A Single Shard- Study Guide

A Single Shard- Study Guide

Chapters 1-3

NAME:______

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3
Setting Information (How it changes and impacts the story) / Ch’ulp’o a village on the Western sea in Korea. It was known for its location- trade route to China, and its soil good for pottery.
Character Focus (Who is the focus in each chapter & give details) / Tree-Ear-a young orphan boy Crane-Man- an older man who has a crippled leg
Crane-Man has “adopted” Tree- Ear
Min- a potter of great skill
Key Events or Actions That Occur (including conflicts) / Tree-Ear tells farmer on the road that rice has spilled from the farmer’s knapsack. The farmer rewards Tree-Ear with rice which he brings home to Crane-Man..
Tree-Ear stops on way home to watch Min working on a vase.
Literary Elements or Devices Used
(foreshadowing, motifs, theme, sensory imagery, similes, etc.) / Crane- symbol of life Crane-Man. Crane= Bird on one foot like Crane Man
“You clung to my good leg like a monkey to a tree”- p.9 Simile
“Tired end of day”-p.10 -Personification
“the river edging it like a neat seam” p.12- Simile
Quotes of Note/ Proverbs / “Foraging in the woods and rubbish heaps, gathering fallen grain-heads in the autumn—these were honorable ways to garner a meal, requiring time and work. But stealing and begging, Crane-man said, made a man no better than a dog.” (p. 6) HONESTY
“Scholars read the great words of the world. But you and I must learn to read the world itself.”
(p. 7) SELF PURPOSE/WORTH
“If there was more to having a home than Crane-man and the bridge, Tree-ear had neither knowledge nor need of it.” (p. 9)
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Other Comments/ notes from QCIPL

INFER: “The mushroom…emerging from the rotten wood without benefit of parent seed.” p.7 - Tree-Ear is named after this mushroom because he does not have parents and this mushroom grows without the need of a parent seed.

QUESTION:

Why would Tree-Ear want to watch Min? p.12/13

COMMENT“Working without walls” p.13-: This seems like Min is not afraid that other’s will see his work. He must be a GREAT potter.