I AM THE MESSENGER By Markus Zusak

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I AM THE MESSENGERByMarkus Zusak
angieville.blogspot.com

• Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in how they
  look. Not in how they act. But in who they are.
• I Am the Messenger

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Major Characters
Ritchie
Marv
Audrey
Eds Father
Ed Kennedy
Doorman
Bank Robber
Bev (Ma) Kennedy
Tommy Kennedy
In your notebooks (55 points) 1. Identify
each character 2. Explain each persons
relationship to Ed. 3. Give three facts about
each character (four for Ed). 4. Copy one
quotation for each person that best shows that
characters personality.
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The Cards
protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
Say a prayer at the stones of home.
45 Edgar Street,Midnight 13 Harrison Street, 6
p.m. 6 Macedoni Street, 530a.m.
Graham Greene Morris West Sylvia Plath
The Suitcase Cat Ballou Roman Holiday
26 Shipping Street

• For each card explain
• How Ed figured out what he was to do.
• The conflict each person faced.
• The conflicts Ed faced in dealing with the people
  and how he overcame them.
• How Ed resolved the conflicts for the people.
  (50 points)

dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts
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Plot Diagram
Climax (Turning Point)
Falling Action (Resolution) (The conflict
unravels)
Rising Action (Complications)

1. Copy this diagram into your notebooks.
2. Outline the novel by filling in the important
   plot points.

Denouement (Conclusion)
25 points
Exposition (Protagonist antagonist basic
conflict setting inciting moment)
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Points to PonderforClass Discussions

• For each character on Slide 2, choose his/her
  main motivation from the following emotions
  love, curiosity, self-preservation,
  self-satisfaction, greed, self-discovery, duty,
  revenge, other. Explain your choices with
  examples from book.
• Choose a character in the book and analyze how
  he/she handled a situation. Then, explain how
  you would like to have seen the situation
  resolved. How would the character have to change
  to handle the situation in this way?
• Describe the setting/locale and explain how it
  fits the characters and plot.
• What is the central conflict/problem the
  protagonist is facing? Is it psychological,
  physical or both?
• You will be assigned one of the characters.
  Describe 3 ways the characters personality is
  revealed (actions, words, others words, etc).
• As a class, decide on the theme of the novel
  write it on the board list other books, movies,
  songs with same theme.
• What is a symbol? What symbols can you find in
  room, school? Name other common symbols in the
  real world. Discuss symbols you remember from
  past books read. List and analyze the symbols in
  this book.
• Choose a specific belief a character holds
  throughout the novel and discuss whether you
  agree or disagree with this belief support your
  thoughts with examples from the book.
• Lets chat about Ed
• Discuss whether he was a believable character or
  not.
• What did his father hope to accomplish by having
  Ed endure these experiences? Explain whether his
  method was madness or genius.
• What changes do you expect Ed to make?
• Should Ed have ended up with Audrey or was this a
  cop-out ending on the part of the author?
  Explain.
• Pretend ten years have passed. Whats going on
  with Ed?

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THEME

• Theme From the following themes, choose the one
  you think that the author intended for his main
  message. Follow the Ten Sentence Format to
  develop your answer (1 hook, 1 introductory/overvi
  ew sentence, 1 thesis statement, 3 main ideas,
  each with a supporting detail, and 1 concluding
  statement). (50 points)
• Themes
• Choices in Life
• The Individual and Society
• Life and Loss
• Loss of Innocence
• Nature of Evil
• The Power of Pain and Love
• Satire and the Absurd
• The Search for Meaning
• Transformations
• The Uses and Abuses of Power
• War and Peace
• What is a Hero
• Think What universal point is the author making
  about life?

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Individual Novel Project Expository Writing
(50 points for each activity 250 points
total) For an A, complete five activities from
the following list a B four activities a C
three activities a D two activities an F is
anything less than a D. ANY WRITTEN WORK MUST BE
TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACEActivities ListAll writing
must follow the Write Right paragraph and/or
essay format (just a separate paragraph expansion
of the Ten Sentence Format). Proofread these
carefully for grammar, sentence structure,
spelling and punctuation.

• 1. Show how the theme of the story ties to the
  plots of two of the other novels that group
  members read. State the theme, and then give at
  least two examples from each novel which
  illustrate the theme. (200 words)
• 2. Describe the setting then explain, with at
  least two reasons, why that setting is
  significant to the outcome of the story. (200
  words)
• 3. Describe the end of the story and explain
  whether it is believable or not. (200 words)
• 4. List at least two symbols and explain what
  each one represents and why it is important. (200
  words)
• 5. Explain the main conflict that arises in the
  story. Who is it between? How is it developed?
  (200 words)
• 6. List at least two examples of foreshadowing
  and explain what events they foretell. (200
  words)
• 7. Write a summary of the story (200 words or
  less). Be sure to include all of the important
  events, the climax and the denouement.
• 8. Write a different ending for the story. (300
  words)
• 9. Write a short story that could be a sequel.
  (500 words) This counts as 3 activities.
• 10. Pretend you are dining at a Chinese
  restaurant with the protagonist and the
  antagonist of the book that you read. Tell what
  fortune each of you receives and why it is
  fitting for each person. (200 words)
• 11. Write two consecutive diary entries for the
  main character. Write about the characters
  emotions and reactions to what is happening in
  his/her life. (200 words)
• 12. Lift the main character and drop him/her into
  the hallways of HHS. Is the character an
  administrator, a student, a custodian, a
  cafeteria worker, etc. Dont change the
  personality of the character just show what
  would happen if he/she became one of us. (200
  words)
• 13. Find four paintings from classic to
  contemporary artists that connect with the
  characters, plot or theme of the novel.
  Copy/paste the picture to a document, and below
  it write a 50-75 word explanation for each one
  that details the connection. BE SURE to include
  the title of the work and the artist. (200-300
  words)
• 14. Find a poem that reveals the same theme as
  the novel. Analyze how the poem shows this.
  Copy/paste the poem on a separate page and
  include it with your explanation. (200 words)
• 15. Find a news story (local, national or
  international) that fits the characters, plot and
  or theme of the book. Compose an essay that shows
  at least three connections. (200 words)
• 16. Create a CD soundtrack for the book. Include
  a decorated cover that fits the theme and gives
  the novel title and author. Include all of the
  lyrics in the accompanying booklet. You should
  have 12-16 songs.

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Individual Novel ProjectArtistic Interpretation

• Directions Choose any medium (crayons, colored
  pencils, markers, paint) to complete ONE of the
  following projects
• Illustrate the protagonist, antagonist and
  setting of the story in a mural, diorama or
  mobile.
• Portray Ed and six other characters using
  puppets, costume drawings or portraits.
• Design and wear a T-shirt that represents the
  novel.
• Make a board game (such as Trivial Pursuit or an
  adventure game) depicting the characters,
  conflict and plot of the book.
• Illustrate one scene for each of the segments of
  the book (Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Ace of
  Spades, Ace of Hearts and the Joker).
• Using an 18 x 22 piece of poster board or
  construction paper, cut out the first letter of
  the first name of one of the characters.
  Completely fill in the letter in a collage format
  (75 pictures and 25 words that describe the
  character).
• 100 points

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Quotations (Groups) Find and copy quotations
(include page numbers) that reveal Eds
personality, conflicts and beliefs about himself
and life. 50 points (5 points/quote)
classyclassical.com
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If Ed is the message, what is he saying
to everyone who followed his saga?