Transcript The Cat Who Thought She Was a Dog and the Dog Who …

“Seventh Grade” by Gary Soto
Characters
Setting
Theme
Victor Rodriguez
A middle school in
Fresno, CA on the
Teresa
st day of 7th grade
1
Michael Torres
Mr. Bueller, French
teacher
Be yourself.
Don’t try to be
someone that
you’re not.
Conflict
Climax
Victor wants to In French, Victor tries
to pretend to speak
impress Teresa. French to impress
She doesn’t
Teresa. Teresa is
impressed. Teacher
notice Victor.
Resolution
Man v. self
keeps his secret.
Teresa asks Victor
to tutor her in
French. Victor
must teach himself
French.
“All Summer in a Day”
by Ray Bradbury
Characters
Setting
Theme
Margot
William & class
teacher
The future
Venus
schoolroom
Rains for 7 years,
sun for 1-2 hours
Tolerance and
sensitivity is needed.
A group can become
a mob and not act
according to beliefs.
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Man v. society
Man v. nature
Margot is bullied and
teased for being
different. She
remembers the sun
and they hate her for it.
The class locks
Margot in a closet
and play in the
sunshine for an hour
before realizing what
they have done.
The children let
Margot out and feel
guilty for what they
have done.
“Zoo” by Edward D. Hoch
Characters
Setting
Theme
Professor Hugo
Humans
Horse-spider
creatures from
Kaan
Future
Chicago
August
Interplanetary Zoo
Kaan
Things are not
always as they
seem.
There are two
sides to every
story.
Conflict
Professor Hugo
is deceiving his
customers.
Man v. society
Climax
Resolution
Point-of-view shift Readers realize
when readers learn that characters
that the Kaanians
are happy, but
think the humans
misinformed.
were the zoo.
“Cat on the Go” by James
Herriot (narrative nonfiction)
Characters
Setting
Theme
James (Jim)Herriot
Tristan
Helen
Oscar (Tiger), the cat
The Gibbons
Herriot’s home/vet
offices
U.K.
Some characters
never change.
Always try to do the
right thing.
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Man v. self
After becoming
attached to the cat,
Herriot’s must give
it back.
Herriots are allowed
to visit Oscar, only to
find that he hasn’t
changed at all.
An injured cat is brought
to the vet. Should they
help it?
Old owners claim the
cat. Should they return
it?
“The Cat Who Thought She Was a Dog and the Dog
Who Thought He Was a Cat”
by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Characters
Setting
Jan Skiba
Marianna Skiba
3 daughters
Kot, the cat
Burek, the dog
peddler
Rural (farming) area
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
The Skibas buy a
mirror that disrupts
the family’s simple
life.
The family are disgusted
by their own looks. They
feel their poverty b/c they
need money to fix their
appearances. The cat
and dog now fight
viciously.
Jan gets rid of the
mirror. Burek, Kot, and
the family return to
normal. Daughters
marry and life is fine
again in the Skiba
household.
Man v. self
Man v. man
Theme
Your true self is
Small, remote, one- shown in your
action, not in your
room hut far from
appearance.
town
“Justin Lebo” by Phillip Hoose
nonfiction article
Characters
Setting
Theme
Justin Lebo
Various charities
1989
Suburban
neighborhood
Paterson, NJ
Sharing your gifts
and doing what you
enjoy can often
make both you and
others happy.
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Justin promises to make
bikes for all boys at
Kilbarchan by Christmas.
He worries he does not
have the money, time, and
resources to reach his goal.
After an article is
written about Justin
and his charitable
works, money, and
parts start to pour in.
Justin reaches his goal
and continues his
charitable work, all the
while maintaining his
social life and other
interests.
Man v. self
“The Monsters Are Due on
Maple Street” by Rod Serling
Characters
Setting
Maple Street
USA
Theme
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Man v. self
Man v. man
Scapegoating and
tension escalates to the
point where Charley
mistakenly shoots Pete
Van Horn out of fear that
he might be an alien.
The residents
destroy each
other due to their
own fears.
Steve Brand
Charlie
Les Goodman
Pete Van Horn
Tommy
Don Martin
Alien figures
Electricity and all
motors/machine stop
working. Residents can’t
explain it and get scared.
Jumping to conclusions
or making false
accusations can lead to
disaster.
There is nothing to fear
but fear itself.
“Cremation of Sam McGee” by
Robert Service
Characters
Setting
Theme
Sam McGee
“Cap” (captain of
expedition)
Northern Canada
Yukon Territory
Gold rush
True friends keep
their promises no
matter what the
circumstances.
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Man v. self
Man v. nature
Cap finally finds an
abandoned ship to
serve as a
Sam dies from cold
crematorium. He
and Cap must uphold
his promise to cremate burns the body.
him.
Cap checks to see
that his friend has
burned and sees
Sam smiling, finally
content.
“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would
Not Take the Garbage Out”
by Shel Silverstein
Characters
Setting
Theme
Sarah
Her father
The garbage,
which takes on a
life of its own
The Stout
household
Always do what
you are told, or
face the
consequences.
Conflict
Climax
Resolution
Sarah refuses to
take the garbage
out.
Man v. garbage
(“man”)
The garbage
reaches maximum
Sarah “meets
capacity, neighbors
move, the whole US an awful fate.”
is affected.
“The Third Level” by Jack Finney
Characters
Setting
Theme
Charley
Louisa
Sam, psychiatrist
NYC, Grand Central
Station, 1940’s
Galesburg, Illinois,
1890’s
People often yearn
for a simpler, less
stressful time (an
escape to the
past).
Conflict
Man v. self
Charley is looking
to escape his
reality.
Climax
Charley
discovers a way
to travel back in
time – the third
level of GCS.
Resolution
Charley can’t find
the third level, but
he knows it exists,
because Sam
writes him a letter
that it does.
“Oranges” by Gary Soto
Characters
Setting
Theme
The speaker, 12
year-old boy
A girl he likes
saleslady
December
Cold, wet, foggy
Neighborhood
drugstore
Try to put yourself in
another’s shoes.
Be compassionate.
Conflict
Man v. self
Climax
Resolution
The boy uses his The saleslady doesn’t
say anything and he
only nickel and
The boy wants to
feels so happy and
impress the girl, but an orange to pay confident (symbolized
by the orange).
realizes he can’t
for chocolate.
afford what she
wants.
“The Highwayman”
by Alfred Noyes
Characters
The Highwayman
Bess, landlord’s
daughter
Tim, the ostler
Redcoats
Conflict
Man v. self
Bess must decide
how to save the
Highwayman from
danger.
Setting
England, 1700’s
The inn
Windy night
Theme
Climax
Resolution
Bess hears the
Highwayman
coming and warns
him of danger by
shooting herself.
The Highwayman
is gunned down as
he races back to
avenge Bess’s
death.
Love can be so
strong that people
are willing to
sacrifice their lives
for each other.
“The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken
Characters
Mr. Peters
King of the Forest
Leita
Rhea
Conflict
Man v. self
Setting
Forest of
Savernake
Spring evening
Climax
Mr. Peters uses
his 2nd wish to
Mr. Peters must
decide how to use turn his wife
his wishes to
back into a
everyone’s benefit.
swan.
Theme
Good deeds are
often rewarded.
Be thankful for
what you have.
Resolution
Mr. Peters stays
close to the swan
sisters and dies
happily and
contently, with the
last wish unused.
“After Twenty Years” by O. Henry
Characters
Setting
Theme
Officer Jimmy Wells New York City
Time often
“Silky” Bob
changes people,
Late night
Plainclothes officer Dark, cold, rainy and not always for
the better.
Conflict
Climax
Man v. self
Bob lights a
match,
illuminates his
face, & Jimmy
realizes he is a
wanted criminal.
Jimmy and Bob don’t
know if the other will
show for the 20 yr.
appointment.
When Jimmy
recognizes Bob, he
faces a tough choice.
Resolution
Jimmy has a
plainclothes officer
arrest Bob, with a
note of
explanation.
“A Boy and a Man”
by James Ramsey Ullman
Characters
Rudi Matt
Captain John
Winter
Setting
Theme
An icy mountain People often rise to a
challenge.
in a crevasse in Risking one’s life to
save another’s
the Alps
Conflict
Man v. nature
Man v. self
Climax
Rudi pulls the
man out of the
crevasse, saving
his life.
Rudi discovers and
must rescue a man
from a crevasse.
demonstrates maturity.
Resolution
The man Rudi
saved turned out to
be a famous
mountain climber.
“Amigo Brothers” by Piri Thomas
Characters
Antonio Cruz
Felix Vargas
Setting
Manhattan
Alphabet City
tenements
Theme
Friendship is
more important
than winning.
Problem
Man v. self
Man v. man
Climax
Antonio and
Felix fight with
all their might
and pull no
punches.
Resolution
Antonio & Felix, best
friends, must fight each
other in an important
boxing match.
The boys leave the
ring together
before a winner is
announced, arms
around each other
in friendship.
“Papa’s Parrot” by Cynthia Rylant
Characters
Harry Tillian
Mr. Tillian
Rocky, parrot
Setting
Mr. Tillian’s
candy & nut
shop in town
Theme
Conflict
Man v. self
Climax
Resolution
Harry resolves to
be more involved
in his dad’s life.
Harry and his dad are
drifting apart as Harry
grows older. Harry’s
dad is lonely and sad.
Harry’s dad has a
heart attack. Harry
takes care of shop,
and Rocky tells Harry
how much his papa
misses him.
Family always
comes first.
Take care of the
most important
things in your life.
“The Chase” from An American
Childhood by Annie Dillard
Characters
Annie Dillard
Mikey Fahey
The man in black
Buick
Conflict
Man v. man
After throwing a snowball
at a car, the driver
chases the kids all over
the neighborhood.
Setting
Theme
Day after Christmas
Winter, snowy
Reynolds Street
Neighborhood
Never give up.
When you do something,
do it with all your might.
Climax
The man finally
catches the kids
Resolution
Even though the
“lecture” is not
appreciated, the
man is a worthy
opponent in the
author’s eyes.
Where the Red Fern Grows by
Wilson Rawls
Characters
Setting
Billy Colman
Little Ann
Old Dan
Grandpa
Mama & Papa
Little sisters
Ozark Mountains in Determination and hard
work pays off.
Oklahoma
Love comes with pain.
Family farm
Conflict
Man v. self
Man v. nature
Climax
Resolution
Billy saves up enough
money, walks to
Tahlequah and gets his
dogs.
After many wonderful and
trying times with his dogs,
both of them pass away.
Billy has fond memories of
his childhood and the love
of his dogs.
Billy wants two redbone coon hounds, but
can’t afford them.
Theme
Always keep your
promises.
7E
“Two Kinds” by Amy Tan
Characters
Setting
Jing-Mei (Ni Kan) America
Mother
Problem
Man v. man
Mom wants JingMei to be famous,
but she shows little
talent or interest.
Theme
Stay true to
yourself.
Be your own
person.
Climax
Resolution
Jing-Mei plays poorly
in the talent show.
Her mother is
humiliated. Pressure
to do better
continues.
Jing-Mei realizes she
is both kinds of
daughter – one who
obeys for approval and
one who is happy to be
herself.
“No Gumption” by Russell Baker
Characters
Russell Baker
Doris Baker
Mrs. Baker (mom)
Rep. for Curtis
Publishing
Conflict
Man v. self
Man v. society
Setting
1932
During Great
Depression
Belleville, NJ
Theme
Climax
Resolution
Gumption is
needed to be
successful, but
success means
different things to
different people.
“Burning Out at Nine?”
by Nadya Labi
Characters
Setting
Steven Guzman, 1997
12
America
Kids, ages 3-12
Conflict
Man v. society
Why
All work and no
play can burn
kids out too
early in life
Main Idea
If kids continue
working so hard,
they may become
obsessivecompulsive adults.
“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe
Characters
Speaker, a
young man
Annabel Lee, a
maiden
Problem
Man v self
Setting
“Many & many a
year ago in a
kingdom by the
sea”
Climax
Annabel Lee
The two characters catches cold
are so in love,
and dies. She is
everyone is
taken away to
envious of them.
be buried.
Theme
Love is a strong
bond.
Love can hurt
and be painful.
Resolution
The speaker
spends the rest of
his days mourning
her death by the
side of her grave.
from Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
nonfiction excerpt
Characters
Jon Krakauer
Conflict
Man v. nature
Setting
Theme
April 1996
The Khumbu Icefall
on the way to the
summit of Mt.
Everest
Even though
something is
“strenuous and
terrifying,” it can
also be “beautiful
and alluring.”
“Ribbons” by Laurence Yep
Characters
Stacy
Stacy’s
grandmother
Ian, brother
Setting
Family’s home
in San
Francisco, CA
Conflict
Man v. man
Climax
Stacy’s grandmother
comes from HK to live
with the family. She
takes Stacy’s room &
seems to favor Ian .
Grandmother gets
angry when she sees
Stacy’s ribboned ballet
slippers and orders
them destroyed.
Theme
Love and
understanding
can help bring
family members
together.
Resolution
Stacy learns that her
grandmother was forced
to bind her feet with
ribbons. Stacy explains
and dances for her
grandmother. The two
finally bond.
“The Treasure of Lemon Brown”
by Walter Dean Myers
Characters
Greg Ridley
Father
Lemon Brown
Setting
Empty old
apartment
building.
Dark, cloudy,
rainy evening.
Theme
Conflict
Man v. man
Man v. self
Climax
Resolution
Our past achievements
are important.
The worth of
something is not
determined by money
value alone.
Greg is happy to go
home, even if only to
his father’s lecture. He
sees his father’s hopes
for him as a kind of
treasure.
“Miracles” by Walt Whitman
Characters
Setting
Theme
The speaker
Everyday life
on Earth
Everything is
miraculous. Life
is a miracle, even
the simplest
detail.
Type of poetry
Free verse
Sensory
“Mother to Son” by Langston
Hughes
Characters
Speaker, an
AfricanAmerican
mother
Her son
Type of Poetry
Free-verse
Setting
A mother giving
advice to her
son
Theme
Don’t give up when
you find life hard.
Keep trying despite
obstacles.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Characters
Setting
Theme
Problem
Climax
Resolution