Getting to Know the Author:
Knowing background information about an author can often times help us understand the story better because author’s often times, “write what they know.” Read the biography about the author and then do the small assignment below.
Photo:
"Shirley Jackson's Photo." Shirley Jackson's Bio. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.
Vocabulary:
Being familiar with the vocabulary in a story in important because if you don’t understand the words in the story then you won’t understand the story itself. Complete the vocabulary assignment below so that you are familiar with the words that will appear in the story.
Directions: Read through ALL the vocab words below so that you are familiar with these words and their definitions. Then pick 10 of the ones that you find the most interesting and write them in a sentence. The sentence must include context clues to what the word means.
Example: The loquacious boy ran down the hall making tons of noise.
humorlessly -in a humorless manner
lottery -players buy (or are given) chances and prizes are distributed by casting lots
tuneless -not having a musical sound or pleasing tune
interminably -all the time; seemingly without stopping
regretfully -with regret (used in polite formulas)
ritual -the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies
petulantly -in a petulant manner
disengage -release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles
reprimand -an act or expression of criticism and censure
paraphernalia -equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.
perfunctory \-hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
discard -anything that is cast aside or discarded
daintily -in a refined manner
assemble -create by putting components or members together
profusely -in an abundant manner
precede -be earlier in time; go back further
defiantly -in a rebellious manner
jovial -full of or showing high-spirited merriment
soberly -in a grave and sober manner
boisterous -full of rough and exuberant animal spirits
recital -a public instance of reciting or repeating (from memory) something prepared in advance
harry -make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes
lapse -drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards
shabby -showing signs of wear and tear
duly -at the proper time
murmur -a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
gravely -in a grave and sober manner
precisely -in a precise manner
tradition -a specific practice of long standing
generation -group of genetically related organisms constituting a single step in the line of descent
frequently -many times at short intervals
Mini Lesson:
Complete these mini lessons below. These mini lessons will cover the concepts that you will be looking for when reading the story.
Theme: Watch the clip on theme and take notes as to what theme really is and how to analyze it: Clip
Symbolism: Watch the clip on symbolism and take notes as what symbolism really is and how to analyze it: Clip
Reading the story:
Read the story and complete the assignment for the story.