V4 7-1-2025 90 mins short stories

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3-6

Lesson Goals

At the end of today's lesson you will..

.. know how to prepare for your test

.. know about literary devices

.. have analysed a short story and read another one

(.. have practised your speaking skills)

What we will do today:

1. What to expect (5 mins)

2. Literary devices (20 mins)

3. The Lottery (25 mins)

4. Read & analyse Genisis and Catastrophe (30 mins)

(5. Speaking / video)

Short break half way!

Next week's test: how to prepare

• Read through all the stories so you know each storyline and the names  of important characters
• Know the authors
• Know the meaning of the title
• Learn: plot - characters - setting - narration - conflict - theme
• Learn: literary elements, so you can recognize them

All the information should be in your reader!

Speaking exercise

• ONLY ENGLISH, NO SILENCE
• In pairs, 4 minutes
• The first person chooses 1 topic and forms a question
• The second person chooses 1 topic and forms a question
• And so on, until the time is up

Holiday... ask each other & make sure you explain: 

why, where, what, with whom, how!

• The best day/moment
• Who/what made you laugh the most
• A moment you were bored, annoyed, or upset
• What you did on New Year's eve
• A special meal you had
• What you would have liked to do, but did not

First, we will make new groups

Groups of 4, for pair work and group work

- The groups will be randomly selected

- Make sure everyone participates

- Everyone needs to agree on the answers

- Answer the questions in English

Task: taking notes

- Try to write down the most important information

- After the topic has been explained, you can compare notes with your group

Literary Elements / Devices

Language techniques used by the author to make a story more gripping to read:

- create a mood

- give more meaning

- emphasise certain things

- make you want to find out more

1 minute to discuss with your neighbour:

How could an author use language to do all that (mood, meaning, emphasis, tension)? Examples? 

How could an author use language to do all that (mood, meaning, emphasis, tension)? Examples?

1. Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses (touch, sight, smell, taste, sound)

The hinges creaked (sound)

The heart beat on with a muffled sound (sound)

As black as pitch with the thick darkness (sight)

My blood ran cold (touch)

The groan of mortal terror (sound)

2. 

For her, this was always a blissful time of day. (...) She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man, and to feel almost as a sunbather feels the sun - that warm male glow that came out of him to her when they were alone together. She loved him for... (...). 

"Tired darling?"  "Yes," he said. "I'm tired." 

And as he spoke, he did an unusual thing. He lifted his glass and drained it in one swallow although there was still half of it, at least half of it left.

2. Foreshadowing

A suggestion / indication of something that will happen later on in the story.

Creates suspense, arouses curiosity, can appeal to our emotions

3. Figurative language

When language has a different meaning from what the words/expressions literally mean, for example by making comparisons.

The author can create a mood, and/or emphasize important words, contrasts or similarities

3. Figurative language: terms?

1. Our love is a red rose

2. He felt like a deflated balloon

3. A ship sailing the seven seas

4. Hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!

1. Our love is a red rose
2. He felt like a deflated balloon
3. A ship sailing the seven seas
4. Hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!

3. Figurative language: terms

1. Our love is a red rose: metaphor

2. He felt like a deflated balloon: simile

3. A ship sailing the seven seas: alliteration

4. Hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! : repetition

2 minutes, with your group:

- Compare & summarize notes about literary elements/ devices

- Think of:

    - what are literary elements (definition)?

    - which elements have been discussed?

    - do you know what they mean?

Summary: Literary Elements / Devices

Language techniques used by the author to make a story more gripping to read (mood, meaning, emphasis, suspense)

1. Imagery                                  (appeals to the senses)

2. Foreshadowing                  (hints at things to come, plot twist)

3. Figurative language:       - metaphor

                                                       - simile (like/as)

                                                       - alliteration

                                                       - repetition

      Short break (5 mins)!                   

Video:

0:35 - 1:40 (or - 2:48)

Which resolution is, apparently, the most difficult to stick to?

The Lottery

You have read the short story: The Lottery

Time to show what you know

Task: 

- In pairs

- One piece of paper + one pen

- No talking

- You are going to take turns writing down words/sentences with information you remember from the story. 

- Do not change anything, only write down a new word or sentence

The Lottery

You're going to discuss the questions that go with the story in groups.

We will discuss the answers together afterwards.

- Which question is about foreshadowing? 

- Make sure everyone participates

- Everyone needs to agree on the answers

- Answer the questions in English

- Finished? Start reading 'Genisis and Catastrophe' (last story)

Let's discuss the answers together

To do now:

- Read 'Genisis and Catastrophe'

- Answer all questions

Well done! You...

.. know how to prepare for your test

.. know about literary devices

.. have analysed a short story and read another one

(.. have practised your speaking skills)

Coming up: video

What makes New Year's resolutions successful?

5:47 minutes

Optional: stop at 2:30 mins and let students discuss possible answers together

At the end, compare their answers to the ones in the video

How to make successful New Year's resolutions?
Answers from the video:

Answers mentioned in the video:

- know your strengths/weaknesses, set priorities

- be optimistic AND realistic

- share  resolutions with others ( support)

- focus on small goals and small wins (instead of will power, motivation)

- start with the easy things

- minimize temptations, prepare for good behaviour

Answers mentioned in the video:

To be successful, it's important to be a reflective learner (know your strengths/weaknesses, know your priorities, balance optimism/realism), but we're often too busy.

New Year is a (culturally defined) moment of reflection in a busy world. People can share their  resolutions with others, receive & give support.

We usually think we need will power, motivation, self-control, BUT wat you really need is:

- small goals and small wins 

- to facilitate your success (e.g. minimize temptations, prepare for good behaviour)

- to start with the easy things

What do you remember about plot?

Who is this?

How would you describe his character?

How do we know this?

4 ways to show what a character is like:

1. What they say
2. What they do (/think / feel)
3. What they look like (physically)
4. What another character says / thinks about them

Characters can be....

Dynamic: grow or develop during the action

Static: remain the same throughout the action

Flat: have one or two traits, can be summed up in one sentence

Round: complex and many-sided

Is Voldemort's character:

1. dynamic & flat
2. static & flat
3. dynamic & round
4. static & round

Protagonist 

Antagonist

Antagonist: can be another person or persons, but also nature, environment, etc.

CONFLICT: 4 types

1. Man vs. man: physical (struggle against another person, animal, being)
2. Man vs. circumstances: classical (fate, life's circumstances)
3. Man vs. society: social (ideas, practices, custums of other people)
4. Man vs. themselves: psychological (their own soul, thoughts, ideas, choices, mental health, physical limitations)

What type(s) of conflict in HP (protagonist)?

1) man vs. man 2) man vs. circumstances
3) man vs. society 4) man vs. themselves

1. man, circumstances, society (1,2,3)
2. man, society, themselves (1,3,4)
3. circumstances, society, themselves (2,3,4)
4. man, circumstances, themselves (1,2,4)

CONFLICT: 4 types

1. Man vs. man: physical (struggle against another person, animal, being)
2. Man vs. circumstances: classical (fate, life's circumstances)
3. Man vs. society: social (ideas, practices, custums of other people)
4. Man vs. themselves: psychological (their own soul, thoughts, ideas, choices, mental health, physical limitations)

Narration:

First person                     Omniscient                    Limited omniscient