The Truth About SharksBy Joan Bauer

Looking at Theme, Characterization & Irony

The Necklace• Theme & CharacterizationTHEME

Standard 2:

• Students will be able to identify themes of a text as well as analyze how the author develops that theme throughout the text.

 

CHARACTERIZATION

Standard 3:

• Students will be able to analyze how main characters of a text are developed throughout the text.

• Students will be able to analyze how main characters affect other characters in the text.

• Students will be able to analyze how main characters advance the plot and/or theme of the text.

The Truth About Sharks: Accountability1. questions

Characterization: how the character is portrayed

Beth:

Maybe outline here

These do NOT qualify as themes found within “The Truth About Sharks”:

Theme: the central idea or message about life

Theme: the central idea or message about life

So how is characterization used to develop theme? (Standard 2 & 3)

• Character Traits of Madge P. Groton and/or Beth:

• How are these character traits used to develop the following theme?

• Theme:

Explain:

How to Write a Thesis Statement

DIRECTIONS: Copy exactly what you see in your UNIT NOTES section

FORMULA FOR WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT

Author utilizes + Literary Device in Type & Title of Work + to Analytical Verb (suggest) Purpose = Thesis Statement

While the purpose will change depending on what you write, our PURPOSE in a character analysis is how the use of a literary device (characterization) helps develop a theme.

The Necklace: Analytical Verbs

List of Analytical Verbs:

Examines Investigates Suggests

Implies HighlightsConcludes

Indicates Addresses Explores

Outlines Insinuates

1. Explain one incident you believe to be a good example of situational irony found within the short story & describe why it would qualify as situational irony.

2. Explain one incident you believe to be a good example of dramatic irony found within the short story & describe why it would qualify as dramatic irony.

3. The title seems misleading at first. How are the title, what is stated about sharks, and the last paragraph of the story used to help develop a theme? Use evidence from the story to support your answer.

3. The title seems misleading at first. How are the title, what is stated about sharks, and the last paragraph of the story used to help develop a theme? Use evidence from the story to support your answer.

• Consider how the sample answer to #3 is organized. How does its organization help or harm the overall quality of the response?

While the title of Joan Bauer’s short story is “The Truth About Sharks” it has nothing to do with actual sharks. The title is part of the figurative language she uses throughout the story. She uses the repeated metaphor referring to the Security Guard Marge P. Groton as a shark. Sharks hunt their prey and are dangerous and typically greatly feared; all of those characteristics equally apply to the way Beth views the security guard.

As Madge Groton demands that Beth remove the alleged stolen pants, Beth recalls something she had read instructing a person to punch an attacking shark in the nose. Beth then immediately refers to the guard as a shark. This leads the reader to believe Beth is going to physically hit the guard but she never does.

The title of the story comes from the last line of the story that reads, “I guess I’d learned the truth about sharks: If one comes barreling at you, the best thing to do is hit it in the nose.” Again, figurative language is used since she never literally hits the security guard. The way she “hits” is by standing up to the security guard. She fights back by speaking with the store manager and explaining how she was falsely accused and humiliated. Much like a shark doesn’t expect their prey to fight back by punching, security guard Madge P. Groton didn’t expect her “prey” Beth to fight back by standing up for what was right.

The metaphorical reference to Madge P. Groton as a shark allows Joan Bauer to lead the reader to realize there are more ways to fight back. Bauer encourages handling adversity appropriately as she writes how Beth’s mom praises her for handling this situation by herself, receives a $650 gift certificate, and a personal apology from Madge P. Groton. “The Truth About Sharks” seems to highlight that knowing how to “fight” back in appropriate ways seems to pay off greatly.