This week, we will be doing a lot of writing about our reading. In order to get our brains ready to write some literary essays, let's have some fun writing about some familiar stories--fairy tales.
First, let's think of a fairy tale. Then write the story line. (Main character, what he or she wants, what gets in the way and how it's resolved.) Now, think, "What might this story really be about?" "What life lessons does the character learn?" Here's an example: Some people think that Little Red Riding Hood is about a girl who wants to give cookies to her grandmother but nearly gets eaten by a wolf. I think, however, this is a story of a girl that goes into the woods thinking she knows more than her mother and nearly dies as a result. The story is really a reminder that we should listen to our parents because they know best. Last week's blog was a challenge and everyone stepped up and tried their best. Let's do it again this week!
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For the past two weeks, we have been reading lots of poetry. Poetry is fun and helps us create pictures in our minds as we read. This week, look for poetic imagery in your prose (regular book) reading. Select the words or phrases and explain how it sets a mood or paints a picture in your mind.
I will give you an example from the book I am reading this week, called A Wrinkle in Time: "In her attic bedroom, Margaret Murray, wrapped in an old patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of her bed and watched the trees tossing in the frenzied lashing of the wind. Every few minutes the moon ripped through them, creating shadows that raced along the ground." I can see Meg shivering in her cold bedroom in the middle of the night and I can hear the wind howling outside. The storm sounds angry (frenzied lashing of the wind) and the mood seems spooky, like something bad is going to happen. I notice the author is using personification with the moon and the shadows (using the words ripped and raced.) Share a few words from your book and explain how the author is using imagery or figurative language to paint a picture. Some examples of figurative language are: Personification (giving life like qualities to something that is not alive) Alliteration (repeating the beginning sounds of words) Simile (comparison using the words "like" or "as." Metaphor (saying something IS something else) I know this is a tough blog question but I know you all can do this! Give it some thought and be on the look out when you are reading. |
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