Emerging Themes and how they relate to character motivation and conflict

1
Emerging Themes and how they relate to character
motivation and conflict

• Of Mice and Men

2
Bell Ringer (A) 10/12 (B) 10/17

• Correct the following sentences from our novel
  and place them in the bell ringer section of
  your binder.
• I shouldnt ought to of let no stranger shoot my
  dog.
• You dont need to be scairt no more. You done
  jus what I tol you to.

3
Corrections

• I should not have let a stranger shoot my dog.
• You dont need to be scared any more. You did
  just/exactly what I told you to do.
• (or just did)

4
AGENDA

• Bell Ringer
• Finish PostSecret Activity
• OMAM p. 60-73
• Review Theme/Topic, Conflicts/Complications
• Characterization Techniques
• Jigsaw Activity with Character Chart
• Themes in Of Mice and Men
• Exit Slip

5
Objectives

• I can distinguish between theme and topic.
•  
• I can analyze how characters change over the
  course of a text.
•  
• I can analyze how characters conflicts,
  motivations, and interactions advance plot and
  theme.

6
Finish postsecret activity (if needed)
7
Now, its your turn

• You will now create a Post Secret Postcard for
  your assigned character in Of Mice and Men.
• You must answer 5 of the character questions
  below AND provide a justification for each
  answer. Refer to your scoring rubric!!
• 1. Is your character a protagonist or antagonist?
  Provide support for your answer.
• 2. Is your character static or dynamic so far in
  the novel? Provide support for your answer.
• 3. Is your character round or flat so far in the
  novel? Provide support for your answer.
• 4. In what type of conflict is your character
  most involved? Provide support for your answer.
• 5. What is your characters motivation and the
  action that they take as a result of that
  motivation? Provide support for your answer.
• 6. What types of direct or indirect
  characterization can be seen on your postcard?

8
RUBRIC pts A pts B pts C pts D
Secret 5 Character has revealed a legitimate and shocking secret about his/herself 4 Character has revealed a somewhat predictable secret about his/herself 3 Character has revealed a very predictable secret to the audience 1 Character has revealed a secret that does not make sense
Character Motivation 10 The secret revealed clearly fits with this characters motivation 8 The secret revealed somewhat fits with this characters motivation 6 The secret does not fit very well with this characters motivation 4 The secret does not fit at all with this characters motivation.
Character Info. 10 At least 5/6 pieces of character information and justifications are correct 8 At least 4/6 pieces of character information and justifications are correct 7 At least 4/6 pieces of character information or justifications are correct 6 At least 3/6 pieces of character information and justifications are correct
Creativity 5 The postcard exhibits thoughtful creative thinking 4 The postcard somewhat exhibits creative thinking 3 The postcard exhibits very little creative thinking 1 The postcard lacks creative thinking
9
Daily Reading (p. 60-73)

• When it comes to his dog, what does Candy regret?
• What happens between Lennie and Curley? How does
  George react?
• How does Lennie react to Georges command in
  Question 2?
• Describe the conditions of Crooks room.
• Why does Lennie stop in to visit Crooks?
• What do you infer about Crooks based on his
  conversation and the way he interacts with
  Lennie?
• What important factor do we learn about Crooks
  childhood? Does this factor into the way the
  other workers treat him?
• What does Lennie reveal to Crooks that he fears
  the most?

10
Review/theme and character lesson
11
Review

• What is the difference between Theme and Topic?
• A topic is a matter dealt with in a text,
  discourse, or conversation a subject.
• A theme is the central idea or ideas explored by
  a literary work. (This should be a complete
  statement, not just a single word or a phrase)

12
Review

• What is Conflict? What are complications, and how
  are they used to develop conflicts?
• Conflicts as a struggle between two opposing
  forces or characters in a short story, novel,
  play, or narrative poem. Conflict can be internal
  or external.
• Complications are a series of difficulties
  forming the central action in a narrative.

13
Characterization Techniques

• The authors direct description of the character.
• What does the character says or does.
• What do others say about him/her.
• What the character thinks or believes.

14
Characterization and conflict

• Jigsaw Activity with Character Chart (20
  minutes)
• Divide into your character expert groups and
  share the information youve each gathered on
  your character.
• Discuss the main points about your character and
  decide what information about the character is
  absolutely necessary for other students to know.
• Each student in your expert group needs to split
  up and rotate in to the secondary groups,
  consisting of a member from each expert group. (8
  people total)
• Each student in the group will present his or her
  character to the new group. Make sure to ask
  questions for clarification.

15
Group reflection

• How has Steinbeck used characterization
  techniques to help us understand the conflicts
  hes trying to get across in Of Mice and Men?
• List the conflicts weve seen so far in the
  novel.

16
THEMEs in Of Mice And Men

• What statements about life, people, or the way
  the world works do you think Steinbeck is trying
  to make in this novel?
• (REMEMBER that themes are complete thoughts, not
  topics)
• Work together to create a thematic statement
  based on one of these topics.
• List evidence from the text that justifies or
  supports the theme you chose.
• Where appropriate, name the characterization
  techniques and conflicts you used to support your
  arguments.
• KEEP THESE NOTES for your final project!

17
TOPICS Thematic Statements Evidence
Loneliness and Isolation
The Impossibility of the American Dream
Loyalty and Companionship
Power and Powerlessness
Oppression
18
Exit Slip

• What are the 4 characterization techniques an
  author uses?
• How does an author use characterization
  techniques to develop/reveal themes?