Heroes among UsHeroes among Us

Mini LessonsMini Lessons

“ “The The Dinner Party”Dinner Party”

• naturalist – one who studies living naturalist – one who studies living things by observing them directlythings by observing them directly

• arresting – striking, getting arresting – striking, getting attention attention

• rafter – a wooden beam that rafter – a wooden beam that supports a roofsupports a roof

• spirited – lively, vigorousspirited – lively, vigorous• sober – serious, solemnsober – serious, solemn• verandah – a long covered verandah – a long covered porch along the side of a buildingporch along the side of a building

“A Running Brook of Horror” vocabulary

dexterity-skill or grace in using the hands impunity-freedom from injury or punishment invulnerable-impossible to hurt provocation-something that irritates or stirs to

action reverently-in a way that shows awe

and respect

““The Tigers and the The Tigers and the Sharks” vocabularySharks” vocabulary

fray – to separate the threads at the edge of fray – to separate the threads at the edge of cloth or threadcloth or thread

yoke . . . rudders - steering controls of a planeyoke . . . rudders - steering controls of a plane staccato – a series of short rapid soundsstaccato – a series of short rapid sounds implacably – not possible to please, satisfy or implacably – not possible to please, satisfy or

changechange optimum – the best or most favorable amountoptimum – the best or most favorable amount jettison – to throw cargo overboard to lighten jettison – to throw cargo overboard to lighten

the load in distressthe load in distress fuselage – the central, tube-shaped portion of a fuselage – the central, tube-shaped portion of a

planeplane lurched – a sudden swaying or rolling motionlurched – a sudden swaying or rolling motion sporadic – not frequent,sporadic – not frequent, occasional occasional

Mini Lesson #___Mini Lesson #___

““The Tigers and the Sharks,”The Tigers and the Sharks,”

by Edward Stafford Pearyby Edward Stafford Peary

GQ: What literary devices does GQ: What literary devices does Peary use to enrich his writing?Peary use to enrich his writing?

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

*early clues to future events in the *early clues to future events in the plotplot

“ “ . . . No flight across . . . No flight across

an ocean is ever really an ocean is ever really

routine. . . .”routine. . . .”

MetaphorsMetaphors

Comparisons Comparisons without using “like” without using “like” or “as”or “as”

– “…“…man’s incredible conquest of time man’s incredible conquest of time and distance still hangs on the twin and distance still hangs on the twin threads of mechanical reliability and threads of mechanical reliability and human skill . . . one of the human skill . . . one of the threads . . .began to fray . . .“threads . . .began to fray . . .“

SimilesSimiles

Comparisons using “like” or “as”Comparisons using “like” or “as”

– “…“…like a slowly moving star ...“like a slowly moving star ...“– “ …“ …like the clang of an alarm bell in like the clang of an alarm bell in

the mind of Gin and Machado …”the mind of Gin and Machado …”– “…“…like riding the back of a dying like riding the back of a dying

whale…”whale…”

PersonificationPersonification

Giving human qualities to Giving human qualities to non-human figuresnon-human figures

– “…“…number three engine coughed…”number three engine coughed…”– “…“…the dark face of the sea…”the dark face of the sea…”– “…“…the long electronic fingers of radar the long electronic fingers of radar

groped for them through the groped for them through the darkness…”darkness…”

– ““the breathy whisper of the sea the breathy whisper of the sea breeze…"breeze…"

““Up the Slide,” vocabularyUp the Slide,” vocabulary defied – challengeddefied – challenged exhausted – to tire completelyexhausted – to tire completely thoroughly – completelythoroughly – completely manifestly – clearlymanifestly – clearly descent – the act of climbing downdescent – the act of climbing down ““ere” – shortened form of “before”ere” – shortened form of “before” precipitate – hasty, too fastprecipitate – hasty, too fast exertion – energetic activity, effortexertion – energetic activity, effort maneuver – series of planned stepsmaneuver – series of planned steps ascent – the act of climbing or rising ascent – the act of climbing or rising

““Up the Slide,” Up the Slide,” continuedcontinued

He felt He felt completelycompletely ready for the climb. ready for the climb. His His upward journeyupward journey began at dawn. began at dawn. Trembling from Trembling from efforteffort, he collapsed., he collapsed. By noon, he felt surprisingly By noon, he felt surprisingly tiredtired.. The The downward journeydownward journey was even more was even more

difficult.difficult. Eventually, he devised a new Eventually, he devised a new strategystrategy

that he called “controlled sliding.”that he called “controlled sliding.” The strategy was The strategy was clearlyclearly successful as successful as

he arrived back feeling alert and not at he arrived back feeling alert and not at all tired.all tired.

GQ: What literary devices GQ: What literary devices does London use to enrich his does London use to enrich his writing?writing?

Mini Lesson #___

“Up the Slide,”By: Jack London

AllusionAllusion a historical or literary reference made to a historical or literary reference made to

characters, settings, events, etc. not characters, settings, events, etc. not mentioned otherwise in the text. mentioned otherwise in the text.

“ “ . . . It was a herculean task, but it was the . . . It was a herculean task, but it was the only way out of the predicament. . . ”only way out of the predicament. . . ”

[The mythological Greek figure[The mythological Greek figureHercules was known for his greatHercules was known for his greatstrength and for performing a strength and for performing a series of 12 challenging tasks. A series of 12 challenging tasks. A herculean taskherculean task extraordinarily extraordinarily difficult] difficult]

Mini Lesson #__

“Thank You, M’am”

By: Langston Hughes

GQ: What literacy devices

does Hughes use to

enrich his writing?

Exaggeration Stretching the truth for emphasis

“…a large woman with a large

purse that had everything in it but

hammer and nails…”

Shows her inner strength,

independence, and self-reliance

irony The opposite of what is expected

actually happens

The purse snatcher is

dragged home by his

intended victim

theme The underlying message or insight about

life that the passage communicates

Caring people—even strangers—can help teach children how to act.

““Raymond’s Run” vocabularyRaymond’s Run” vocabulary clutch – to grasp tightlyclutch – to grasp tightly periscope – a tube shaped viewingperiscope – a tube shaped viewing device such as is used on a submarinedevice such as is used on a submarine prodigy – a person with an exceptional talentprodigy – a person with an exceptional talent sidekick – a close friendsidekick – a close friend relay – a race in which teammatesrelay – a race in which teammates take turns to complete the racetake turns to complete the race ““big head” – an insensitive reference tobig head” – an insensitive reference to “ “hydrocephalus,” an enlarged skullhydrocephalus,” an enlarged skull ““Mercury” – a reference to the RomanMercury” – a reference to the Roman messenger godmessenger god ““Chopin’s waltzes” – musical pieces composedChopin’s waltzes” – musical pieces composed by 19th century pianist, Frederic Chopin by 19th century pianist, Frederic Chopin

(pronounced show-pan)(pronounced show-pan) glockenspiel – musical instrument madeglockenspiel – musical instrument madeof bars and played with light hammersof bars and played with light hammers

““Raymond’s Run,”Raymond’s Run,” continued continued

Squeaky thinks one of her Squeaky thinks one of her classmates is a ____ because the girl classmates is a ____ because the girl is so talented.is so talented.

The quarter-mile ___ is the next race The quarter-mile ___ is the next race for Squeaky and her partner.for Squeaky and her partner.

Cynthia was nervously ___ her Cynthia was nervously ___ her blouse.blouse.

Mary Louise always tags along with Mary Louise always tags along with Gretchen as her ___. Gretchen as her ___.

Mr. Pearson was so tall he did not Mr. Pearson was so tall he did not need a ___ to look above the crowd.need a ___ to look above the crowd.

Mini Lesson #___Mini Lesson #___

“Raymond’s Run” “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambaraby Toni Cade Bambara

GQ: What literary devices doesGQ: What literary devices doesBambara use to enrich her Bambara use to enrich her

writing?writing?

ExaggerationExaggeration

Deliberate overstatementDeliberate overstatement• “…“…I’m the fastest thing on 2 feet…”I’m the fastest thing on 2 feet…”

• “…“…There is no track meet that I don’t There is no track meet that I don’t win…”win…”

• ““I’m the swiftest thing in the I’m the swiftest thing in the neighborhood…”neighborhood…”

AllusionAllusion

A reference to a character from history A reference to a character from history or literature for comparison purposesor literature for comparison purposes

““Mercury” – the Roman messenger godMercury” – the Roman messenger god •speedspeed

““Beanstalk” – the fairy tale elementBeanstalk” – the fairy tale element •heightheight

SimilesSimiles

Comparisons using “like” or “as”Comparisons using “like” or “as”

• ““like it was a narrow escape”like it was a narrow escape”

• ““like a rodeo pony”like a rodeo pony”

• ““like a dog”like a dog”

• ““like a periscope in a submarine movie”like a periscope in a submarine movie”

SarcasmSarcasm

A character says the exact opposite A character says the exact opposite of their true feelingsof their true feelings

• “…“…a real prodigy…”a real prodigy…”

““Antaeus,” vocabularyAntaeus,” vocabulary sedan – an enclosed sedan – an enclosed

vehicle with a vehicle with a permanent toppermanent top

parapet – a low wall parapet – a low wall around a roof’s edgearound a roof’s edge

robust – strong, robust – strong, vigorous, healthyvigorous, healthy

resolute – determinedresolute – determined stolid – having or stolid – having or

expressing little or no expressing little or no feelingfeeling

domain – territorydomain – territory contemplate – to contemplate – to

consider with careful, consider with careful, thoughtful attentionthoughtful attention

awe – with great awe – with great respectrespect

shrewd- clevershrewd- clever laborious – requiring laborious – requiring

great effortgreat effort inert – unable or slow to inert – unable or slow to

move, act or reactmove, act or react desecrated – to show desecrated – to show

great disrespectgreat disrespect esoteric – hard to esoteric – hard to

understandunderstand wavered – to go back wavered – to go back

and forth between and forth between choiceschoices

frenzied – wildly excited frenzied – wildly excited or upsetor upset

cascaded – to spill over cascaded – to spill over in a waterfall fashionin a waterfall fashion

Mini Lesson #___Mini Lesson #___

“Antaeus,” “Antaeus,” by Borden Dealby Borden Deal

GQ: What literary devices GQ: What literary devices does Deal use to enrich his does Deal use to enrich his writing?writing?

AllusionAllusion

A figure of speech or an expression that A figure of speech or an expression that makes a casual reference to a famous makes a casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or eventhistorical or literary figure or event• My mother has the patience of My mother has the patience of JobJob..• He made a He made a HerculeanHerculean effort for the ball. effort for the ball.• Harriet Tubman was known as the Harriet Tubman was known as the MosesMoses of her of her

people.people. Antaeus: a giant in GreekAntaeus: a giant in Greek

mythology who became strongermythology who became stronger

each time he touched the Eartheach time he touched the Earth

ThemeTheme

The life-lesson demonstrated by the The life-lesson demonstrated by the texttext

Stated directly: “…The task of Stated directly: “…The task of destruction is infinitely easier than destruction is infinitely easier than that of creation…”that of creation…”

The Gift of the Magi,”The Gift of the Magi,”vocabularyvocabulary

predominating – taking the most importancepredominating – taking the most importance subsiding – to become quiet or settledsubsiding – to become quiet or settled vestibule – entrancewayvestibule – entranceway coax- to persuade gentlycoax- to persuade gently prosperity – a time of wealthprosperity – a time of wealth ransacking – searching thoroughlyransacking – searching thoroughly fob- a chain used to hold a pocket watchfob- a chain used to hold a pocket watch chaste – purechaste – pure prudence – good judgmentprudence – good judgment discreet –showing good judgmentdiscreet –showing good judgment scrutiny – a close inspectionscrutiny – a close inspection coveted – to wish for greatlycoveted – to wish for greatly ardent - passionateardent - passionate

Mini Lesson #___Mini Lesson #___

“The Gift of the Magi,”“The Gift of the Magi,”by: O. Henryby: O. Henry

GQ: What literary device doesGQ: What literary device does

Henry use to enrichHenry use to enrich

his writing?his writing?

AllusionAllusion

A reference to a character from history or A reference to a character from history or literature for comparison purposesliterature for comparison purposes

““the magi” the magi” The BibleThe Bible: the three wise : the three wise men who brought precious gifts to the men who brought precious gifts to the baby Jesusbaby Jesus

IronyIrony

The outcome is exactly the The outcome is exactly the opposite of what’s expectedopposite of what’s expected

Della and Jim sacrifice their most Della and Jim sacrifice their most cherished possessions for each other cherished possessions for each other

and in doing so “spoil” each other’s and in doing so “spoil” each other’s surprise giftsurprise gift

{Jim sells his watch so he can’t use the {Jim sells his watch so he can’t use the watch chain and Della sells her long hair watch chain and Della sells her long hair so she can’t use the hair combs.}so she can’t use the hair combs.}

“A Christmas Day in the Morning,” vocabulary

infinite – endless brisk – quick in

manner loitering – lingering

without purpose placidly – calmly,

peacefully acquiescent –

agreeing without protest

Antonyms: brisk: clever, curt,

slow infinite: endless,

limited, tiny loitering: littering,

dawdling, moving acquiescent: watery,

dull, argumentative placidly: turbulently,

nicely, meanly

Mini Lesson #___

“A Christmas Day in the Morning,” by: Pearl S. Buck

GQ: What literary device does Buck use to enrich her writing?

Flashback

A scene within a story that interrupts the sequence of events to relate events that occurred in the past

Allows a writer to present 2 different time frames simultaneously

Enables readers to compare and contrast the present and past

[Robert, who is now a grandfather, recalls an experience as a 15 year old that has given special meaning to Christmas since then.]