Lyman High School
2013-2014 Summer Reading for English I Honors and Gifted classes:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Contact: [email protected]
This year we are doing something completely different. At the suggestion of our
current students, there is no written assignment. Instead, each student entering an honors or
gifted honors class should have read the assigned book and annotated it according to the
directions below and the samples attached. This assignment will be posted on the Lyman web
site. High school reading focuses on the craftsmanship of a story, rather than just the story.
Keep the definitions attached close while you read to assist you in examining the techniques.
Look up words you don’t know, so you understand. Bring your novel from the first day of
school and you will be given assignments. This will be worth hundreds of points!
It will help you to have an idea about the times in which this great novel takes
place. Do a computer search on “racism and prejudice in the 1930’s” to read a bit on the
conditions at that time, especially in the south. You may wish to print the key pages of your
research by highlighting what you want and picking the print selection option on the left of the
print menu or by printing just the key pages.
Annotation is an important skill for Advanced Placement and College
preparation. This skill will produce a much deeper reading experience than just reading from
front to back. Annotation is the process of marking the paperback as you read it, identifying
characters and plot elements, as well a theme ideas being developed. Please use a lightcolored highlighter and a pen or sharp pencil to neatly label the annotations. You may wish
to color-code your annotations, such as highlighting major characters pink, minor characters
yellow, and events green. This is what students in 10th grade do. I suggest you label small
Post-its to give you quick access to the areas where you meet key characters or where major
events occur. Please examine the sample pages attached here. Pages 10 and 11 have little
annotation so they have few marks. Pages 23 and 13 contain important events, so there are
many marks and labels.
Annotations should include:
1.
Characters, major and minor. Highlight their names and the details you are given
(direct characterization) as well as the information revealed through indirect characterization.
For example, we know a great deal about Burris Ewell (pronounced Yule) when a fully-grown
“cootie” crawls out of his hair.
2.
Events. You do not need to highlight all events. You will need to have a firm grasp on
what happens in the novel and when. Notice that the definition of plot says it is “the sequence
of events, in a story, novel or play, each causing or leading to the next.” Watch the way this
happens. When you see a theme idea developed, note it. Atticus gives us the key themes.
Enjoy reading this wonderful book and meeting the world of Harper Lee’s characters!
Examples next page.
See you August 1st at Freshman Orientation!
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cÄÉà :
Exposition:
Narrative hook:
Rising action:
Conflict/ complication:
External conflict:
Climax:
Falling action:
Resolution:
Foreshadowing:
\ÜÉÇç |Ç ÑÄÉà
sequence of events in a story, novel or play,
each causing or leading to the next
introduction to characters, setting, and situations
catches the reader’s attention
adds complications to the conflict; leads to climax
struggle b/w 2 opposing forces
person vs. an outside force
(another person, nature, fate or society)
point of highest emotional involvement
presents the results of climax
gives the final outcome
use of clues by the author to prepare readers for
events coming later
contrast between reality and what seems to be real
Situational irony: what happens in a situation is the opposite of what
we expect
Verbal irony: when a person says one thing and means another
Dramatic irony: when the audience has important info the
characters do not
V{tÜtvàxÜM
a person in a story, novel or play
Flat character:
Round character:
Stereotyped character:
Static character:
Dynamic character:
reveals only one personality trait
shows varied, sometimes contradictory traits
common character type whose actions are predictable
does not change in the course of the story
changes, usually grows
V{tÜtvàxÜ|étà|ÉÇ M
personality of a character and the method an author
uses to reveal that personality
Direct characterization: author states facts about a char.
Indirect characterization: reveals a char.’s personality thru
1. char.’s own words and actions
2. what other chars say & think about him
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fxàà|Çz:
Time and place in which a story, novel or play
takes place
time year, month, season etc. –may not be stated
place location of events
atmosphere emotional mood
cÉ|Çà Éy i|xãM
First person pov:
Effect:
Limited third person pov:
Effect:
Omniscient pov:
g{xÅxM
relationship of the storyteller to the story:
not the author & not to be confused with opinion
story told by one of the characters, referred to as “I”
reader identifies with the narrator
narrator tells the story from a limited viewpoint of
only one character, speaking of the character as
“he” or “she”
keeps secret: reader knows when the char.understands
narrator stands outside of the story; “all seeing” as in
the eyes of God
author’s message about life, usually expressed as a
complete statement
Stated theme: announced directly
Implied theme: revealed gradually through the unfolding of the story
fçÅuÉÄ
Example:
Allegory: 1.
2.
Example:
a person or object that represents something larger
than itself
the American flag represents the ideal of America,
freedom
A story or fable with a clear secondary meaning
beneath its literal story;
a symbolic narrative.
Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes =an
allegory of the classic struggle of good vs. evil
ftà|ÜxM
An art form that holds something up to ridicule,
possibly in the hope that awareness may stimulate
change.
Parody: imitates a serious piece of work, such as literature,
music or artwork, for a humorous or satirical effect
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