Presentation Transcript

1. Dr. Joe’s Classes Writing Can Be This Fun! Dec. 29, 2013
2. Important Writings In every session of this series of Important Writings,we focus on the author(s), the background, the synopsis, and the status/influenceof one selected writing to prepare and equip the students for the age-specific writing classes, which are custom-designed, result-oriented, and highly intensive.
3. Today we will discuss this one: Adam of the Road Elizabeth Janet Gray
4. Elizabeth Janet Gray (also known as Elizabeth Gray Vining, Oct. 06, 1902 – Nov. 27, 1999) was an American professional librarian and author who tutored Emperor Akihito of Japan in English while he was crown prince. She was also a noted author whose children's book, Adam of the Road, received the Newbery Award in 1943. 1. Author and Writing Background
5. A Pennsylvania native, Gray, at seventeen, submitted her first story to a magazine. Then upon graduating from Bryn Mawr College, she took a teaching position, tutored, wrote more magazine articles, and earned a library science degree. Her subsequent marriage to Morgan Vining, a University of North Carolina professor, ended abruptly when he died in a car accident.
6. The North Carolina mountain region and its history had provoked many thoughts for books, and those ideas turned into novels. After returning home to reside in Philadelphia with her family, Gray Vining continued thinking about writing. From her various travels, biographies and novels followed. Gray Vining's attention to detail and her in-depth research which brought her characters and their stories to life garnered her much respect. She earned the Newbery Medal for Adam of the Road in 1943.
7. While in England researching her biography Penn, Gray explored the Chiltern Hills. There she found the inspiration that she later tappedfor Adam of the Road. Originally intending to write a collection of minstrel stories, "she became so captivated by the thought of the minstrels themselves that she cast aside her first inclination all together, and Adam of the Road resulted instead.
8. Note: William Penn (14 October 1644 – 30 July 1718) was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful treaties with the Lenape Indians. Under his direction, the city of Philadelphia was planned and developed.
9. 2. The Synopsis Adam is an eleven-year-old who wants to become like his father, Roger, and to do so he tries to be the best minstrel in England. Beginning of the story, Adam and his friend Perkin are in St. Alban's monastery, where they go to an old lady's house to visit Adam's dog, Nick. They quickly return to their home at the monastery and go to the roadside to find Roger who is coming back from his long journey as a knight's minstrel.
10. Roger tells Adam that he is going to London to follow in the knight's train. Adam is allowed to come, but he must hurry because the knight leaves the next day. While on the road, Adam meets Margery, the daughter of the knight, in a beautiful carriage. Soon after, following a night of feasting and partying, Roger tells Adam he lost his warhorse, Bayard, in a bet with another minstrel.
11. One night, while Roger and Adam are sleeping, Jankin steals Nick. Adam worries that Jankin will mistreat Nick. When Adam and Roger discover Nick is gone, they chase Jankin across England. When Adam sees Jankin in a crowded marketplace, he pursues him and is separated from Roger. Adam makes friends and eventually finds Nick with Perkin. Roger, Adam and Nick are eventually reunited in Oxford. Adam is offered a place at Oxford college, but decides to be a minstrel, like his father.
12. 3. The Status and Influence Adam of the Road received the 1943 Newbery Award for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." At the time Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review for books of "remarkable merit", saying that Gray "writes so much better than most authors of juveniles (or for that matter most authors) that it is a delight to find a subject which is particularly suited to her pen... A good yarn, well told."
13. The Saturday Review cited "adventures on the great high-roads and in the big country fairs and market towns", adding that the "swiftly-paced story makes history... fun". Gray's careful handling of history continues to receive praise from reviewers. Children's literature expert
14. May Hill Arbuthnot calls the author "a careful historian... her tales have all the authentic minutiae of everyday life long ago". According to 20th Century Children's Writers, Adam is "not so much a young boy of the period... but... a means for interpreting the historical period." Children's Literature journal called the book "engaging and beautifully written", saying that "although over sixty years old, Gray's story... remains one that today's reader can relate to".
15. 4. The Excerpts
16. An Excerpt "A road's a kind of holy thing," Roger went on. "that's why it's a good work to keep a road in repair, like giving alms to the poor or tending the sick. It's open to the sun and wind and rain. It brings all kinds of people and all parts of England together. And it's home to a minstrel, even though he may happen to be sleeping in a castle."
17. An Excerpt Adam gave her two of his remaining comfits-- a poor widow in a village wouldn't taste such sweetmeats once in a year's time -- and a silver penny. She gave him a cabbage leaf full of strawberries that she had found for him. It was easier to say goodby when you had something to give.
18. An Excerpt Adam threw back his head too and laughed, strangely eased of his pain. For the first time in his life he had played the part of an oyster. He had taken the bit of grit that was scratching him and made something of it that was comfortable to him and pleasing to someone outside. He had made a valuable discovery, but he did not know it at the moment, he only knew that he felt happy again, and he wagged his head a little.
19. An Excerpt Adam started to say, "But I couldn't sing to it; it takes all my breath to blow, " but he bit the words off short. He saw too plainly in the miller's broad honest face the struggle between the pain of sacrifice and the joy of giving.
20. Age-Specific Class Coverage (Big Schedule) 1. Vocabulary 2. Sentences 3. Paragraphs 4. Composition 5. Parts of Speech
21. 6. Punctuation 7. Format 8. Spelling 9. Diction 10. Research and Writing 11. Writing Exercises 12. Writing Critique (Classics Appreciation + Writing Samples Analysis)
22. Please email us for class slides, recordings, and other info. We will help you. For class enrollment and materials (like slides): greatclass2013@gmail.com For writing skills and other studying issues: DrJoeWriting@gmail.com Our website is: www.chinacanadausa.com