180 likes | 3.35k Views
Looking at Theme, Characterization & Irony. The Truth About Sharks. By Joan Bauer. The Necklace. Theme & Characterization THEME Standard 2: Students will be able to identify themes of a text as well as analyze how the author develops that theme throughout the text. CHARACTERIZATION
E N D
Looking at Theme, Characterization & Irony The Truth About Sharks By Joan Bauer
The Necklace • Theme & Characterization THEME Standard 2: • Students will be able to identifythemes of a text as well as analyzehow the author develops that theme throughout the text. CHARACTERIZATION Standard 3: • Students will be able to analyzehow main characters of a text are developed throughout the text. • Students will be able to analyzehow main characters affect other characters in the text. • Students will be able to analyzehow main characters advance the plot and/or theme of the text.
The Truth About Sharks: Accountability • questions
Characterization: how the character is portrayed Beth: Maybe outline here
Theme: the central idea or message about life These do NOT qualify as themes found within “The Truth About Sharks”:
So how is characterization used to develop theme? (Standard 2 & 3) • Character Traits of Madge P. Groton and/or Beth: • How are these character traits used to develop the following theme? • Theme: Explain:
How to Write a Thesis Statement DIRECTIONS: Copy exactly what you see in your UNIT NOTES section FORMULA FOR WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT Author utilizes + Literary Device in Type & Title of Work + to Analytical Verb (suggest) Purpose = Thesis Statement While the purpose will change depending on what you write, our PURPOSE in a character analysis is how the use of a literary device (characterization) helps develop a theme.
The Necklace: Analytical Verbs List of Analytical Verbs: Examines Investigates Suggests Implies Highlights Concludes Indicates Addresses Explores Outlines Insinuates
Explain one incident you believe to be a good example of situational irony found within the short story & describe why it would qualify as situational irony. • Explain one incident you believe to be a good example of dramatic irony found within the short story & describe why it would qualify as dramatic irony. • The title seems misleading at first. How are the title, what is stated about sharks, and the last paragraph of the story used to help develop a theme? Use evidence from the story to support your answer.
3. The title seems misleading at first. How are the title, what is stated about sharks, and the last paragraph of the story used to help develop a theme? Use evidence from the story to support your answer. • Consider how the sample answer to #3 is organized. How does its organization help or harm the overall quality of the response?
While the title of Joan Bauer’s short story is “The Truth About Sharks” it has nothing to do with actual sharks. The title is part of the figurative language she uses throughout the story. She uses the repeated metaphor referring to the Security Guard Marge P. Groton as a shark. Sharks hunt their prey and are dangerous and typically greatly feared; all of those characteristics equally apply to the way Beth views the security guard. As Madge Groton demands that Beth remove the alleged stolen pants, Beth recalls something she had read instructing a person to punch an attacking shark in the nose. Beth then immediately refers to the guard as a shark. This leads the reader to believe Beth is going to physically hit the guard but she never does. The title of the story comes from the last line of the story that reads, “I guess I’d learned the truth about sharks: If one comes barreling at you, the best thing to do is hit it in the nose.” Again, figurative language is used since she never literally hits the security guard. The way she “hits” is by standing up to the security guard. She fights back by speaking with the store manager and explaining how she was falsely accused and humiliated. Much like a shark doesn’t expect their prey to fight back by punching, security guard Madge P. Groton didn’t expect her “prey” Beth to fight back by standing up for what was right. The metaphorical reference to Madge P. Groton as a shark allows Joan Bauer to lead the reader to realize there are more ways to fight back. Bauer encourages handling adversity appropriately as she writes how Beth’s mom praises her for handling this situation by herself, receives a $650 gift certificate, and a personal apology from Madge P. Groton. “The Truth About Sharks” seems to highlight that knowing how to “fight” back in appropriate ways seems to pay off greatly.