Please complete the following charts:
Introduction chart
Conclusion chart
Key Points chart (Choose three events) I chose the muslin over the crib, Paul's desire to restore the farm, his refusal to tell Ellen he was worried about her, and the fact that he sees the truth of the farm's desert-like qualities yet continues to want to defend the land and pursue his dream
For each fact, be sure to add insightful inferences.
Today's words:
- Prosthetic (adjective) prosthesis (noun) Definition: the artificial replacement for a missing body part Syn: artificial limb, hook, Sentence: She was fitted with a prosthesis to replace her missing leg. Or Her prosthetic foot worked well to replace the missing foot; she could now walk again without pain.
- Procured (to procure) (Verb) Definition: to acquire something Syn: Secure, Obtain, Achieve, Supply, Acquire Sentence: Her hard work paid off; she procured an A in English class.
Theme: What a story has to say about its topic.
What does Sinclair Ross's story, "The Lamp At Noon" reveal about a farmer's relationship to the land?
In order to arrive at your best answer, create a TICK chart.
T is for Title:
Brainstorm all the connections you can think of regarding the title:
Fact Inferences
- The Lamp at Noon symbolizes hope for Ellen
- just an item for Paul,uses to get work done
- noon symbolizes that the relationship is near the end
- darkness, their lives, unhappiness, lamp causes an argument,
- blown out means no hope
- a last resort, they have to light it, things are better with the lamp, they need help,
- it casts shadows across their faces, light side to them clings to their relationship and the farm, the dark side reveals that everything is collapsing around them
- Time is running out
- A last resort, this storm is awful
- lamp represents their dire situation, how hard life is,
- When Ellen leaves and blows it out, ir represents her depression
I is for Introduction: Re-read the first page. Circle key words and phrases that seem to foreshadow the ending or create a mood. Look for symbols, sounds, sentence structure, rythms, point of view.
Facts Inferences
stood at the window motionless emphasizing the storm is driving her crazy
demented wind foreshadow
C is for Conclusion: Re-read the last page. Literary stories often do not summarize events at the end of the story. They end by inviting the reader to re-think the story, to make connections, to process how the story makes them feel, to connect these events to the reader's own life.
K is for Key Points: Choose two or three dramatic moments or key symbols in the story that you think reveal the author's attitude toward the subject. What does this story reveal about relationships? Stewardship of the land? The hardships of prairie farming? The early environmental movement? Male and female stereotypes?
Once you have created your what? / so what? charts, you are ready to contemplate the theme. Summarize your findings in one sentence.
After I did my chart today, I came up with this thematic statement (statement of theme)
Despite the realities of the desperate desert-like conditions on the farm, men attempt to rule over the land in order to prove their worth; this dominance is a form of pride which destroys families and the land.
BUT the story also speaks of hope, dreams, what keeps a person going,how the land is a part of each of them, etc. so there can be many statements of theme from one story.
The key is that you must base your statement of theme on facts and inferences from the story.
DO NOT BASE YOUR STATEMENT ON WHAT YOU ALREADY THINK ABOUT FARMING OR RELATIONSHIPS OR COMMUNICATION OR SORROW.
Your job in this exercise is to demonstrate your ability to read and comprehend stories at an insightful level.
