LESSON
Synonyms to Know
8
Read Words in Context
The Haunted Genius: Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe is the inventor of the detective story and a
master of mysteries, horror stories, and thrillers. Many of his
stories are absolutely terrifying! His character’s words can be tart,
even sour and bitter. His houses are filled with scary characters
moving from room to room trying to heal their wounded and
bruised spirits. His horror stories, such as “The Fall of the House
of Usher” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” can create nervousness and
frenzy in a reader’s mind. This excitement can create quite a stir or
fright. People have even checked under their beds after reading a
story by Poe! He was truly an authority on these kinds of writing.
His influence on other writers is significant.
Literary people have studied the most elementary or simple
parts of Poe’s life, but it has been difficult to capture this man’s
complicated personality. Every common or basic bit of information
has been looked at many times. Nothing has been too small for
people to investigate or inquire into. Poe fans give or donate
money to Poe societies and they share or contribute their thoughts
about his life to the many Poe Web sites.
Yet few facts about Poe can be proven. While he said that he
was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1807, biographers have long
said that Poe was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1811. It’s known
that his parents died when he was very young, and he never got
over that loss. As a result, perhaps, he retreated into a private world
of fantasy, which gave him protection and refuge from everyday
life. This haven probably gave him the freedom to create
imaginative stories, whose make-believe and fanciful characters
interest readers greatly.
No one knows the exact day that Poe died. His wife, Virginia,
died two years before him. He was overcome with sadness. He was
to mourn or grieve for her until he died at the age of forty-two (or
thirty-eight), in 1849. He left behind amazing tales that continue to
fascinate readers everywhere. His life was so filled with many
mysteries, too!
Vocabulary Words
authority
basic
bruise
contribute
donate
elementary
fanciful
frenzy
grieve
haven
imaginative
influence
inquire
investigate
mourn
refuge
sour
stir
tart
wound
Word Learning Tip!
Synonyms are words that
have the same or similar
meanings. Synonyms are
always the same part of
speech. For example, when
you think of the word cold,
you might also think of
chilly, icy, and frigid. These
synonyms are all adjectives
and have similar meanings.
Vocabulary
Building Strategy
Use Context Clues You
can use your knowledge of
context words and phrases
to determine the meaning of
most synonyms. Knowledge
of synonyms comes in handy,
because most of the time a
synonym is defined by the
words that come after the
and or or in a sentence.
Lesson 8 • Synonyms to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
55
LESSON
8
Synonyms to Know
Connect Words and Meanings
authority
donate
grieve
inquire
sour
basic
elementary
haven
investigate
stir
bruise
fanciful
imaginative
mourn
tart
contribute
frenzy
influence
refuge
wound
Directions Use the clues to complete the crossword puzzle. You may use the glossary to help you.
Across
3.
4.
5.
8.
10.
Down
mean, sharp, bitter; a synonym for tart
a place of shelter and safety; a synonym
for refuge
simple, introductory, fundamental; a
synonym for basic
to find out about something; a synonym
for investigate
a state of excitement; a synonym for stir
1.
2.
6.
7.
9.
to give something; a synonym for
contribute
someone who knows a lot about a
subject or who has a strong effect on
someone; a synonym for influence
to feel or express sorrow for a misfortune
or death; a synonym for mourn
unreal; a synonym for imaginative
an injury; to injure; a synonym for wound
2
3
4
1
9
6
7
8
5
10
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Chapter 1 • Context Clues
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
LESSON
Synonyms to Know
8
Connect More Words and Meanings
authority
donate
grieve
inquire
sour
basic
elementary
haven
investigate
stir
bruise
fanciful
imaginative
mourn
tart
contribute
frenzy
influence
refuge
wound
Directions Match each vocabulary word with its meaning.
1.
wound
A. a sheltered or protected place
2.
contribute
B. an injury
3.
basic
C. excitement; to mix or cause to move slightly
4.
imaginative
D. to give money to something, such as a fund
or charity, for a specific purpose
5.
stir
E. the effect of something on a person, thing,
or event
6.
mourn
F. with a sharp and sour but usually pleasant flavor
7.
influence
G. creative; good at thinking of new ideas
8.
investigate
H. simple or essential
9.
refuge
I. to feel and show sadness because something or
someone has been lost or no longer exists
tart
J. to look into a problem or mystery to find out
the facts
10.
Create a Character Describe a main character for a detective or horror story using six
vocabulary words describing traits or qualities the character has. Write about strange
behaviors the character has to create a word picture.
Lesson 8 • Synonyms to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
57
LESSON
8
Synonyms to Know
Use Words in Context
authority
donate
grieve
inquire
sour
basic
elementary
haven
investigate
stir
bruise
fanciful
imaginative
mourn
tart
contribute
frenzy
influence
refuge
wound
Directions Answer each question below. Use the boldface word in your answer. Write the answer in
the blank.
1. In which kind of story do you think authors are more imaginative—detective stories or
horror stories? Explain why.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you think people enjoy the frenzy of scary stories?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you think a detective would be more interested in investigating the disappearance of a
rare painting or the disappearance of a bicycle? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What do you think is the basic rule for writing a good detective story?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why do you think readers sometimes feel sad or mourn when they finish reading a book?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Is there a place where a writer might go to take refuge or get away from everyone? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Is there an author you have read who has had an influence on you? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
8. If you had books that you weren’t going to read anymore, to whom would you donate them?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What’s the Setting? Work with a partner. Think about a setting for a spy thriller. Where will the
story take place? Will your story take place today, in the past, or in the future? Will your
setting affect the mission of the spy? If so, how? Write your ideas in your personal word journal. Try
to use at least three vocabulary words and four new synonyms.
58
Chapter 1 • Context Clues
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
LESSON
Synonyms to Know
8
Put Words Into Action
authority
donate
grieve
inquire
sour
basic
elementary
haven
investigate
stir
bruise
fanciful
imaginative
mourn
tart
contribute
frenzy
influence
refuge
wound
Directions Read the clues below. Then answer the questions by filling in the correct words.
1. We like to ask questions and search out facts.
What words are we?
2. We’re pretty simple. There’s nothing complicated about us!
What words are we?
3. We get very excited, even about little things.
What words are we?
4. We’re bossy. We affect what the others do.
What words are we?
5. No one likes us. We show that someone has been hurt.
What words are we?
6. Everyone like us. We are very generous and giving.
What words are we?
7. We are a very creative pair. Writers, artists, and scientists like us.
What words are we?
8. No one likes to be sad, so we are not very popular.
We are sad when we feel a loss. What words are we?
9. We are a place of safety and peace. Boats look for us in a storm.
What words are we?
10. If you like lemon pie, you like us. We can make you
pucker your lips. What words are we?
What’s the Problem? Every story has to have a problem. That’s what makes a story
interesting! Think about a problem for a horror story. What would make readers lock their
doors and look under their beds? Write your description in your personal word journal. Use at least
four new synonyms for scary in your description. Share your idea with a partner.
Lesson 8 • Synonyms to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
59
LESSON
8
Synonyms to Know
Review and Extend
authority
donate
grieve
inquire
sour
basic
elementary
haven
investigate
stir
bruise
fanciful
imaginative
mourn
tart
contribute
frenzy
influence
refuge
wound
Learn
More!
Shades of Meaning
Synonyms are words with the same meaning. However, sometimes there are shades of
differences between synonyms that make one word better to use in a certain situation.
For example, some words are more serious than others. Investigate sounds more serious
and formal than inquire, which suggests a more casual activity. A detective might
investigate a crime, while a cook might inquire about the secret ingredient in a recipe.
Some words are more exact. The word wound can refer to any injury to the skin and even
an injury to the heart. Bruise, though, refers specifically to the dark mark you get on
your skin when you fall or are hurt.
Directions Find the pair of synonyms that matches the boldface phrase in each sentence. Write the
words in the blanks. Then circle the synonym that best fits—the word you would pick if you were the
writer. Be prepared to tell your reason for choosing the word.
1.
Brittany is taking a simple, introductory mystery-writing course from Professor Jenkins.
or
2.
Professor Jenkins is a well-known person who affects or has power over others on
modern detective-story authors.
3.
“Make sure your description of the weird purple injury on the character’s face creates a clear
picture in the reader’s mind,” Professor Jenkins said.
4.
or
or
Andy created a criminal character that spoke mean, sharp words in his detective story.
or
5.
Professor Jenkins asked the class to give a few ideas for a spy thriller plot.
or
Create a Synonym List Work in small groups and brainstorm words that are the same or
similar to imaginative and secretive. Compare your lists with other groups to see how many
different words you thought of for these two words. You may use a dictionary or thesaurus.
60
Chapter 1 • Context Clues
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
LESSON
Synonyms to Know
8
Check Your Mastery
Directions Read each sentence. Write the word that correctly completes each sentence in the blank.
1.
Edgar Allan Poe had a great
modern mystery writers.
(haven, contribute, influence) on
2.
Many people like to
(inquire, grieve, stir) about “The Raven,”
a poem that made Poe famous when it was published in 1845.
3.
Poe was a
thoughts and daydreams.
4.
It is very interesting to
known about Poe’s life.
5.
When Poe was sad, many people believe that he took
(wound, frenzy, refuge) from his troubles by writing stories.
(sour, fanciful, basic) person, often lost in his own
(mourn, investigate, donate) what is
Directions Answer each of the items below on the line provided.
6. Name an idea that you consider elementary.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Name two words that might be considered tart.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What makes a person an authority on a subject?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Name a person you know who is imaginative.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Describe what a bruise looks like.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Lesson 8 • Synonyms to Know
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 6 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
61