Elephant Run/Roland Smith

New York/Disney/Hyperion Books/2007

ISBN: 978-1-4231-0401-8

Genre: Realistic Fiction

GradeRange: 5-8

Cross-curricular Connections:history/geography

Book Brief: Nick's father and others are taken prisoner when his plantation in Burma is invaded by the Japanese in 1941, leaving Nick and his friend Mya to risk their lives in order to free them from the POW camp.

Note some eleventh grade eligible content that could be used as enrichment at earlier levels.

Pennsylvania Eligible Content Applications

SKILLS/FICTION

R8.A.1.1.1Multiple-meaning:

This book is packed with “elephant-specific” words. At the bottom of p. 88 you will find multiple meanings of elephant dung or scat.

Question: Based on the context of the passage, the word, scat, means …

R8.A.1.1.2 Synonyms and antonyms:

p. 170 – ruse, illusion

Question: What words did the author provide to help you understand the meaning of ruse in the passage?

R8A.1.2.1 Affixes:

p. 6 massive

p. 7 overshadowed

p. 8 unfamiliar

p. 9 remarried and unopened

p. 10 husbandry

p. 11 disappointment

p. 18 independence and independent

p. 22 resourceful

p. 23 encased

Question: The base word case changes to mean _____ ?

R8.A.1.2.2 Context clues in explanatory sentences:(See Comments)

p.8 – explanation of koongyi

p. 17 – explanation of the natshins * very important throughout book, p. 134 “check the natshin,”p. 170 – signal to escape when carving is in the natshin, and at the end

p. 47 – choon – must remember what a choon is – this paragraph defines it even more, but it’s also an inference – “One that Miss Pretty would respect.”

p. 57 – enclosure – elephant crush – explanation within sentence, and further explanation in paragraph

p. 58 – padding – thay-ay explanation

p. 59 – explanation ofmusth or mone – temporary rage of an elephant

p. 231 – uses ohndone in paragraph and the definition two sentences later

Question: What words did the author provide to help you understand the meaning of the word, ohndone, in the passage? (saddle two sentences later)

R8.A.1.3.1 Inferences/conclusions:

p. 55-- the word nats is used three times on this page. The student would have to remember the definition of the word and then conclude why Hilltop is using it in the discussion with Magwe

p. 287 – students should be able to infer how they will get Mr. Freestone out of the work camp

p. 305 – tiger skin would bring____? An inference should be made before the action happens.

Question: Based on the passage, the reader can conclude…

R8.A.1.3.2 Cite evidence/generalizations:

p. 12--Hilltop is referred to as thegreatest mahout because he knows the secret language of the elephants. (generalization) This is demonstrated on p. 61 with the elephant, Ba Shin and on p.210 when he talks to Hannibal (evidence).

p. 25 Nick gives his father a diary. “I’ll put it to good use.” (generalization) On p. 134 he uses it after he is captured to send notes to Nick (powder-blue paper signals the diary) and p. 162 note to Hilltop (evidence)

Question: What is the importance of calling Hilltop the “greatest mahout?” Use two pieces of evidence to support your response.

R8.A.1.4.1 Main ideas and supporting details:

Chapter title provide key words for main ideas:

Chapter(Ch.) 1 - Burma , Ch. 2 – The Campfire, Ch. 3 – Hawk’s Nest , Ch. 4 – The Elephant Village, Ch. 5 – The Guide, Ch. 6 – The Training Camp, Ch. 7 – Indaw, Ch. 8 – The Christmas Ride, Ch. 9 – Freestone Island, Ch. 10 – The Enemy, Ch. 11 – Sergeant Sonji, Ch. 12 –Colonel Nagayoshi (end of Part One), Ch. 13 – The Garden, Ch. 14 – Mya, Ch. 15 – The Letter, Ch. 16 - The Visitor, Ch. 17 – Passage, Ch. 18 – The Airfield, Ch. 19 – The Escape, Ch. 20 – The Walls Have Ears, Ch. 21- Letters From Home (end of Part Two), Ch. 22 – The Novices, Ch. 23 – The Tunnel, Ch. 24 – The Three Monks, Ch. 25 – The Second Camp, Ch. 26 – Roll Call, Ch. 27 –The Graveyard, Ch. 28 – The Market, Ch. 29 – The Bamboo Cross, Ch. 30 – Tiger’s Breath, Ch. 31 – Bernard, Ch. 32 – Alice Springs

The escape plan begins on p. 181 – the clever way Mya unscrews the bolts would be great for main idea and details.

Question: Why is The Walls Have Ears an appropriate title for Chapter 20?

R8.A.1.5.1 Summarize:

P. 58 summarizes the progression of an elephant and its training.

Pp. 189 - p. 221 summarize what children do while waiting to leave the plantation.

Pp.217 - 221- summarize how the children became novices.

Question: Summarize what happens on p. 58. Use at least three details.

R8.A.1.6.1 Author’s intended purpose:

The author creates suspense from p. 39 with the iron bell, “Metal on metal,…” to p. 40 with repetition

You never know about the secret passageways until later in the book because on p. 123 he never finishes WHAT is secret in the house

Question: Why does the author NOT complete the statement on p. 123?

R8.A.1.6.2 Support author’s purpose:

The suspense created at the beginning of the book with Hannibal’s bell is supported at the end of the book when he uses the iron bell as part of the natshin (shrine).

Question: Why does Nick place the iron bell in the natshin?

APPLICATION/FICTION AND NONFICTION

R8.B.1.1.1 Character: (Major and Minor)

Nick (Major) p. 31 – Nick reflects on the past at the door, also playing with lead soldiers to “protect the Helm” under his father’s desk in the library, this is also foreshadowing “His toy army had not deserted the Helm.”, p. 33 – explains the “Freestone Blood” which Nick learns to control.

p. 104 – introduces to Sergeant Sonji (Major) - not a “typical” Japanese soldier. He captures Nick on this page – releases Nick’s father at the end of the story.

p. 210 – Hilltop (Taung Baw) (Major) – talks to elephants

Mya (Major) – Chapter 14 is dedicated to her.

Hannibal (Major) On p. 234 and 235 you learn the story of this elephant and how he was attacked – good for summarizing

Mr. Freestone (Minor)

Indaw (Minor) – Ch. 7 is dedicated to him. On p. 253 he is imprisoned at camp for mahouts – stayed in camp to protect family

Kya Lei (Minor) – We meet him on p. 240. He is a key player in the end.

Bukong (Minor) – wants to be master of the plantation – p. 125 shows Nick his new room, p. 237 – story of Hannibal and Bukong

p. 190 Magwe (Minor) finally separates from the Japanese, fights with Bukong – p. 223 – helps with plot to destroy airfield

Question: Explain the motives of Bukong. Give two examples for your response.

R8.B.1.1.1 Plot:

p. 32 - explanation of Hannibal and the tiger

p. 155 - begins the explanation of the secret passages and the escape plan

p. 194 - mention of “burial detail”

p. 305 - mention of tiger’s skin on the scabbard

Question: The climax or turning point of the story was…

R8.B.1.1.1 Setting:

p. 5 - boulder in middle of road

p. 6 - “hairpin curve with a drop-off of at least five hundred feet”

p. 8 - paragraph about trip - begins “Miss Pretty…”

p. 10 - kinds of animals on the plantation

p. 26 - description of houses

p. 28 - description of the house and house guests

p. 29 - “quirky” fireplaces – foreshadowing for secret passageways

p. 29 - mentioned garden – important to Nick during his captivity

p. 30 - books in library – preparing for the Japanese

Question: What details from the setting may have caused Nick to hid that Hannibal had attacked him? Give two examples to support your answer.

R8.B.1.1.1Theme: Survival, Tradition, Family

p. 8 – Christmas Day tradition

p. 27 – pagoda – special spot for discussions - tradition

p. 205 – after reading mother’s letters, Nick reiterates the theme- family

p. 216 – won’t leave without father – family

p. 15 – mahouts and descendents at Freestone house – family

Question: Family is important. Give three examples from the text that support this statement.

R11.B.1.1.1 Tone, Style, Mood:

R11.B.1.1.1 Symbolism:

p. 27 – description of the different bells for elephants – the iron bell for Hannibal has two importances; first the author repeats this often for effect (see author’s intended purpose); also, the iron bell follows Nick through his ordeal – survival.

Question: What is the symbol of survival in this book. Give two examples to support your response.

R8.B.1.2.1 Connections between texts

R11.B.2.1.1Literary devices–foreshadowing:

p. 73 – tour is not what Nick expects – foreshadowing – food and survival

p. 31 – Nick reflects on the past – door, also playing with lead soldiers to “protect the Helm” his father’s desk in the library, this is also foreshadowing “His toy army had not deserted the Helm.”

p. 29 “quirky” fireplaces – foreshadowing for secret passageways

p. 271 – Nick dreams about a graveyard and scooping out holes, man in grave is his father

p. 288 – “Sadly, he may not live through the night.”

Question: Nick’s tour at the beginning of the book foreshadows …

What does Sergeant Sonji statement, “Sadly, he may not live through the night” foreshadow?

R8.B.2.1.2 Figurative language

R8.B.2.2.1 Point of view:

p. 152-- letter from Nick’s father – family is most important

p. 248 – power shifting, p. 249 – big and little power again, p. 261 uses repetition of big and little power when Colonels change

Question: Whose point of view is prevalent in Chapter 15, The Letter?

R8.B.2.2.2 Effectiveness of point of view:

p.217 – “Nick had no idea what the robes and the instruments meant.” Told through the innocent eyes of Nick

Question: Why did the author write the story in third person? Cite three pieces of evidence from the text to support your idea.

Comments:

Poetry – great chance to study Haiku – examples on p. 107, p. 166, p. 286

Diversity – segregation of the mahouts, servant quarters in main house

At the end of Part One, Nick goes down the servants’ hallway to his old nursery to prove that he is no longer the “master of the house” p. 125

Dialect – the many Burmese words presented in the book, mostly at the beginning of the book

p. 8 koongyi – special breed of elephant

p. 8 choon – elephant stick

p. 10 mahouts (oozies) – elephant drivers

p. 11 singoung – foreman

p. 13 dah – machete

p. 17 nat – spirit

p. 17 natshins – shrines (little houses)

p. 26 longyis – long, colorful skirt

p. 57 elephant crush – like cattle chutes

p. 58 C.A.H. – calf at heels

p. 58 ohndone – elephant saddle

p. 58 thay-ay – padding under saddle

p. 59 musth/mone – rage (temporary madness of elephants, they become very aggressive)

p. 135 ginshanada – open sands, open seas, specific to a Japanese garden

By page 63 the author begins to use these words in context without an explanation.

Geographic regions – Burma, India, Thailand

Family relationships – p. 33 “Freestone Blood” - angry

Social issues –World War II