Transcript The Butterfly Circus - Professor Jennifer's Website

THE BUTTERFLY
CIRCUS
Discussion
VOCABULARY
1. Carnival: A travelling funfair or circus
2. Circus: A travelling company of acrobats, clowns, and other entertainers
which gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different
places.
3. Freak Show: A sideshow at a fair, featuring abnormally developed people or
animals. An unusual or grotesque event viewed for pleasure, especially when in
bad taste.
4. Perversion of Nature: The alteration of something from its original course,
meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended:
5. Magnificent: Impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant; striking:
6. Gimp: a physically disabled person, esp one who is lame
7. Showman: a person who presents or produces a theatrical show, etc
VOCABULARY
8. Buenos Dias: “Good Morning or Good Day” in Spanish
9. Sideshow: a small show or entertainment offered in conjunction with a larger
attraction, as at a circus or fair
10. A man’s imperfections: a man’s faults or defects
11. Contortionist: a performer who contorts his body for the entertainment of
others
12. Flying trapeze: (gymnastics) a trapeze used in performing gymnastic displays
high above the ground
13. Beauty from ashes: Mythology A bird in Egyptian mythology that lived in the
desert for 500 years and then consumed itself by fire, later to rise renewed
from its ashes.
14. Cocoon: . A protective case of silk or similar fibrous material spun by the
larvae of moths and other insects that serves as a covering for their pupal stage
CHARACTERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Mr. Mendez:
Sammy:
The Painted Man:
The Limbless Man/Will:
Anna:
Contortionist:
George:
Poppy:
Stop description/Time
Directions: 1. Quick Write, 2. Pair-share and 3. Share out on each Key Question.
Just after he learns who the
man with the hat is... 5:22
Based on your observations of the “man with no limbs,” how does he feel about himself?
Support your claim with evidence from the film.
“The greater the challenge,
the greater the triumph.”
13:36
In what way are the ring master’s words, “The greater the challenge, the greater the
triumph” surprising? How do you predict those words will affect the man without limbs?
Just after he celebrates on
the log--having gotten up
on his own... 15:56
How does the man with no limbs feel about himself at this moment? How do you know?
Use details from the film to support you claim.
After he is hugged by the
boy on crutches… and the
mom thanks him. 19:06
In what way, has the man with no limbs become successful? Include discussion of his dive,
the boy on crutches, his mom, and the circus ringmaster in your discussion. Refer to
specific evidence from the film in your response.
At the end of the film...
1. Why does the ringmaster DANCE away? Justify your claim with discussion
of events throughout the text.
2. What does the butterfly symbolize? Use at least three pieces of evidence
from the film to support your claim.
QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Why is this movie called “The Butterfly Circus”?
Who was your favorite character, and why?
What did you think the first time you saw Will?
How did you feel about children throwing tomatoes?
Why did Mr. Mendez say, “You are Magnificent.”?
Why didn’t Mr. Mendez help Will out of the truck?
Mr. Mendez said, “There’s nothing inspiring about a man’s
imperfections on display.” What did he mean?
8. Why did Mr. Mendez say to Will, “A man…whom God
himself has forgotten.”
9. How do you feel about the quote: “The greater the struggle,
the more glorious the triumph.”
QUESTIONS
11. Why doesn’t Mr. Mendez help Will when he want to cross
the stream?
12. Why does Mr. Mendez dance away as Will talks to the
children after the circus?
13. What was your favorite moment in the movie?
14. How does this movie inspire you?
Whether you think you can,
or you think you can’t ~
you’re right.
~Henry Ford (Ford Motors)
How does the film Butterfly Circus illustrate Ford’s words?
How does our definition of
ourselves
influence our success?
Butterfly Circus demonstrates that a positive
definition of ourselves is empowering. Your task now
is examine how you define yourself.
Can you (should you) improve your personal
definition?
Decide on one small change you can make to
your personal definition, one way your words will
demonstrate personal kindness.
Make a commitment to that small change.
Finally, predict how this change might improve
your success.
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