short stories

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Literature : the secret life of Walter Mitty

In this lesson you will learn close reading of a short story

Close reading

1. Close reading is not reading between the lines, but reading further  into the lines and seeing the multiple meanings a turn of phrase, a description, or a word can unlock.
2. When answering a question you must look for a proof in the text.

What is close reading?

general info

Written in 1939

Setting: America, 1930s :The Great Depression

Escapism in films & fiction

Point of view: (close) third person

Genre: humor

Literary period: modernism

2013 Film inspired by the original story

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Read the text and answer the questions

1. How many daydreams does Walter Mitty go through during the story?

2. Where does the story start?

Where does the story start?

1. in a navy hydroplane
2. in the car on the way to the hair salon
3. In Waterbury
4. in the hospital

How many daydreams does Walter Mitty go through during the story?

1. 3
2. 4
3. 5
4. 6

How is the relationship between Walter and his wife?

What do you think is the reason for the daydreaming?

Firing squad

In the operating room

Bombing plane

Navy hydroplane

In the court room

In pairs, scan the text and find out why Walter slips into daydreams

1.  commander in a hydroplane

2. famous surgeon who saves the millionair banker by fixing the aneasthesia machine

3. the murderer in the courtroom

4. Captain Mitty in the bomber plane

5. In front of the firing squad, refusing to cover his eyes.