Welcome to English 9 Pre-AP

1. Welcome to English 9 Pre-AP • Collect summer assignment • Due today – Late work = 25% reduction • Assessment • Review sheet • Rationale for summer reading assignment • John Steinbeck and texts • Reflection

2. Rationale for Summer Reading Assignment • Theme – Overcoming Adversity • What kinds of circumstances are truly beyond an individual’s control and what options are truly within the realm of personal choice?

3. Rationale for Summer Reading Assignment • John Steinbeck • Pulitzer Prize winning American author • Novels, novellas, non-fiction, short stories • Plight of the migrant worker, effects of the environment on man, hardships of common people • Rich with symbolism and imagery • “John Steinbeck brings together the human heart and the land." - Author Barry Lopez

4. Rationale for Summer Reading Assignment • Classic author study • Read and analyze text • Research biographical information • Literary criticism • Paper and presentation

5. Of Mice and Men Published in 1937 as a novella Adapted into a play Filmed in 1939, 1981, and 1992 Pre-Pulitzer (1940 for Grapes of Wrath) American dream, migrant workers, male relationships

6. “Flight” • Published in 1938 in The Long Valley – short stories set in Salinas Valley in California • Three years after first critically acclaimed novel (Tortilla Flat) • Maturity, manhood, accepting responsibility

7. The Pearl • Published in 1945 in Woman’s Home Companion magazine • Published in 1947 as a novella • Greed as a destructive force, societies oppression of native cultures, role of fate in shaping lives

8. Questions/Reflection • Questions or clarification before exam? • Separate sheet of paper • One statement about each text • One paragraph on summer reading experience

9. Essential Question • What kinds of circumstances are truly beyond an individual’s control and what options are truly within the realm of personal choice?

10. The Pearl • Published in 1945 in Woman’s Home Companion magazine • Published in 1947 as a novella • Native culture oppressed by Spanish colonizers for over 400 years

11. Naturalism • Realism – 1870’s – 1880’s • Middle class America • Exposed hardships and ugliness of human existence • Life depicted as it really is • Naturalism – literary movement 1880’s – 1940’s • Reaction from World Wars and Great Depression • Similar to realism but addressed taboo topics • Reveal lives of America's lower-class • The naturalistic view of humans is that they respond to the natural world much like animals, reacting to natural forces they neither understand nor control • Human beings are often portrayed as victims of destiny or fate • Naturalistic writers portray nature as indifferent • Naturalists are pessimistic about human capabilities • Life is a trap • Naturalists portray humans as animalistic, driven by fear or hunger

12. Parable A simple story that relays a moral message What’s the moral message in The Pearl?

13. Novella Novella – a shortened form of fictional development lying between novel and short story 32,000-50,000 words Limited action Few conflicts Usually not divided into chapters

14. Setting and Point of View Mexican-Indian coastal village – La Paz on the Baja peninsula – Gulf of California Late 19th or early 20th century Third person omniscient

15. Symbols • What is a symbol? • The pearl • greed, hope, evil • The canoe • livelihood • The scorpion • evil • The doctor • ????

16. Themes Greed as a destructive force Societies oppression of native cultures The role of fate in shaping lives Good vs. Evil The importance of family

17. Imagery • Imagery – use of words and phrases that address the senses, suggesting mental pictures of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, or actions • Animal imagery • Nature imagery • Kino’s existence connected to nature

18. Discussion Questions How does the novella’s conclusion complete Steinbeck’s moral argument? Could the novella have ended in any other way? Is it wise of Kino to throw the pearl back into the sea, or should he have searched for another option? What role does family play in The Pearl? How does the loyalty of Kino’s family members (especially Juana and Juan Tomás) affect his actions? Was Juan Tomás correct to shield Kino from the law after he had committed murder? Is Juana correct to be so submissive to him? Does either character have a choice? Some critics read The Pearl as a very specific critique of the American dream of wealth and success. Is this reading plausible, or does it limit it unnecessarily? If the story is about the American dream, why is it set in a colonial Mexican society?

19. “Flight” • Published in 1938 in The Long Valley – short stories set in Salinas Valley in California • Three years after first critically acclaimed novel

20. Setting and Point of View Mid-California coast about 15 miles south of Monterey 1920’s-1930’s Third – person limited

21. Symbols • Black = death • Hair, knife handle • Coat – literally covering self with death • Path – well-worn black path is the road to death • Water = life • Water bag • Journey – moves farther away from the river

22. Themes

23. Imagery

24. Discussion Questions

25. Of Mice and Men • Published in 1937 as a novella • Adapted into a play • Filmed in 1939 • Television movie in 1981 and 1992

26. Setting and Point of View Setting – 1930’s in southern California Point of View – third person omniscient

27. Symbols • George and Lennie’s farm • The American Dream • Rabbits • Innocence • Candy’s dog • Quality of life • Lennie’s puppy • Strong vs. weak

28. Themes Broken Plans The American Dream Male Friendship The Weak and the Strong Women Loneliness

29. Imagery Setting Mood

30. Discussion Questions

31. Essential Question What kinds of circumstances are truly beyond an individual’s control and what options are truly within the realm of personal choice? Respond referencing all three texts