Name
unit
4.4
Determine the Meaning
of Words and Phrases
1
Guided Close Reading
2
Use Context to Determine
Word Meaning
3
Understand Allusions to
Characters in Myths
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unit
4.4
Name
Determine Word Meaning
Determine the meaning of words and phrases
as they are used in a text, including those that
allude to significant characters found in mythology
(e.g., Herculean).
How to Use Context to Determine
Word Meaning
To determine the meaning of a word or phrase, look for
context clues. Context clues are details in the text that
hint at a word or phrase’s meaning. Look for context
clues in the sentence in which the word appears first.
Then, if you still do not understand what it means, look
at the surrounding sentences for clues.
How to Understand Allusions to
Characters in Mythology
Allusions are words and phrases that refer to
something else indirectly.
To understand an allusion to a character
from mythology:
•Use context clues to get an idea of the word
or phrase’s meaning.
•Look up the character to better understand
its meaning.
•Look up the word or phrase to confirm its meaning.
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Example: She was a titan in the industry, and many
companies tried to copy her products.
The context clue “many companies tried to copy her
products” provides a clue to the meaning of titan. This
shows that the woman is an important person in her
industry, which suggests that a titan is someone who
is important. In Greek mythology, Titans were giant
gods who ruled earth before they were defeated by
the Olympian gods, so titan refers to “someone or
something large in size or power.”
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1. Guided Close Reading
To understand complex texts, you need to do close
reading. An important part of close reading is reading
and rereading a text. With each reading, you gain a
deeper understanding of unfamiliar words and phrases.
Follow the steps to complete a close reading of this excerpt
from The Pilgrims of the Thames.
Read for comprehension.
Adapted from The Pilgrims of the Thames
by Pierce Egan
Not a breath of air was stirring. The sky overhead was
a faint blue, which gradually faded into a pale color. Not a
cloud broke in the sky.
The weather’s effects were terrible on Mrs. Brindle,
poor old soul. It had been almost a Herculean task to her
to get the eatables ready in time, but she succeeded. She
took upon herself the task of making and cooking all the
tarts, pastry, and everything else. She had given herself a
hard day’s work over a large kitchen fire, which, in July, is
no joke. Mrs. Brindle had not only to attend to the puffs
and tarts but also to the young gentlemen. They had
forced their way into the kitchen. Nothing could induce
them to leave while the sweets were about. They were
“seeking what they might devour.” After trying to convince
them to leave, Mrs. Brindle had forcibly expelled them.
As might be expected, the struggle with the young
men, the heat of the weather and the fire, and the anxiety
of baking had completely exhausted her. Instead of
keeping her promise to be at the party, she should have
kept her bed.
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1. Guided Close Reading continued
Reread to identify context clues.
Highlight words and phrases in the text that provide a clue
to
the meaning of Herculean.
Based on context clues, what do you think Herculean means?
Underline words and phrases in the text that provide clues
the meaning of expelled.
to
Based on context clues, what do you think expelled means?
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2. Use Context to Determine Word Meaning
To understand the meaning of a word in a sentence, use
context clues to get an idea of the word’s meaning. If
you’re still not sure of its meaning, look it up in a dictionary.
Read the passage. Then answer the questions.
Adapted from “Bruce and the Spider”
by George MacDonald
There was once a king of Scotland whose name was
Robert Bruce. He had need to be both brave and wise,
for the times in which he lived were wild and rude. The
King of England was at war with him and had led a great
army into Scotland to drive him out of the land.
Battle after battle had been fought. Six times had Bruce
led his brave little army against his foes, and six times had
his men been beaten and driven into flight. At last his army
was scattered, and he was forced to hide himself in the
woods and in lonely places among the mountains.
As he lay in a shed thinking, he saw a spider over his
head, making ready to weave her web. He watched her
as she toiled slowly and with great care. Six times she
tried to throw her frail thread from one beam to another,
and six times it fell short.
“Poor thing!” said Bruce. “You, too, know what it is to fail.”
But the spider did not lose hope with the sixth
failure. With still more care, she made ready to try for
the seventh time. Would she fail again? No! The thread
was carried safely to the beam, and fastened there.
“I, too, will try a seventh time!” cried Bruce.
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2. Use Context to Determine Word Meaning continued
Reread the second paragraph. What does foe mean?
What
words and phrases provide clues to the
word’s meaning?
Reread the third paragraph. What does toiled mean?
What
words and phrases provide clues to the
word’s meaning?
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3. Understand Allusions to Characters in Myths
To understand allusions, use context clues to get an idea of
the word or phrase’s meaning. Then, look up the character
and the word or phrase to help you clarify its meaning.
Read the passages. Then answer the question.
from “The Miser’s Will”
by George Birdseye
This tale is true, for so the records show;
‘Twas in Germany, not many years ago:
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Young Erfurth loved. But ere the wedding day
His dearest friend stole with his bride away.
The woman false that he had deemed so true,
The friend he trusted but an ingrate, too,
What wonder that, his love to hatred grown,
His heart should seem to all mankind a stone?
All kindred ties he broke, himself be banned
And sought a solitude in stranger land.
Grief finds relief in something found to do,
The mind must find some object to pursue;
And so, ere long, his being was controlled
By sole, debasing, longing greed for gold.
How soon his little multiplied to much!
His hand seemed gifted with a Midas touch;
Yet still he kept himself unto himself,
None seeing but for increase of his pelf.
King Midas and the Golden Touch
by Juan Ramirez
In Greek mythology, King Midas finds Silenus, a
companion to Dionysus who had wandered away from
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3. Understand Allusions to Characters in Myths continued
the god. As a reward for treating Silenus kindly, Dionysus
grants King Midas a wish. Midas wishes that everything
he touches turns to gold. When he cannot eat anything
because of this gift, he realizes his request was foolish.
Dionysus lets him wash his gift away in the Pactolus River.
hat does the phrase “Midas touch” mean? Use context
W
clues and the description of King Midas’s golden touch to
get an idea of its meaning. Then, look the phrase up to
clarify its meaning.
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unit
4.4
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Vocabulary
1. Guided Close Reading
Term
allude
allusion
anxiety
close
reading
context
clues
debasing
deemed
devour
eatables
ere
exhausted
forcibly
frail
grief
induce
industry
ingrate
kindred
miser
pelf
sole
solitude
twas
Definition
hint at
indirect reference to something else
concern about what might occur
carefully examining each word, phrase, and
sentence in a text
details in the text that help readers understand
unknown words
having a negative effect on one’s character or
making one less respectable
thought
eat eagerly
food
before
made tired
with force
weak
sadness
to persuade someone to do something
a group of companies that provides the same type
of service or makes the same type of products
someone who is not thankful
family
a person who does not like to spend his or
her money
money
acting alone
being alone
it was
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