Name: ______

Out of My Mind Study Guide / Plot Mountain Sheet

Directions:

  • Using the literary and figurative terminology paper as a guide, answer the following questions on a separate sheet of notebook paper.
  • Please provide detailed evidence when the questions necessitate.
  • If a student does not complete this assignment, he/she will not be permitted to participate in the discussions.
  1. Who is the protagonist in the story? Who or what is the antagonist?
  2. Name another major character in the story.
  3. What is the central conflict faced by the protagonist? How did you determine this answer?
  4. How do the circumstances ofMelody missing the flight help to advance the plot?
  5. What is the significance of Melody narrating the story as opposed to her mother narrating the story?
  6. People, objects, and actions can all be symbolic. Find a symbol of connection in the story. Explain why this symbol representsconnection.
  7. Name a theme that can be developed through the symbol in question six. Cite an example from the text (include page numbers) to support the theme.
  8. Which specific literary element best reflects the title of the novel Out of My Mind (refer to your literary terms)?
  9. What does the poor excuse for a trophy symbolize? Explain your answer.
  10. The majority of the story is written from what point of view? Explain how you came to this conclusion.
  11. How would the story be different if it was written from third person omniscient point of view?
  12. In addition to the central conflict, there are many side conflicts in a story. List three more important side conflicts. Be sure to tell who the conflict was between and what type of conflict is present
  13. Is the protagonist character static or dynamic? Explain your answer.
  14. What is the overall mood of the story? Explain your reasoning. Cite an example to support your answer.
  15. What is significant of Melody and her classmates being moved into inclusion classes?

Quotes

Directions: Read the following quotes and answer the questions that follow; make sure you tie the significance of the quotes with the literary and figurative terminology provided.

  1. What does the following excerpt do for the reader? Explain

“’Hey, Claire!’ Molly said, twisting her arms above her head and bending her body so it looked crooked. ‘Look at me! I’m a retard!’ She laughed so hard, she snorted snot.

  1. How is the author’s use of figurative language effective in the following excerpt?

“From the time I was really little – maybe just a few months old – words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade.”

  1. Based on the following excerpt, what character traits best describes Melody? Based on the evidence provided, explain why you chose this specific trait.

“I feel like Christopher Columbus bumping into America. It had been there all the time, but he was the first one from his world to find it.”

  1. What is the significance tied to this quote? What can the reader learn from these words?

“The thing is small, made of cheap plastic that has been painted to look like metal. The name of the school is even spelled wrong on the faceplate.”

  1. The following quote uses what method of characterization to develop Melody?Explain why you made that determination. What theme could this indirect characterization help to develop?

“Fifth grade is probably pretty rocky for lots of kids. Homework. Never being quite sure if you’re cool enough. Clothes. Parents. Wanting to play with toys and wanting to be grown up all at the same time. Underarm odor.

I guess I have all that, plus about a million different layers of other stuff to deal with. Making people understand what I want. Worrying about what I look like. Fitting in.”

Plot

Complete a plot mountain chart on page four of this packet. Plot the most significant elements of the story on the blank plot mountain sheet.

  • You can bullet the rising action sections with major events that occur.
  • Please refer to the filled out side of the plot mountain sheet as a guide for what you should include on your blank plot mountain sheet.
  • A falling action or denouement may or may not be present. If it is not, just write N/A in the box.
  • You may use extra paper if you run out of room.

*** In addition to some of the literary and figurative analysis based questions provided above, the test will also contain comprehension based questions.

Plot Mountain for Out of My Mind

1