SHORT STORY – LOSS & CHANGE

Objectives:

• LI.03 Identify and/or Summarize sequence of events, main ideas, and supporting
details in literary selections.
• LI.04 Predict probable future outcomes supported by the text, including
foreshadowing clues.
• LI.05 Analyze interactions between characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and
external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and how these interactions
affect the plot.
• LI.06 Identify themes in literary works, and provide support for interpretations from
the text.
• LI.07 Identify and analyze unstated reasons for actions or beliefs based on explicitly
stated information.
• LI.09 Identify various literary devices, including figurative language, imagery,
allegory, and symbolism; evaluate the significance of the devices; and explain their
appeal.

As a class, and as individuals, we will be reading selections of Short Stories

revolving around the theme of Loss and Change. Our goal is to familiarize ourselves
with short fiction literary texts, to develop interpretations of the text, and to
examine the structure of these literary texts. We will be begin with Character and
attempt to get inside the heads of the central characters. We will then move on to
analyze Plot, then Conflict, Theme, Imagery, and Foreshadowing. For each of
these bold topics, we will be reading a specific short story that exemplifies that
topic.

As we read the stories, you will be keeping notes in the second half of your WAR
books. These notes may take many forms. You will also be taking various notes on
key pieces of information necessary to understand the story and Literary Device or
Story Element. There will be no homework, as you know; however, reading the
stories and journaling on key aspects of those stories will be essential if you wish to
do well on the test at the end of the unit, or know what to write about on the
various essays we will be writing.

Must-Do Assignments:

○ Mid-Unit Test – to cover Characterization, Setting ,and Plot

○ Final Test – to cover Plot, Foreshadowing, Characterization, Conflict,
Theme, Character Motivation, and Literary Devices.
○ Character Analysis Essay – 2 page essay analyzing a character in a
short story
○ Theme Essay – 2 page essay analyzing / interpreting the theme of a
short story
 SHORT STORY – LOSS & CHANGE
○ Comic Plot- 5 Frame Comic Strip identifying sequence of events and
main ideas in the literary work.
 SHORT STORY – LOSS & CHANGE

Sophomore
Everyday Use - Alice Walker

Freshma
The Mask of the Red Death -Edgar Charles – Shirley Jackson
Allan Poe
The Cask of Amontillado – Edgar
The Stone Boy – Gina Berriault Allan Poe

I Stand Here Ironing – Tillie Olsen Checkouts – Cynthia Rylant

Tell me who you hand out with and I’ll “The Pin” – Chris Crutcher
tell you who you are – Eleanore Tate
Duel Identities – David Lubar