2D S S The Possibility of Evil.notebook
September 15, 2011
"The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson page 249
Introductory thoughts ­ What does a stereotypical grandmother type look and act like?
What about an old lady who has never been married? Any differences?
When you read, do you notice how you are reacting to the information?
Do you notice if you get scared or worried, excited or relaxed?
­ If you do, that is called the mood.
As I read the first two paragraphs of the next story, try to notice what mood it puts you in.
Sep 11­2:21 PM
"The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson page 249
Read the first two paragraphs ­ What mood are you in? Why?
As you read, make note of your mood. When does it change? Why?
Does it echo the atmosphere within the story? Explain.
After you've finished the story, reread the opening few paragraphs and look for any clues that the author put in that might alert a reader to Miss Strangeworth's personality.
Do you have any questions about the story?
Why does Miss Strangeworth write the letters?
Have you ever met anyone like Miss Strangeworth? At first she seems nice, then her darker side is revealed? What clues alerted you to the darker side of the person you knew?
Sep 11­2:14 PM
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2D S S The Possibility of Evil.notebook
September 15, 2011
How does the story have situational irony?
How does the story have poetic or retributive justice?
Sep 12­9:21 PM
Working with a partner, create a plot graph for the story.
1. What is the conflict? (or main conflict)
2. What details about the setting can you find?
3. There is a lot of exposition ­ generalize
4. Causative incident (what starts the conflict) 5. Rising action ­ there are a number of pieces
6. Climax ­ the moment of highest tension
7. Falling action or denouement
Sep 12­9:03 PM
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2D S S The Possibility of Evil.notebook
September 15, 2011
What is the narrative point of view?
Write a theme statement for the story. Write your theme statement on a slip for me to assess.
Miss Strangeworth's character is very well developed.
She is a round or multi­dimensional character.
chart paper and markers
Find quotations / information for the following and infer character traits:
Row 1 ­ her appearance & her notepapers and writing impliments
Row 2 ­ her actions and speech
Row 3 ­ the reactions of other characters towards her
Row 4 ­ her thoughts and feelings
Create a character sketch paragraph for Miss Strangeworth using the information on the chart paper.
Sep 12­9:06 PM
Put your findings on the chart paper ­ add a character trait
Make sure it is neat enough that others can read it
­ Graphic Organizer ­ could be one of the following
precise / careful
"stepped daintily"
Miss Strangeworth's Actions
curious
helpful
talked with tourists
Miss Strangeworth's Actions
"stepped daintily"
talked with tourists
precise / careful
curious, helpful
Sep 12­9:21 PM
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2D S S The Possibility of Evil.notebook
September 15, 2011
Theme Statements:
Some people are not who they appear to be at first.
1 People are not always who we make them out to be.
2 Wickedness is punished, even if it takes a while for the punishment to come.
3 What one believes is the right thing to do may be harmful, in reality, to others.
4 Often people's morality is seen nicely on the outside, but on the inside they can be cruel. On the outside a person may appear to be moral, but on the inside he/she may be cruel.
5 Even with good intentions, doing something to hurt others has serious consequences.
6 One may have good intentions but deliver them in a wrong way and receive horrible consequences.
Sep 15­10:07 AM
Write a character trait paragraph about Miss Strangeworth using some traits and proof from more than your trait poster.
Embed quotations into your paragraph to support your opinion. Begin the paragraph with a topic sentence that lists the traits. (pseudo­essay) ­ should be at least 10 sentences long.
Reminder about embedding quotations:
Miss Strangeworth's statement, "A princess can be a lot of trouble sometimes," (Jackson 251) indicates a subtle disapproval of the Cranes' desire to indulge their daughter. This shows that Miss Strangeworth is opinionated.
Your paragraph should have a topic sentence listing the three traits (or more), and a quotation from the story for each trait.
Sep 14­10:10 AM
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