Embedded Files
Fever 1793 is the story of fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook and her coming-of-age experience during an outbreak of yellow fever in her city, Philadelphia. As this disease spreads, the city’s normal activities come to a halt and people must confront its deadly effects. This story not only follows Mattie through a time in her life when she realizes the need to grow up quickly, but it also sheds light on society as a whole – the way that humans react to crises, how class and race influence people’s experiences with disease, and the ramifications of limited medical knowledge during an epidemic.
Big Ideas
How a society responds to a crisis reveals the complexities of human nature.
Race and class influence people’s experience with disease in ways that are not equitable.
Fever 1793 sheds light on the condition of the medical field during the late 18th century and how its limitations affected the spread and mortality of yellow fever.
Coming of age sometimes involves a shift in one’s perspective – a realization that growing up means facing challenges and taking on responsibilities more so than breaking free from rules and expectations.
A first-person point of view offers readers a more intimate understanding of emotions like grief, frustration, fear, and gratefulness.
Culminating Task:
Culminating Task:
Return to the Epilogue in Fever. On p. 242- 243 Mattie is describing what she sees outside when she opens the front door. Her description of how Philadelphia had “moved on” (p. 243) would be seen all over the city. Depending on where someone lived, what their life was like, they may see the same things, but react to them in different ways.
Return to the Epilogue in Fever. On p. 242- 243 Mattie is describing what she sees outside when she opens the front door. Her description of how Philadelphia had “moved on” (p. 243) would be seen all over the city. Depending on where someone lived, what their life was like, they may see the same things, but react to them in different ways.
Pick a character from the story. Imagine their life 6 months later– at the beginning of spring. Write a letter that your character might send to a good friend describing how they feel, what their life is like, what they see when they open their front door. What are they looking forward to doing? What are they concerned about?
Pick a character from the story. Imagine their life 6 months later– at the beginning of spring. Write a letter that your character might send to a good friend describing how they feel, what their life is like, what they see when they open their front door. What are they looking forward to doing? What are they concerned about?
Lesson Guidance Documents : These documents provide guidance for lesson planning.
Lesson Guidance Documents : These documents provide guidance for lesson planning.
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