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Warm-Up Characterization in Heart of a Samurai

Lesson Question

?

WK2

Lesson Goals

Words to Know

Fill in this table as you work through the lesson. You may also use the glossary to help you.

not stated outright but able to be understood

the use of literary techniques to create a character’s personality, appearance, and background

the way an author presents and develops a character

fully and clearly stated

a conclusion drawn from details in the text and the reader’s own knowledge

Read from the novel Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus.

Make inferencesbased on story

.

Analyze word choiceand character

.

Connect characterdevelopment to bigger

.

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Warm-Up Characterization in Heart of a Samurai

Choosing the Best Words

What we say and how we say it influences what others about us and

whether or not they who we are.

What words or phrases might someone use to describe you?

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2Slide

Characterization in Heart of a SamuraiInstructionPart 1

Making Inferences

An is a conclusion readers draw using details from the text and

their own .

Explicit and Implicit Details4

details: details:

• are stated in the text.

• about actions,

appearances, and thoughts.

Example: Nadira was a smart girl and a star athlete.

• are not stated directly in the text.

• at actions,

appearances, and thoughts.

Example: It was unlike Nadira to get anything less than an A. She scored the most baskets in every basketball game, and everyone knew her name.

Step three:Make an

Step one:Think about

what the texttells you

Step two:Think about

what you

..

.

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Characterization in Heart of a SamuraiInstructionPart 1

6Slide

Analyzing Details about a Character

To learn more about a character:

• find details

that directly describe the character.

• infer details

by looking at a character’s words, thoughts, and actions.

As Jusuke steered the boat toward home, the

fishermen fell silent. In three days they had

not caught a single fish. Their families would

go hungry. Manjiro swallowed hard when he

thought of the empty rice bin at home.

–Heart of a Samurai,Margi Preus

Underline the explicit detail in the passage.

Recapping Heart of a Samurai

• Manjiro and the other fishermen are out searching for fish when a

hits.

• They are lost at sea until Manjiro spots an .

• They get to the island, but it has no water. The men eat birds

they find on the island, but the birds eventually fly away.

• After several months, the men are weak with and barely surviving.

• Manjiro spots fishing in the distance and swims out to meet them.

• The men on the fishing boats look like the Manjiro and his friends have heard of.

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Characterization in Heart of a SamuraiInstructionPart 1

9Slide

Word Choice and Characterization

is the way

characters are presented and developed in a story.

The words an author chooses to describe a character can help you understand

how the character and

.

While they waited, they stared out across

the ocean, toward the northwest – toward

home. Manjiro’s stomach tightened

with worry. How was his family getting

along without him? Were his little sisters

gathering taro in the mountains, trying to

find something to eat?

–Heart of a Samurai,Margi Preus

Underline the words that show characterization.

Tracing Character Development

To trace character

, think about

how characters as

events move the story forward.

“Please pardon me, friends,” he said softly,

“but I have a question.”

Toraemon said sharply, “Manjiro, now is not

the time –”

But Denzo laid a hand on Toraemon’s arm

and said to Manjiro, “What is it?”

“There were two graves, right, Denzo-san?”

Manjiro said.

Denzo nodded.

–Heart of a Samurai,Margi Preus

Underline the sentence that traces character development in the passage.

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Characterization in Heart of a SamuraiInstructionPart 2

2Slide

Connecting Characters to Bigger Ideas

Overcoming obstacles

• Notice that a

character faces.

• Note thoughts, actions, and dialogue.

• Track to

overcome obstacles.

• how a character

changes.

• Think about the of a hero.

• Use to determine

character traits.

• Decide whether a character’s traits make him or her a hero.

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Characterization in Heart of a Samurai

4Slide

InstructionPart 2

Characterization and Bigger Ideas

Manjiro faces many obstacles. Manjiro has heroic qualities.

• Manjiro fails at his first

.

• His family is struggling to find

.

• Manjiro and the others cannot catch any fish.

• They are caught in a storm.

• They are on

an island.

• They are taken aboard a barbarian ship.

• He wishes to be a noble samurai.

• He uses fear to

him, rather than letting it hold him back.

• He risks his own to help others.

• He is smart and clever, and he

quickly.

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Summary

Lesson Question

Characterization in Heart of a Samurai

Answer

Lesson Question

How does an author’s word choice help you get to know characters?

Use this space to write any questions or thoughts about this lesson.

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