Name: ______Period: ______Date: ______Grade: _____
Part I – Chapters 1-8 Due
Chapters 1-5
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
godmother (3) conspiracy (7) modicum (7) quarter (10) illegible (11) plantation (12) parain (12) antebellum (17) parish (25) ashy (33) tyrant (38) stealth (41) innate (41) cynicism (43) agitated (44) humanitarianism (56) mulatto (62) Creole (64)
Write a five-senses poem about Jefferson's emotions at the trial (e.g., Hopelessness, Despair). (Five-sense poem: Line 1: color of the emotion; Line 2: sound of the emotion; Line 3: taste of the emotion; Line 4: smell of the emotion; Line 5: sight (what the emotion looks like); Line 6: feeling evoked by the emotion
Setting – Where is this novel set? How do you think the setting plays a role in the plot of the novel?
Identify an example of each literary device from chapters 1-5
- Foreshadowing
- Irony
- Metaphor
- Simile
- Personification
- Symbolism
What/who is Jim Crow?
The Big Idea…
Chapters 6-8
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
1 Question from each of the following Socratic Seminar Categories
WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION
CLOSE-ENDED QUESTION
OPEN-ENDED QUESTION
UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTION
LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTION
What point of view is used in this novel? Cite an example, using MLA format, to prove your answer is correct.
Themes –
Symbols –
Character Journal –Choose a character from the novel and write a journal from their point of view. Should be at least 1 page and include details from the novel to support their point of view.
Re-reading/Clarifying Questions
The Big Idea…
Inferences – What is going to happen in Part II?
Part II – Chapters 9-15Due
Chapters 9-12
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
yam (73) trusty (82) universality (90) mortuary (91) gravity (100) theological (101) backsliders (101) photocollage (104) rustic (104) pastoral (104) derrick (105) caste (115) jazz (115) vexing (129) precedent (133) sentiments (134)
Describe one text to self connection. Cite using MLA format.
1. Who is Dr. Joseph? Why is he significant to the story? Do you think he is sincerely interested in the education of black children? Why or why not? (p. 51-58)
2. Identify Matthew Antoine and explain his influence on Grant Wiggins. What do you think he means by "Here is the burden" (p. 63)? (p. 62-65)
3. Explain the social structure among the black people in the novel. Note Antoine's opinion of those darker than he, the reaction of Vivian's family to her husband, and Tante Lou's initial reaction to Vivian.
4. Prediction: Will Matthew Antoine's prediction that nothing Grant does will ever make a difference prove right or wrong?
5. Who makes the first visit to Jefferson in jail? What happened?(p. 67-74)
6. Describe the courthouse and the jail cell. Why do you think this is significant? (p. 68-69)
7. What is different about the fourth visit? How does Jefferson react to the food Grant brings? What does this signify? (p. 77-85)
8. Why does Grant become angry with his aunt? (p. 79)
9. What will Grant tell Miss Emma about his visit to Jefferson? How will she reactCharacter Analysis – Select a character and create an acronym of their name. With each letter, create a sentence analyzing their character traits.
Re-reading/Clarifying Questions
The Big Idea…
Chapters 13-15
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
Quotations – choose 3 quotes from the novel and explain their significance.
Modernism Characteristics
Describe Grant and Tante Lou’s relationship. Cite using MLA format.
Part III – Chapters 16-21 Due
Chapters 16-18
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
inflection (138) moral obligation (139) wool-gathered (139) stock (140) crokersacks (144) alabaster (144) inclement (147) nativity (148) Lent (156) Ash Wednesday (156) mosquito bar (160) chifforobes (175) brogans (188) gumbo (189) dignity (191) myth (192)
HOT Questions
Text to World Connection –
Identify each of the following – use MLA format to cite correctly.
Allusion
Irony
Metaphor
Journal :
Chapters 19-21
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
Socratic Seminar Questions
Inferences – What is going to happen in Sequel?
Argument Journal – Identify ethos, pathos, logos used in this novel by one character to persuade another character to do something. Cite the example using MLA format and write an analysis on the effectiveness of the persuasion by the character.
Part IV – Chapters 22-28 Due
Chapters 22-24
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
HOT Questions
Text to World Connection –
Letter: You are Grant and you are to write a letter to another character in the novel. You are to follow the tone and language of the text, meaning that you should write like you are Grant (not you).
Chapters 25-28
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
emancipation (198) guillotine (201) tarpaulin (236) mortician (238) generator (240) gruesome (241) sharecropper (247) corrugated (248) feat (248) tranquil (252) abreast (253) transformation (254)
Socratic Seminar Questions
Why do you think Gaines chose Grant to narrate the novel? Why didn’t he choose an omniscient, third-person to narrate the story?
1. What does Grant NOT want to speak to Vivian about?
2. What DOES Grant want to tell Vivian about?
3. Why are the bricklayers abusive to Jefferson and, by extension, to Grant?
4. Why does Grant go ahead and fight despite telling himself not to? (In your opinion.)
5. Why is Vivian “disgusted” with Grant after the fight?
6. What is Vivian’s new problem with her husband?
7. Why does Grant threaten to leave?
8. What does Vivian want out of Grant that would be “real love”?
Part V – Chapters 29-31 Due
Chapters 29-31
Vocabulary Requirements: student friendly definition, sentence from text, synonyms, antonyms, image
HOT Questions
Text to World Connection –
Choose one of the following statements and create an argument defending your belief in the statement. Cite from the text using MLA format.
- Jefferson is a hero.
- Grant is a hero.
- Capital punishment is right.
- A Lesson Before Dying is a great book.