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On the Bridge. By Todd Strasser. Meet the Author. Born in New York City on May 5 (he doesn’t reveal his year of birth) Studied at NYU for a few years before dropping out. He is the author of more than 120 young adult books. Meet the Author. Odd Facts about Strasser Lived on a commune
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On the Bridge By Todd Strasser
Meet the Author • Born in New York City on May 5 (he doesn’t reveal his year of birth) • Studied at NYU for a few years before dropping out. • He is the author of more than 120 young adult books.
Meet the Author • Odd Facts about Strasser • Lived on a commune • Performed as a street musician in Europe • Manufactured fortune cookies professionally
On the Bridge: VOCABULARY • Abutments: (noun) the part of a structure (as an arch or a bridge) that directly receives thrust or pressure • Awestruck: (adj) filled with awe • Pliant: (adj) easily influenced; yielding • Smirk: (verb) to smile in an affected or smug manner
Format for Plot Diagram Climax - the turning point or the point of highest interest; usually toward the end of the story Rising Action – the part of the plot that moves the story forward; everything that leads up to the climax Falling Action – the part of the plot that occurs after the climax Initiating event – the event that makes everything else in the story happen; can happen before the story begins Exposition – the beginning of the story; include the setting, characters, backgrounds, mood and tone Resolution – how the story ends; how everything turns out
Plot Elements Directions: Use the following plot events from “On the Bridge” to fill in your plot rollercoaster. You will have to fill in the exposition on your own. • Adam talks about “beating the crap” out of a guy at the mall. • Adam waves to a convertible full of girls. • Adam acts like he is going to throw something and nearly causes a woman to have an accident.
Adam flicks his cigarette onto a black car. • Three guys that were in the black car stop on the bridge, and begin to harass Adam and Seth. • Adam points to Seth when the three guys ask who flicked the cigarette.
The three guys tell Seth to lick the cigarette ash off the windshield. • Seth refuses to lick the ash off the windshield, and the “husky” guy pounds his face into the windshield, nearly breaking his nose.
Adam says the other guys had a knife on him so he couldn’t help Seth. • Seth doesn’t believe Adam’s story about the knife. • Seth throws away his blood-stained jacket.
Plot Diagram for “On the Bridge” • Rising Action – • Adam talks about beating up a guy at the mall. • Adam waves at a convertible full of girls. • Adam acts like he is going to throw something and nearly causes a woman to have an accident. • Adam flicks his cigarette onto the windshield of a black car. • Three guys in the black car get out at the bridge and start harassing Adam and Seth. • Adam points to Seth when the guys ask who flicked the cigarette. • The three guys tell Seth to lick the ash off the windshield. Climax - Seth refuses to lick the ash off the windshield and gets his face smashed • Falling Action – • Adam says the other guys had a knife. • Seth doesn’t believe him. Exposition – on a bridge on a spring day; Characters include Adam, Seth and the three goons; the mood is serious Resolution – Seth throws away his bloodstained jacket.