Story Map

Information Technology High School
Ms.Hyde
English 5/Period 8^th
October 23, 2008
Pooja Kar

Title: The Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen

Characters & Characterization:

Protagonist: Ruby Cooper, a seventeen year old girl, who thinks that she can do anything herself. She grew up in an environment where you don’t ask for help, it’s either you can do it or you can’t. She really never got her mother or father love when she was young; the only person she could count on was her sister Cora. Cora left for college when Ruby was ten years old with a promise that she’ll come back for her. Since then on Ruby began to realize that you can’t usually trust people. She thinks accepting help from others that’s a sign of weakness and she’s anything but weak.

Antagonist: Ruby Cooper, the mother of Cora and Ruby. She named Ruby after herself. Ms.Cooper started to change her perspective when her husband divorced her and left. Like Ruby she herself thought that excepting help from other was bad and weak. She always tries to show her point but when her daughter Cora left she realized that no one usually stays, they eventually leaves you behind. So with that thought she took Ruby away from her home and started moving from one place to another. Ruby watching her mother growing up and seeing how her mother became she started to have those feeling and thought that people don’t stay and she never gave anyone a chance to come close to her. Ms. Cooper didn’t corrupt Ruby physically but emotionally by showing her the wrong reason in life.

Setting:

Setting Time: Present time and one year ago

Setting Place: Little yellow farmhouse and Cora’s house.

The yellow house is very important place for Ruby. It’s a part of her that left behind when her mother left her and the social worker found her. It’s a past that might take some time to get over because she partly was raised herself.

Cora’s house is a place where she moved in when the social worker found out that she was only seventeen and still underage. It’s a place where she started to see and feel like she has a family, privilege and relationship which all new to her and it frightens her. Both of the houses holds a meaning to Ruby, one holds a past that she has to let go and start over and the new house is a place where she knows that she can and finally have a place that she might call her home.

Vocabulary:

Vigorously- energetic or forceful.

Imperceptibly- very slight, gradual or subtle.

Accumulate- to gather or collect, often in gruel degree.

Inane- lacking sense, significance or ideas.

Derivative- not original.

Plot: Ruby Cooper living alone in a little yellow house waiting till the day of her eighteen birthdays’ to come, when she’ll be legally adult. Her hopes were crushed when social workers came and asked her “Where is your mother, Ruby?” a question that she has no answer for. It also wasn’t her plan to be reunited with her long-lost sister Cora, who has to take care of her till she’s eighteen. Suddenly the life she knew is gone and completely wiped out. In a new world where she learns about family, privilege and relationship a thought that never came to her mind is suddenly front of her to live it. Ruby also learns the difference between being given help and being able to accept it. And sometime, it takes a little reaching out to someone to safe yourself.

Exposition: Ruby walked into her new room where she’ll be staying. Jamie, her sister’s husband, who is showing around the house while her sister is behind them the whole time keeping an eye on Ruby. Jamie excitedly is explaining everything to Ruby; he is even showing her the backyard where he is going to make a pond. She has flashback about her past when her and her mother moved into the yellow house and when their landlord came over for a friendly visit and her mother was pissed but didn’t show it.

Ruby planned to escape when her sister and her brother-in-law are asleep. When she was going to jump the gate because she didn’t want to take a chance by the front door she was caught by her next door neighbor. Nate was at the pool swimming that time when he saw Ruby trying to climb the gate but she was stopped when Jamie came back from walking Roscoe their dog.

Rising Action: Ruby decided to give it a chance to stay with her sister till she becomes eighteen and then leave. Ruby started to go to Perkins Day High, a private school. Cora and Jamie made a deal with Nate to carpool Ruby to and from school so she doesn’t need to take the public transportation, which Ruby thought it was unnecessary. Ruby’s first assignment in her English class was “What is family?” A question she never knew the answer too. Growing up in broken up family, she thought it was better for her not to write about her experiences. Later on the week she went to mall because her sister forced her to go and buy new cloths for herself. There she meets Harriet, a saleslady, who has a help wanted sign. Ruby thought it would good for her to have a job to save up.

Climax: Ruby and Cora got into a huge argument about what really happen. It all started when Cora said that she forgave her for not coming to her wedding, which got Ruby mad because in first place she always thought she was never invited. They both were deceived by their mother. Cooper lied to both her daughter about everything. Ms. Cooper lied to Cora about Ruby never wanting to see her and to Ruby about that her sister left her and never wanting her in her life. The huge moment in this story was when Cora told Ruby that she tried to get her back but their mother was in their way and that truth that their mother left Ruby before Ruby can leave her. Cora wanted to explain things to her but Ruby ran out of house. When she got to school she asked one of her friend Olivia to take her to the yellow house where her past is link to.

Falling Action: Except going to the house she went to the wood which is a mile away from her house and there she meets Adam, her friend boyfriend, there she got drunk and smoked some joint trying to forget what happen that day earlier. From there she went to meet her so called boyfriend so she can have someone to talk to. Instead she walks into his room where he and her friend were all up on each other. She realized that no matter what you try to do even if you try to open up you do get hurt eventually. When she got home late that day she thought that Cora was going to be mad at her whom she can handle but when she saw that it was Jamie who was mad she couldn’t take it. She felt so guilty, that she didn’t realize that she wasn’t just hurting herself but the people around her especially Jamie and Cora. Nate is always there to help her out when needed, because he has secret of his own. He also thinks that he’s not wanted, so he keeps up with what his father does to him. He gets abuse whenever he does something wrong. So Nate and Ruby always there for one another, no matter what the circumstances are, but Ruby wants to take action for what is Nate going trough the only thing that is holding her down is Nate himself.

Resolution: Ruby finally got her question, “What is family?” answered. She now knows that family is the people who’ll be there no matter what, for hardship and for pure enjoyment. To start over again you have to let go of the past and maybe sometime give and get a second chance. She took hold of Nate’s hand and told her sister what was going on with him and his father. She was inspired what her sister does for others and slowly she realized that she even did that for her but mostly in a loving sisterly way. Ruby later on realize that something small can be big if you let it happen but one thing you should always remember is that you have to be the one let someone in to help you. Later on when Nate went to Arizona to live with his mother till the day he leaves to go start college. Cora and Jamie are both happy that Ruby got into a college and that they are both going to be parents really soon.

Quotes:

“…not everything’s perfect, especially at the beginning. And it’s all right to have little bit of regret every once in a while. It’s when you feel it all the time and can’t do anything about it…that’s when you get into trouble.” Page 169-170

I think this quote is saying that not everything can be perfect but you have to try to make it the best. There are no consequences if you feel like you did something wrong and its natural thing but if you think you always going to be doing something wrong every time you try then you have a problem. In everyday life human being makes mistake and you try to see what you did wrong and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. There are some people out there in the world who thinks that what ever disaster happen it’s all there fault. In this quote Jamie was trying to explain to Ruby that no matter what happens you have to know that you took a chance and there might regrets later but you have a satisfactory of knowing that you took the risk.

I agree with this quote because as human we do make mistakes but we learn how to accept and fixing it. Growing up we learn that nothing in this world is perfect, it’s up to us to make the better of it. There are times when you have regret when you think about “I should have or I shouldn’t have”. There are your basic regrets but what’s important is that you took the chance of something different that you might like or not. It all depends on you to make the choice.

“If you accept the worst you’ll never be disappointed” Page 340

I think this quote is saying that you get so use to of something bad happening that you usually take it as something normal. For example in this book we see how Ruby deals with her life changing but do we even realize that she keeps on thinking that something horrible is going to happen any minute. She’s never that surprise when she assume that something is wrong but she get surprise when she see’s that nothing bad is going to happen. I remember this one part in the book, which she was excepting her sister to kick her out that she even didn’t try to unpack her things but her sister surprised her by saying that they should go shopping for new things. We assume the worst for that we’ll never be disappointed when it happens but she should always think positive because things can happen.

I agree with this quote because we do assume the worst when something happens. I always think of the worst and when it happens am not that as disappointed as I should be. I guess we kind of get use the idea of us doing something wrong that we take it as our normal daily life.

Conflict: Man vs. Self

Ruby is having a hard time adjusting into her new life, where she has constantly fighting her own emotions and thought. She keeps on thinking that she’s better being on herself then letting other people taking care of her. She doesn’t realize that sometime to help yourself you might need someone else help. She pushes everyone away who wants to help her thinking that she can do it on herself and like I said in the beginning she thinks excepting help from other is a sign of weakness.

Themes:

Family is Important:

Ruby and Cora is struggling to fix their relationship. Sometime family can be a handful, but for Ruby it’s all new. She knows that she had a perfect family when she was young and she also knows that she had a sister who would do anything for her, but those where in the past. Now she’s not even sure she wants to get to know her sister or her brother-in-law if she’s planning on leaving soon. “What is family?”(Page 161) a question that was asked by her English teacher but an answer she didn’t know. She knows the basic definition of family, but what does it truly means to her. She slowly lets her sister and other people into her life, she finally realize that family isn’t something you can choose it’s given to you. You might hate them in certain time but you always love them no matter how much they might have hurt you. They love their mother a lot that they hope that she’ll be okay when she gets out of rehab. Ruby and Cora, both realized that no matter what happens on the way, you eventually go back to the people you started with, your family.

Giving and Getting Second Chance to Start a New Beginning:

In “Lock and Key” there is a very big theme where everyone deserves a second chance in life. And that’s what happens to Ruby, Cora and Nate. They all got second chance but it all depended on themselves to giving it and accepting it. Cora wants to start a new beginning with Ruby but it depends on her if she wants to accept it or not. Ruby tries to give a second chance to Cora when she realizes that Cora is trying in her part to start something. Seeing this, Ruby realizes that to have a family you have to reach out and hold on to that person. Jamie also taught her that to start all over you need a new self which can be done by fixing few flaws but other then that you should be the person you want to be not what other excepts of you. Nate was going to the same thing but in his case he was being abuse by his father. When he was going to move back with his mother in Arizona, Ruby told him to give it a chance to make amend with his mother because she might just surprise him. Nate and Ruby realizes that to start over only depend on what you do.

Literary Elements:

Flashback:

Ruby has a lot of flashback about her past before she moved in with Cora. Most of her flashback would lead her back to the yellow house where everything changed. “The Honeycutts owned the little yellow farmhouse where my mom and I had been living for about a year” (pg 5) Her mom and her used to move from place to place and they use to forge their background so no one would ask question when they would disappear again in the middle of the night. Ruby’s usually use to do her mother jobs because her mother would either sleep in or go out and get drunk. Their job was “Commercial Courier called itself an ‘all-purpose delivery service’” (pg 32) it was a delivering job when you return lost luggage’s to the customer when they couldn’t find it in the reclaiming area at the airport. She also started to remember about her past with her sister Cora. Where Cora would come and help her out in night or she’ll stay by her when their mother was drunk. “Shhh, I remembered her saying as we stood in our nightgowns in our bedroom…If my mom was sleeping Cora would hold my hand and we tiptoed into the kitchen.” (pg56)

Symbolism:

In this story a key is the symbol of Ruby past life. The key holds something dear to her because she had a chain go through the hole so she can keep with her all the time. “…I’d just lifted it up gently, reassured to see that the outline of that key remained on my skin, the one that fit the door to everything I’d left behind.”(pg17) The key holds a strong meaning for Ruby because it was something that she only knew about when she growing up and then suddenly it to go away, it was hard for to let go. She’s wasn’t even sure if she wanted to let go till then end of the book when it said that she dropped the key into pond and was watching it sinking down till it disappear because she was letting go of the past and was ready to take on a new life and challenge.

Mood:

This story has a lot of moods; some are sad, anger, happy, fear and finally love. The author wrote this book in a way that you can feel the emotions that were coming out of the text. In the beginning you can feel the combination of sad and fear mixed together. Ruby felt sad and scared because that her mother left without a word and then she suddenly has to lie with her sisters. She probably always felt that something will happen but to her surprise she never knew that she did have some fear in her to know that she might be alone in this world. You can also feel the anger when Cora tries to comprehend with her. The little sister she use to know isn’t there any more and Cora blames herself about it. “She dropped her hand from the rack, then turned to face me. “Because you’re a minor” she said “and your mother abandoned you.”(pg45) Also when Jamie lost his temper when Ruby came home drunk and high when she ran out of the house the day when she and her sister got into an argument. In the end of the book you can sense the happiness and love of a family. Ruby realizes that family and true friends are the only two peoples in the whole world if going to drop what they doing just to be there for you.

Annotated Bibliography:

Dessen, Sarah. Lock and Key. New York: Penguin Group, 2008.

Sarah Dessen’s Lock and Key, takes you in a ride, where a girl is just trying to find out where she belongs. Ruby Cooper a seventeen year old girl who is abandoned by her mother in a yellow house, one afternoon when she came back from school. The social worker came to her house and told her that her game was over and that she needs to go with them until they a place that she can stay. With all the reason, she never accepted to be reunited with her sister Cora, who was gone or out of her life for ten years. Suddenly living in a whole new world where you have family, privilege and relationships are more important, a place that Ruby thought she’ll never have. Then why is she ungrateful, and not letting anyone coming close to her? Why does she carry a key around her next and what does it symbolize? Only one person can break down those walls that are surrounding her heart and thought, and that is the cute, popular boy next door Nate. And if he does will Ruby learn how to help other while she also learns how to accept help as well.

Opinions and judgements

Background for understanding: Students would have read Chapters 11 to 15.

Aim: How can we present reasons, examples, and details from the text to defend opinions and judgements?

Do Now (ties in to the Critical Lens of ELA Regents): Read the following quote and state if you agree or disagree with the quote and why “To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else.”
I agree with this quote because to have something thats really important you might have to lose everything else.

—Bernadette Devlin
The Price of My Soul, 1969
Share out!
Cooperative Learning: Form groups of 3-4 and each group will be responsible for responding to one selected chapter in 15 minutes and present to class on chart paper. Groups must also cite sources and “direct quotes”. The audience will take notes on each presentation.

XI “The New Tie to Life”
Comprehension Check:
Linda’s first child was a son, and his name was Benjamin. He was named after their uncle (62)

Interpret:
What is Dr. Flint suggesting to Linda when he said “he is a physician [who] could save [her] from exposure?” (59).
Dr. Flint was suggesting abortion because its' a shame for a women to be pregnant before marriage.
Explain what Linda is inferring when she said “I did not feel as proud as I had done. My strongest weapon with him was gone” (59)?
Her strongest weapon against him was her virtuous which she gave up to Mr. Sand. Her virtuous was a power that she can hold up to Flint so he can't do anything because she never did any wrong.
Linda made choices with deliberate calculation. How did her plan backfire? (61)
Linda's plan backfire because her plan didn't work of her and her son being sold to another owner.
Vocabulary:
(59)= Avowal, Obstinate
(60)= Insolence
(63)= Solace

XII “Fear of Insurrection”
Comprehension Check:
What historical insurrection is Brent referring to in this chapter? What is an insurrection?
Linda is referring to Nat Turner. An insurrection is a civil revolt and rebellion.

Analyze and Interpret:
In this chapter Linda points out that some whites can’t read. However, why were they looking for written correspondence among the slaves?
The whites are looking for written correspondence among the slave because they believe that Nat Turner might have written to them.
Vocabulary:
(65) Marauders
(66) Consternation

XIII “The Church and Slavery” Teacher will read the following excerpt from Graduate Thesis. Students will analyze and discuss.
How does Christianity masks some of slavery’s atrocities in Jacobs’ narrative?

Jacobs also exposes the Christian hypocrisy when Reverend Mr. Pike calls for “Servants, [to] be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in the singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. If you disobey your earthly master, you offend your heavenly Master” (70). Rather than denounce slavery, he enforces a dogma that obedience to white masters will lead to spiritual liberation. Slaves are therefore brainwashed believing there is a direct correlation between Christ and their white slave masters. Furthermore, they must be submissive to their masters. This hypocrisy is seen when a Northern clergyman visits a southern slave master’s home and is exposed to a dinner table “loaded with luxuries,” lush gardens, spiritual talks, and the “comfortable huts of the favored household slaves,” who [slaves] tell him that they do not want to be free for fear of their lives (76). He returns to the North publicizing that he has seen “slavery for himself; that it is a beautiful “patriarchal institution” and the terrible acts of slavery are exaggerations of abolitionists. However, Jacobs exposes slave masters’ totalitarianism and the ignorance and trickery of the clergyman stating:
does he know of the half-starved wretches toiling from dawn till dark on the plantations? of mothers shrieking for their children, torn from their arms by slave traders? of young girls dragged down into moral filth? of pools of blood around the whipping post? of hounds trained to tear human flesh? of men screwed into cotton gins to die? (76).
Furthermore, Jacobs was “much surprised [when Dr. Flint, her oppressive slave master had joined the Episcopal church, and thought] that religion has a purifying effect on the character of men; but the worst persecutions [she] endured from him were after he was a communicant” (70, 77). Flint announces that he joined the church because he is aging and his social position in the community requires it. It would also end the gossip of his transgressions on his plantation.
Another well-known Christian hypocrisy is the forbidding of slaves from reading the Bible. Jacobs tells of Uncle Fred whom she taught to read the Bible in concealment because it was “contrary to the law; and that slaves were whipped and imprisoned for teaching each other to read” (74). Here, her audience are compelled to reflect on their own ethos and scruples about God’s laws and man made laws that prohibits the inferior slave like Uncle Fred (who only wanted to better serve God) from reading the Bible. She boldly attacks both institution of Church and Slavery and illustrates how they unite in the oppression of slaves:
There are thousands, who, like good uncle Fred, are thirsting for the water of life; but the law forbids it, and the churches withhold it. They send the Bible to heathen abroad, and neglect the heathen at home. I am glad that missionaries go out to the dark corners of the earth; but I ask them not to overlook the dark corners at home. Talk to American slaveholders and you talk to savages in Africa. Tell them it is wrong to traffic men, [women and children]. Tell them it is sinful to sell their own children, and atrocious to violate their own daughters. Tell them that all men are brethren, and that man has no right to shut out the light of knowledge from his brother. Tell them they are answerable to God for sealing up the Fountain of Life from souls that are thirsting for it (75-76).
Jacobs illustrates race superiority and moral contradictions in church teachings. Furthermore, slave masters; intentionally use them to deny slaves their freedom.

XIV “Another Link to Life”
Comprehension Check:
How old is Linda in this chapter? (80)
19 years old.
What was Linda’s near death experience? (80)
Dr.Flint threw Linda down the stair because she was pregnant again.

Analyze and Interpret:
According to Linda Brent “the slave child shall follow the condition of the mother, not the father; thus taking care that licentiousness shall not interfere with avarice.” Explain (78)
Linda is trying to say that no matter if the slave children have a father whose white they're still to consider a slave because of how the white hold power against the and they'll never acknowledge the fact that it's their kid.
What heinous act did Mr. Flint bestowed on Linda when he learned that she was pregnant with another child? (79)
Flint cut all hair off.
Why was Linda highly concerned that her second born was a girl?
She was highly concern because when your born a slave as a girl then your treated worse then the guys and she feared that her daughter will face the same consequences as she did.

Literary analysis:
Identify device “he was like a restless spirit from the pit” (79).
simile
Linda refers to her daughter’s gift of the gold chain as an emblem. What literary device is this?
(81)
symbolism
Vocabulary:
(78)= Forbearance, Reprobate, Descanting, Lacerated
(80)= Vituperations,
(81) Skeins, Genealogies, Emblem

XV “Continued Persecution”
Comprehension Check:
How much money was offered to Flint for the purchase of Linda? (81)
Flint was offered $900 then $1200 to purchase Linda.
How is child abuse evident in this chapter? (82)
Dr.Flint threw Benjamin across the room just for trying to protect her from Flint.
How is Flint trying to domesticate Linda in this chapter? (85)
Flint was trying to domesticate Linda in this chapter by giving her and her children their freedom if only they follow one simple rule which is not see or talk to the children father (Mr.Sand)
One can say that the constant conflict between Linda and Flint is a power struggle. According to Linda, Dr. Flint loved money, but he loved power more.” Can we find/recall further support for this in the previous chapters?
"He was to begin with nine hundred dollars, and go up to twelve. My master refused his offers. "Sir," said he, "she don't belong to me. She is my daughter's property, and I have no right to sell her." (pg 88 of Continued Persecutions)

"...he told me that I was made for his use, made to obey his command in every thing; that I was nothing but a slave, whose will must and should surrender to his..." (pg 15 of The Slave who dared to feel like a Man)

"I understood his object in making this false representation. It was to show me that I gained nothing by seeking the protection of my mistress; that the power was still all in his own hands." (pg 35 of The Jealous Mistress)
Interpret:
According to Linda Brent “My master had power and law on his side; [and] I had a determined will—How is there might in each?
Linda is trying to say that because her master is white he has law and power to support him while she has will power to fight for her right and virtuous.
Vocabulary:
(81) Paramour
(84) Indignant, Sanctioning, Complusion
(85)= Facetious, Jeers, Wilfulness

10/17/08-True Womenhood

Background for understanding: (The idea of “The cult of True Womanhood,” or “the cult of domesticity,” sought to assert that womanly virtue resided in piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity- The attributes of True Womanhood, by which a woman judged herself and was judged by her husband, her neighbors, and her society could be divided into four cardinal virtues - piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity... Without them.... all was ashes. With them she was promised happiness and power.).
True Women were to hold the four cardinal virtues:
1. Piety - believed to be more religious and spiritual than men
2. Purity - pure in heart, mind, and body
3. Submission - held in "perpetual childhood" where men dictated all actions and decisions
4. Domesticity - a division between work and home, encouraged by the Industrial Revolution; men went out in the world to earn a living, home became the woman's domain where a wife created a "haven in a heartless world" for her husband and children.[1]

Aim: How is Linda Brent portrayed as an unconventional heroine who portrayal as slave challenges the cult of true womanhood while struggling to reclaim her status as a woman, and reconstructing the ideals of women in nineteenth century America?

Do Now: Write a sentence in your notebook starting with I believe that of the four virtues ________ still holds true in today’s society because….
I believe that of the four virtues domesticity still holds true in today's society because there some women who stays home to take care of the household, the children while the husband works. For example my mom was a house wife while my dad worked while she stayed home taking care of things.

Comprehension Check:
“Sketches of Neighboring Slaveholders”
What dehumanization/degradation do we see in Mr. Conant, Mrs. Wade’s?
Mr.Conant would tie up his slaves in front of his house on a tree and they were stripped their cloths off.
Mrs.Wade would lash her slaves and before she died she punched a slave on it's face and yelled "the devil got you now".
What happened to James the slave? (48-49)
James was lashed hundred time and put into a cotton gin where he was found dead and rats was all over him.
According to Linda Brent, what value do women hold? (49)
"Women are considered of no value, unless they continually increase their owner's stock"(52) There is no value for women during those times, their only reason for women to live is to carry child in their womb.
What happened to the “kind mistress/orphan woman” who took inherited a woman and her six children? (50-51)
"Kind mistress/orphan woman" died peacefully because she knew she was helping out a family of slave by giving them their freedom.
Explain: “The poor worm shall prove her contest vain. Life’s little day shall pass, and she is gone! (52)
I think this quote means that slave women is trying to fight for their freedom and purity which they don't have until the die.
Explain: According to Linda Brent, “slavery is a curse to the whites as well as to the blacks.” (53)
(55)
Linda Brent is trying to say that slavery is curse to the both color because for the white where their husband is being unfaithful and breaking their vows while the black has it physically.

“A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girl’s Life”
Comprehension Check:
What was Dr. Flint’s new plan for Brent? (53)
Dr.Flint new plan for Brent was to build a house for that is 4 miles away from the town where she can live.
How old is Linda in this chapter? (55)
15 years old.

Literary Analysis:
Characterize Mr. Sands
Mr.Sands is nice, educated, a gentlemen and he was eloquent.

Interpretive:
What did Linda Brent do “with deliberate calculation?” (54-55)

Identify Brent’s use of rhetoric in “Perilous Passage” (54, 56)

In her rhetoric, Brent addresses her readers as “O virtuous reader…” why? (56)
She uses rhetoric in this part because she wants the reader to know and understand what is happening and why.
Where do we see hypocrisy of the church? (50)

According to Brent, “I feel that the slave woman ought not to be judged by the same standard as others”- Why? (56)
Linda is saying that slave women shouldn't be judge by the same standard as the white women because slaves women are forced to give up their virtuous while the white women are married and willingly giving them up to their husband.
Why did Aunt Marty/Linda’s grandmother ostracize Linda and tell her that she would “rather see you dead than to see you as you now are [pregnant]. You are a disgrace to your mother?” (57)
Linda is pregnant out of wedlock.

Critical Thinking: Using the four cardinal virtues
Which of the four cardinal virtues do you think is the most important and why?
I think purity is the most important for women because no matter what the society, or the pople your with usually judge you by how pure you are.
What does Linda do that challenges the “cult of true womanhood?”
Linda breaks all of the "cult of true womanhood".
According to the cardinal virtues that makes the nineteenth century woman a “true woman” is
Linda a true woman? Why or Why not?
In terms of saying that is Linda a true women in general than yes for standing up and not giving herself in, but we are talking about the nineteenth century women than Linda isn't a true women because she became pregnant before marriage and she didn't submit herself to Dr. Flint.
Cooperative Learning: Form your Groups and write in your notebooks the following as a header:
Slavery was terrible for both men and women, but one can say that it was far more terrible for women.
Then say if you agree or disagree with this quote and why.
Finally, cite your sources using citations from the text and page numbers.
I agree with the quote because women does get far worse then men. Slave women are sexually, physically, and psychologically abused by their masters. While the men just get physically abused. Women are excepted to submit to their masters when they want them to if not they get abused or they are threaten by their master. For example when Linda didn't submit to Dr.Flint he whispered foul words and he also held a knife near her throat.
Share out!

Vocabulary Words to know:
Chapter IX:
Depredations- the act of preying upon
Inducement-to lead or move by persuasion or influence
Interred-to place in a grave or tomb; bury
Divested- to strip or deprive of property or rights
Cessation- a temporary or complete stopping
Manumit-to release from slavery or servitude
Inculcated- to teach or instill through repetition
Licentiousness-Lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct.
Chapter X:
Abyss- a bottomless gulf or pit
Eloquent - Having the power of expressing strong emotions
Sophistry- misleading argument

10/15/08-Chapter VIII What Slaves Are Taught To Think Of The North

10/15/08 Please note that the Story Map rubric and updated model is listed at the bottom of this page. Story Maps are due next week Wednesday.

Aim: What are slaves taught to think of the North, and why are they depicted as inferior?

Do Now: Write about a time when you were either deceived/lead to think about something that was not true. I recall a time when…
I recall a time when I was deceived by my friend. She lead me on to think that this guy liked me and me and this guy were close friend, but when I started to have feeling for this guy she took him away and they both started dating. I really didn't care that she liked him but it hurts to know that one of your friend will do something like this.

Comprehension Check:
What do slaveholders pride themselves on?
Slaveholders pride themselves on being honorable men.
How does Jacobs’ literacy prove valuable to herself and community?
Jacobs' literacy prove valuable to herself and community by reading newspaper to the slaves in her community by telling them the truth about it and also warning them that their masters are lying to them. For example in page 45 , it says that her master came to her when he return from his trip from the North to tell her that one of her friend is almost dying up at the North but she later found out that her friend was rather doing really up there. She even staid with her when she escaped the South.

Interpretive:
Why does Jacobs say that liberty “is more valuable than life” (43)?
Jacobs say that liberty "is more valuable than life" because freedom is more important then being captive.
Why has northerners proved to be “apt scholars?” (44)
Northerners proved to be "apt scholars" because they think that having slaves is going to make their life easier and they harsher then the Southerners.
Why does says that she admits that the “black man is inferior?” (43)
She admits that the "black man is inferior" because they give their master free access to their wives and daughters because they couldn't deal with all the blow and whip they get from their masters.

Connect/Recall:Recall any moment in history where the “non-anglo” male is considered or treated as inferior: World War II Internment of the Japanese or 29 Mar 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA --- US National Guard troops block off Beale Street as Civil Rights marchers pass by on March 29, 1968. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Critical Thinking:

Do you think non-anglo males and females are treated unfairly or as inferior in today’s society? Take a look at the following report by Pedro A. Noguera, Ph. D is a Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

In my own research at high schools in northern California, I have obtained consistent evidence that most Black students value education and would like to succeed in school. In response to a survey about their experiences in school, nearly 90% of the Black male respondents (N=147) responded "agree" or "strongly agree" to the questions, "I think education is important", and "I want to go to college.” However, in response to the following questions: "I work hard to achieve good grades" and "My teachers treat me fairly", less than a quarter of the respondents, 22% and 18% respectively, responded affirmatively. An analysis of just these responses to the survey suggests a disturbing discrepancy between what students claim they feel about the importance of education, the effort they expend, and the support they receive from teachers.(71) Similar results were obtained from a survey of 537 seniors at an academic magnet high school. African American males were least likely to indicate that they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "My teachers support me and care about my success in their class.” (Figure 1).

“My teachers support me and care about my success in their class"
	Black Male	Black Female	Asian Male	Asian Female	White Male	White Female
Strongly Agree	8%	12%	24%	36%	33%	44%
Agree	12%	16%	42%	33%	21%	27%
Disagree	38%	45%	16%	15%	18%	11%
Strongly Disagree	42%	27%	18%	16%	28%	18%
N=537

http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/er/pntroub1.html

Cooperative Learning:
Cite from the text at least five instances where the characters suffers further dehumanization and degradation in chapters "The Lover" and “What slaves are taught to think of the North”

"The Lover"/Linda Brent-"He sprang upon me like a tiger, and gave me a stunning blow." (40)

"The Lover" / Dr.Flint to Linda-" I suppose you thought more of your-self; that you felt above the insult of such puppies." (40)

"What Slaves Are Taught" Slaves- " Some poor creatures have been so brutalized by the lash that they will sneak out of the way to give their masters free access to their wives and daughters." (46)

"What Slaves Are Taught" Northerners/ Southerners- "When southerners go to the north, they are proud to do them honor; but the northern man is not welcome south of Mason and Dixon's line, unless he suppresses every thought and feeling at variance..." (46)

"What Slaves Are Taught" -"But while the Free State sustain a law which hurls fugitives back into slavery..." (46)

Share out!
Connect to World by writing in your notebooks:
Where in today’s society are we witnesses to “liberty more valuable than life”? Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not?

In todays' society we witness "liberty more valuable than life" at Afghanistan, were we see how women are being tortured and how they wish they could gain their freedom. Some women died by trying to gain their freedom.

Works Cited:

Pedro A. Noguera, Ph. D is a Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberlyb/1340293354/ (Civil Rights March Image)

10/14/08-Chapter 7 "The Lover"

10/14/08 First marking periods grades are due today! It is unfortunate that some of you may not have taken the opportunity to do your best, but you have to believe that you can be successful for the next two marking periods.

Objective:
Students will read aloud with expression, conveying the meaning and mood of a work.
Students will use inference and deduction to understand the text.
Students will evaluate literary merit based on an understanding of the genre, the literary elements, and the literary period and tradition

Aim: How does the protagonist suffers further dehumanization and degradation in Chapter VII "The Lover?"

de·hu·man·ize (dē hyo̵̅o̅′mə nīz′)
transitive verb -·ized′, -·iz′·ing
to deprive of human qualities, as pity, kindness, individuality, or creativity; make inhuman or machinelike
Degrade:
To reduce in grade, rank, or status; demote.
2. To lower in dignity; dishonor or disgrace: a scandal that degraded the participants.3. To lower in moral or intellectual character; debase.4. To reduce in worth or value: degrade a currency.5.

Do Now: Start writing in your notebook I have experienced/witnessed/felt dehumanization or/and degraded....
I have experienced degraded in kindergarten because being young i never cared about fashion or style so my mom made me get a boy hair cut. I did cry because my hair was short but my mom was like you can't even manage it so its better of being short. Going to school the next day, all of my friends and classmate laughed at me because of my hair,it was the most embarrassing day of my life and I cried of a whole week.

Comprehension Check:
Who is Linda in love with? (36)
Linda was in love with the young neighborhood carpenter.
What is her lover's profession in the neighborhood? (36)
Her lover's profession in the neighborhood was a carpenter and he also was a free slave.
Who did Linda confide in about her lover?
Linda confide in about her lover was her Grandma.
Who did she ask for help to talk to Dr. Flint?
She asked Dr.Flint's friend who came to their house often; Linda went to her for help to reason with Dr.Flint let her be with her lover.
What was Dr. Flint's response to Linda's proposal of marrying her lover?
Dr.Flint response to Linda's proposal of marrying her lover is really bad because he slapped her and also told her that "Do you love this nigger?" (40)
How are they acquainted?
They were acquainted since childhood and later on it blossom into love.

Literary analysis:
How is slavery metaphorically illustrated in the text? (look at the first paragraph of "The Lover")
Slavery was metaphorically illustrated in this chapter by saying that a slave has no right and if you want happiness you'll never get it because the land their from (South) is full secrets and darkness that is kept away.

Close/Interpretive/Infer:
How are men further emasculated in this literary work?
Linda's lover will be emasculated in this chapter because he knows that he can never buy her and if he does there are still times that he can never protect her from her master and she has to go to him when she is summoned.
Why does Dr. Flint tells Linda to take up with one of his slaves instead of granting her permission to marry her lover?
Dr.Flint tells Linda to take up with one of his slaves instead of granting her to marry her lover because he doesn't want to lose her. Her lover is a free man and he could easily buy her if he gives permission to let them get married.
In what way is Dr. Flint acting like a jealous lover himself?
Dr.Flint is acting like a jealous lover because she said "If he is a puppy, I am a puppy, for we are both of the Negro race. It is right and honorable for us to love each other." because she was implying that she's in love with her lover and she wants to be with him.
What really triggers Dr. Flint to physically abuse Linda and why?
Dr. Flint physically abuse Linda because she said that "...he would not love me if he did not believe me to be a virtuous woman". She was implying that no matter what she will never give herself to him but only to her lover.
Explain Linda's response "Do you know....that I can kill you, if I please? You have tried to kill me, and I wish you had; but you have no right to do as you like with me" (39).
Linda was saying that I rather die then give myself up to you.
What does it mean to have "high notions?" (39).
"High notions" means to think highly of yourself.
Why does Dr. Flint tell Linda that she "[has] been the plague of [his] life" (39)?
Dr. Flint told Linda that she "[has] been the plague of [his] life" because he has his desire that only she can fulfill and she's not submitting herself to him the way he wants her to do.

Critical Thinking:
What is the importance of virtue in this chapter?
The importance of virtue in this chapter that she believes that her lover believes in her virtuous and that she will never give it up to Dr.Flint no matter who much he threats her and psychologically wounds her.
In her slave status, why is Linda allowed to "answer back" Dr. Flint?
Linda is allowed to "answer back" because he has a feeling/affection towards her and he wants her to feel ease towards him and also he is kind of treating her like a mistress.
How is Dr. Flint portrayed as an animal and Linda like prey? (40)
Dr. Flint portrayed as an animal and Linda like prey because he stalks her around while she was meeting her lover, he also threat her that if he catches her with her lover he is going to kill him.
Why do we not know the lover by his real name or fake name?
We do not know the lovers name or fake name because he is a really special person to her to give him a name or to use it in her book. He is someone really important that she loved dearly.
Why did Linda have to give up the thought of marrying her lover?
Linda have to give up the thought of marrying her lover because she didn't want danger his life for her.

Cooperative Learning:
Cite from the text as many instances where the characters suffers further dehumanization and degradation in "The Lover"
"The Lover"
To impair in physical structure or function.

Character

Example of Dehumanization/Degradation

Works Cited

Share out!
Connect and write in your notebook: Can you connect to anything in this chapter? Did you ever have a boy/girl/friend that someone did not approve of?

Homework: Read chapter VIII Period 8 please post today's lesson on your Blogs if you did not complete in class.
Vocabulary to know: tendrils, dehumanize, degrade, sanction, dissipated, manifested, lenient (39), desolate (42), defray (42).

Tendrils- slender coiling growth of some climbing plants.
Dehumanize- deprive of human qualities.
Degrade- reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree.
Sanction- authoritative approval.
Dissipated- indulging in or characterized by excessive devotion to pleasure; intemperate; dissolute.
Manifested- clear to the senses or to the mind.
Lenient- of mild and tolerant disposition or effect.
Desolate- lifeless; disconsolate .
Defray- pay.

10/08/08-The Jealous Mistress

10/08/08
Aim: How does absolute power corrupts absolutely?

Do Now: Start writing a sentence with I have witness absolute power...
I have witness absolute power in a book "1984" by George Orwell. It was about how Big Brother made sure that everyone was following what they where told, there were Thought Police around and they know what your thinking every second. This book was basically about how Big Brother is a dictator.

Comprehension Check:
1. Why is Mrs. Flint Jealous and who is she jealous of?
Mrs. Flint was jealous of her husband because he was paying more attention to the slaves, especially Linda Brent.

2. Why does Harriet chooses death and hard work than to live with an "unprincipled master and jealous mistress" (29)?
Harriet chooses death and hard than to live with an "unprincipled master and jealous mistress" because she all ways has to been on her guard to protect herself from them.

3. Why was Mr. Flint slipping notes to Harriet?
Mr. Flint learned that Harriet can write so he thought he can conceal his true motive by slipping notes to her.

4.How old is Harriet in this chapter? (31)
Harriet is 16 years old.

5.How does Mrs. Flint mask herself to fool Linda? What does she do?
Mrs. Flint masked herself to fool Linda by started to cry when she heard what her husband does to Linda, knowing that Linda is innocent and virtuous started feel sympathize her mistress. In return Mrs. Flint promise Linda to protect her from her husband.

6. What number wife is Mrs. Flint?
Mrs. Flint is the second wife.

7. Is Mrs. Flint younger or older than her husband?
Mrs. Flint is younger than her husband, she is his "junior". (35)

8.How many children has he fathered? (34)
He has fathered eleven slaves.

Interpretive:
1. Why do you think Mr. Flint wouldn't allow anyone to punish Harriet?
I think that Mr. Flint wouldn't allow anyone to punish Harriet because he wants to show her that he would protect and trying to ease her up against him.

2. Is he in love or completely obsess with her?
He is completely obsess about her because I think he likes to have the feeling that he has the power and upper hand in the situation.

3. Why do you think Harriet was chosen to sleep with Flint's daughter?
Harriet was chosen to sleep with Flint's daughter because he thought by doing this no will question him about why she was his room at night and he could get closer to her without his wife noticing anything.

4. Why does Mrs. Flint make Harriet swear on a Bible?
Mrs. Flint makes Harriet swear on the Bible because she wants to know everything that is happening or happened with her and Dr. Flint.

Literary analysis: Why is it ironic that Mrs. Flint "pitied herself as a martyr"? (32)
It's ironic that Mrs. Flint "pitied herself as a martyr" because she had no sympathy towards Harriet and what she went threw; all she cared about is herself and how much her husband didn't care about their marriage vow.

Synthesize and Explain: "I could not blame her...slaveholder's wives feel as other women would under similar circumstances..." (32)
In this quote Harriet was saying that she wasn't mad at Mrs. Flint because she has the right be mad at her, it's a normal feeling when you know that your husband is betraying you behind her back.

Critical Thinking: Explain "have I ever treated like a Negro" (34)
Dr. Flint was trying to say that did I ever treated you badly, I treated you like my own.

What promises does Flint make to Linda and why?
The promises Flint make with Linda "I would cherish you. I would make a lady of you." I think Flint wanted her to realize that he would be the only there for her and she should just give up and give herself to him.

Rhetoric: Where is rhetoric evident?
"I would ten thousand times rather that my children should be the half-starved paupers of Ireland than to be the most pampered among the slaves of America" (30)
"Reader, I drew no imaginary pictures of southern homes." (36)

Cooperative Learning:
1. "The Jealous Mistress" and identity how absolute power corrupts absolutely, however, how does Harriet Jacobs takes possession of herself and not submit to the will of Mrs. Flint.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely because the superior loses to hold onto it and people starts to go against it. Harriet Jacobs takes possession of herself and not submit to the will of Mrs. Flint because she realize that Mrs. Flint isn't happy about her marriage life and she also realize that Mrs. Flint blames Harriet for her and Dr. Flint horrible marriage.

2. Identify: The varying forms of abuse Harriet endures and cite your sources.
Physically:
"...a razor was often held to my throat to force me to change this line of policy." (32)
Psychologically:
" "Did I not take you into the house and make you the companion of my own children?" he would say."Have I ever treated you like a Negro? I have never allowed you to be punished, not even to please your mistress." (36)

3. What are the conflicts/ problem facing the white slave mistress?
Some conflicts the white slave mistress face is when their husband dismiss their wedding vows (man vs man) and also when the white mistress has to show that their pride isn't hurt no matter what the circumstance are (man vs self)

4. How is hypocrisy evident in this chapter?
The hypocrisy is evident in this chapter because Mr and Mrs Flint has no moral value.

10/07/08-Virtuous Women

10/07/08
Objective: Students will review yesterday's test on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs
E2-Students will understand how multiple levels of meaning are conveyed in Jacobs' Incidents: Virtuosity and women

Aim: There is a notion of women being virtuous in Incidents: what does it mean to be virtuous during the 18th century vs. 21st century?

Do Now: What does it mean to be a "good girl" or "good boy" in today's society...what things are expected, what are the rules?
Today's society the term "good girl" or "good boy" it means they listen and obey what the grown up told them to do and they follow the rules. They are not rebellious they are type kids that all parents wants.

Requirements: Students will take notes in their notebooks on class discussion, peers perspectives etc. Cite page numbers or chapters to support their perspectives.
Cooperative Learning: Each group will read "The Jealous Mistress." Research the meaning of virtuous (apply it to women in Jacobs' time) where in the text can you find virtuosity in both men and women and who truly possesses it?
Virtuous means conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright.
In chapter 6, I think virtuous part was when Mrs.Flint told Linda to kiss the Bible and tell nothing but the truth. It showed that how innocent and pure Linda is.

Accomodations: Students may use dictionaries to better comprehend vocabulary. Teacher will be more than happy to re-read passage and sit with students who may need more guidance. Students may use their notes and past handouts. Lesson may contain illustrations for visual learners.

Homework: Draw a scene where a character is being virtuous.

10/02.08-10/03/08: Tragedies

10/02/08-10/03/08
Background: Students would have already read Chapters 1-5, learned and able to identify rhetoric, historical research on the author and setting.
Objectives:
E2-Students will understand how multiple levels of meaning are conveyed in Jacobs' Incidents
E2- Students will analyze and understand the literary elements of setting, metaphor, Irony, and characterization.
E4-Students will express their thoughts and views clearly with attention to the perspectives and voiced concerns their peers and teacher.
---------------------------------------------
Aim: What do you think are the major tragedies that happened to the character Linda Brent, and how can these experiences help shape her character?

Do Now: Write about a really bad experience and the affect it had upon you physically or psychologically.
One of the bad experience that I have to dealt with is when my father died with a brain tumor. Me and my family didn't know that he even had a brain tumor so I blame my self for not pushing him harder to go for a check up with the doctor or at least take him there myself to check it out.

Requirements: Students will take notes in their notebooks on class discussion, peers perspectives etc. Cite page numbers or chapters to support their perspectives.

Comprehension Check:
Who do we learn are Linda Brent's family/relatives?
Linda Brent's family are Will he brother, Ben her uncle, Aunt Marty knowns as Grandma and her Aunt Nancy.
Who is Linda "bequeathed" to after her "kind mistress" died? ("Childhood" 6)
Linda was "bequeathed" to Dr.Flint five years old niece.
In Chapter IV "The Slave Who Dared Feel Like a Man," focuses on which character and why the use of a simile to portray this character?
In this chapter we focus on Benjamin. This simile portray this character because in this chapter Benjamin was trying act like a man but in end all slaves are animal.
How old is Linda Brent in Chapter V "The Trials of Girlhood?"
In chapter V, Linda Brent is only 15 years old.
How old is Flint in Chapter V "The Trials of Girlhood?"
Dr.Flint is 55 years old.

Literary Analysis: Analytical and Identify
Why did Linda say that her mistress "had been almost like a mother to me?"(Childhood 5)
Linda said that her mistress "had been like a mother to me" because her mistress has taught her who to read and write.
Who is illustrated as the antagonist and what do you think makes this person an antagonist?
Dr.Flint is the antagonist because he sexually harasses her and whisper foul words into her ear.
Who are referred to as "God Breathing machine" and why?(Childhood 6)
The slaves were referred as "God Breathing Machine" because they are doing the hard work of labors without any payments.
What is one of the "badges of slavery" (The New Master and Mistress, 9)
"Badges of slavery" are linsey-woolsey dresses that are given to the salves by from there mistress.
What is ironic about "The Slaves' New Year's Day?"
The ironic about "The Slaves' New Years' Day" is that it's a very happy celebrated day while the slaves are being sold of or traded.

Vocabulary:
What is a Mulatto?
Mulatto is the first generation offspring of a Negro and a white.
Interpretive:
How is religion used as rhetoric?
Religion are used as rhetoric because people at the South are known as really religious, so using God you kind of get their attention to read what you got to say.
Critical Thinking:
How is the slave woman portrayed vs. the white mistress throughout these chapters?
Slave woman where treated harshly and was abusive while the white woman were treated like queens.
Cooperative Learning: Students will form five groups, use the books as support, and respond to the following on chart paper: List what you think to be 5-8 major tragedies that happened to Linda Brent in Chapters I through V and what affect did it have on her? List at least one per chapter. Please use page numbers/Chapters to support your perspectives.

Teacher's mode/Mini Lesson: charting my perspective with supporting evidence from the text.
Group One on Chapter I "Childhood" Tragedies and affect on Linda Brent || Tragedy
Linda's mistress dies || Affect
She is physically "bequeathed" to a 5 year old || Reference
"Childhood" page 6 ||
Share out!

Accomodations: Students may use dictionaries to better comprehend vocabulary. Teacher will be more than happy to re-read passage and sit with students who may need more guidance. Students may use their notes and past handouts. Lesson may contain illustrations for visual learners.

Homework: In your notebooks draw a scene in which you think is the worst tragedy illustrated. Give the chapter and a synopsis of the scene.