Literature We Have Read This Year/ Common Literary Elements and Techniques

1. Of Mice and Men , by John Steinbeck, (George and Lennie)
2. Stuck in Neutral, Terry Trueman, (Shawn)
3. Twelve Angry Men, Reginald Rose, (mainly jurors 8 and 3)
4. A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines, (Grant, Jefferson)

Conflict--meeting of opposing forces (mainly internal and man vs. man)
Setting--time and place of events
Characterization--how the author makes the character come to life (what he/she says and does, author/narrator's direct comments, what/how other characters act towards/ say about him/her)

Last Project (Hopefully).....

A Lesson Before Dying movie trailer

I would like to complete one last video project with the class before we leave for the year. As a group, we will attempt to make a movie trailer for A Lesson Before Dying. It will be difficult because there are over thirty of us, so we will have to break it down into parts. Each group will come up with a storyboard segment and I will piece them together. As a group we will choose music, and someone will have to volunteer to do the voice over..and act of course!

Final Novel Response:

Please try to give specific examples from the novel to support your answer.

1. How does Jefferson change Grant's life? How does Grant change Jefferson's life?
2. The definition of a hero is: a man/woman distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility, and strength;one who in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice--for some greater good. Is Jefferson a hero? Is Grant?

Jefferson's Diary...

Here is a link to the Sparknotes explanation/summary of Ch. 29: Jefferson's Diary

1. What is your reaction to this picture? To the idea of the death penalty or the electric chair in general?
2. What does the look on the man's face say about him/his feelings?
3. What do you think the photographer wanted you to get out of this picture?
4. Why do you think there are so many white men in this picture? Is it an actual picture or one that is staged to make a point?

picture from (http://civilliberty.about.com/od/capitalpunishment/ig/Types-of-Executions/The-Electric-Chair.htm)

quiz ch. 20-21: The date is set/Grant's explanation

Grant attempts to explain to Vivian on pages 166-167 the importance of : him (Grant) and Jefferson becoming a man before he dies, to the women of the community. So your quiz question is this (3 parts):
1. Why does Grant feel he is so important to the women of the community (especially Irene, Ms. Emma and Tante Lou)?
2. How is this need for him to be successful and strong and stay in Bayonne for them an impossibility--which causes his internal conflict?
3. Why is it so important to Ms. Emma that Jefferson die like a man and not a hog?

quiz reading ch 18+19

1. How does Ms. Emma's mood change when she visits with Jefferson in the dayroom instead of the cell?
2. Why does Jefferson fear the coming of Christmas?
3. Why does Vivian say that they (her and Grant) cannot run away from all of this?
4. What do you think was the point of ch. 19 (the Christmas play)--why did the author include a whole chapter on it?

Hw quest #2 (BDF) Quiz on Monday! Tuesday (ACE)

1. Explain the influence of women in the plot? Vivian, Ms. Emma, and Tante Lou. How are they important to Grant and Jefferson and influence the decision making of the men in the story? Give examples.

2. Why might Ms. Emma want to have Jefferson meet in the dayroom instead of his cell?
Think about his behavior and progress so far.

3. On pg. 123 Tante Lou tells Grant," You ain't going to run away from this, Grant," referring to quitting on Jefferson. What do you think she is really referring to---what has Grant quit on before or why does he seem to give up quite often. Think about his attitude towards his life.

Informational Links for A Lesson Before Dying

"Ivy Day in the Committee Room" by James Joyce

Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis

"Save Me Joe Louis"

Ch. 10/11 Response A Lesson Before Dying

1. Do you think Grant is making any progress with Jefferson--why or why not?

2. Do you think Grant is TRYING very hard to make progress---why or why not?

USE EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT IN YOUR ANSWERS.