Whole Group: We Will Be Using Characterization to Analyze How Orwell Develops Winston And

Day One

Whole Group: We will be using characterization to analyze how Orwell develops Winston and how these choices and this character affect the overall theme. Before we do this we need to understand how assertions, evidence, and commentary work together in an analysis.

The analysis that you will be writing will use the following as a base structure for responses. Together we will highlight the responses to show which portions of the text are assertions, which are evidence, and which portions of the text serve as commentary.

Example from lesson intro: Ellis uses Jerry as a tool in his novel to show that all men are inherently cruel and capable of wicked deeds. He does this by first establishing that Jerry is a law-abiding citizen with a gentle nature who loves and cares for others. In the first three chapters, Jerry is a loving and caring father who takes care of his ailing father and “pays his tithes and taxes religiously and with a smile” (page 18). Ellis uses Jerry as a contrast to Powell, who is the wicked antagonist, as evident throughout the beginning of the novel. Jerry is always described as the thoughtful, careful and reflective character who wants to do the right thing and remain pleasant and helpful to others. On the other hand, Powell is mean and aggressive and hurts others with his abrasiveness. “Ms. Goodin’s face turned a shade of cherry blossom red as Powell berated her in front of the students” (page 66). Then, Ellis reveals Jerry’s weakness, using circumstance and other characters to provoke and antagonize him. Jerry begins to harbor vindictive thoughts until he erupts into an angry murderous rage. His smoldering anger shows that Jerry is not instantly prone to anger or angry outbursts and actions. These vengeful thoughts had to be coupled with numerous instances of irritation and provocation before he acted upon them. When the children were teasing Jerry he remained calm and civil and interpreted their behavior as an example of poor parenting (pg. 77). Then, his feelings escalated when the customer in the store was rude and dismissive of him and later when he was intentionally shoved on the train platform (pg. 79 & pg. 82). Ellis reveals this escalation through word usage, with Jerry calmly using words such as “sad children” (pg. 77) then going on to describe the shopper as an “imbecile” (pg. 79) and the group on the platform as “swine for slaughter”(pg. 82).
When Jerry “snaps” into his murderous rage in chapter 18, readers understand that even though men can be gentle they are also capable of cruel and wicked deeds.

Work Period (Rotation One): Using Chapters 3-4 in 1984 complete the author’s development of character chart.

Your Exit Slip will be to complete a Cloze Activity using the following frame: Each student completes the cloze statement below:
George Orwell uses Winston to show that ______. Orwell does this by ______. [Add specific textual support]. This allows the reader to understand that ______.

I am expecting a full paragraph response by Friday that will be submitted to our website.

Day Two

Bell Ringer: What does the author use Winston Smith to illustrate in the text?

Whole Group: Together we will write a response that includes Assertions, Evidence, and Commentary using the below excerpt:

The Chain Gang Show (Excerpt)

By Brent Staples

ANY ANIMAL WITH TEETH ENOUGH will chew off its leg to escape a trap. Human beings behaved similarly when chain gang imprisonment -- a successor to slavery -- swept through the labor-starved South during Reconstruction. Beaten and driven like maltreated beasts, shackled to one another around the clock, prisoners turned to self-mutilation to make themselves useless for work. They slashed their bodies, broke their own legs, crippled themselves by cutting their tendons.

Sample Response (You may wish to take a picture of the response we will write using information from the above chart. Your chart must be filled in.)

Work Period (Rotation One): Using Chapters 3-4 in 1984 continue the author’s development of character chart (this chart is due at the end of class on Tuesday).

AUTHOR’S DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER

Standard: Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed). (RL.1.3)

1984 by George Orwell

Complete the chart with assertions about Winston, evidence from chapters 3-4, and commentary to show the significance and effect of Orwell’s use of characterization.