail about her than the other characters – the narrator focuses on describing her

– dynamic or static?

• static – she had the opportunity to change, but her final words show that she still sees the world as a wicked, evil place.


Conflict What kind of conflict(s) is/are present in the story?

internal or external? • No internal conflict.• External conflict is present.

-character vs. character = Miss Strangeworth vs. people in the town

-character vs. society = Miss Strangeworth vs. perceived evil


ForeshadowingWhat hints or clues are there that Miss Strangeworth’s activities might be revealed?

-dropping the third letter-her thoughts about getting caught

OutcomeIs the ending positive or negative for the main character? • negative– she was discovered, criticized, and her roses destroyed.– she will probably lose respect from the towns people


ThemeWhat is the author’s message about people who act like the main

character? • People should mind their own business• People can’t get away with evil without being discovered• We can’t judge people by what they think or what they say only by

what they do• People are not always what they seem• A good looking appearance is not a condition for a good soul• An ill given out will always come back (What goes around comes

around)• Sometimes in trying to do what you think is right, you are actually doing

wrong

“The Possibility of Evil” Some New Story Elements

IronyThis story has examples of two kinds of irony:• Situational irony: when the opposite of what is expected happens

-the outcome-Miss Strangeworth tries to stop evil; she does evil; an evil act happens to her

• Dramatic irony: when the reader knows more than the character does

SymbolWhat symbols can you find in this story?• A symbol is a person or thing that represents an idea, value, or emotion. (Ex: a dove

represents peace, a rainbow represents hope)- the roses = perfection- small town = goodness

Some names in the story could also be considered symbolic: “Miss Strangeworth” (worth = value or values) and “Pleasant Street.”

“The Possibility of Evil” In-Class Questions

Complete Questions 1, 2, and 5. (5 marks each for a total /15).

• Each answer should be approximately 3-6 sentences long (Question 6 should probably be longer).

• You should introduce your answer clearly, in the present tense. State your answer in your own words; then, paraphrase or quote details from the story to support your answer.

•Do a rough draft, and then re-write the questions on a new sheet of paper, DOUBLE-SPACED.

NOTE: Since most students did not finish, we will have *some* time next week to do more work on this.

Homework

Due next WednesdayWrite a vocabulary paragraph for the following words from “The Possibility of Evil”: indulgently (adv.), absentminded (adj.) , reprehensible (adj.), mock (v.), scoured (v. - past tense of “to scour”). /5 marks

e10 march30 2011_upload

Education