Charles

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

"Charles"

Literature
(Short story)

First: questions 1 & 2

Let's read the text again

(Reading time!)

This time: look for clues that Laurie is Charles!

Answers:

• Laurie misbehaving at the table (he is also fresh)
  
• Laurie had to think of a name when they asked who the boy was (line 15)
• The teacher called Laurie a "fine little helper" (line 109) > Laurie described Charles a as a good helper (lines 70-74)

Let's continue

By discussing the answers to the questions

1. Describe how Laurie's behaviour at home changes after he begins school.

Answer:

He starts to act older, tougher, independent from his mother. 

Question 4 + 5 + 6

Discuss in groups.

Literary devices assignment

Week 1                                                                       Short story = Charles

Bohdan & Sara L
Ada & Anita
Nana, Harica en Sara M

Literary terms to discuss:

Exposition & Complication 

Climax en Cliffhanger 

Falling Action & Resolution

Foreshadowing 

5 min. Presentation + 5 min activity 

1) Uitleg over literary device (waarom koos de auteur deze literary device? + voorbeelden geven van de devices in het korte verhaal van de week)
2) Een activiteit voor de hele klas die ook 5 min duurt waardoor iedereen de term NOG beter begrijpt. Tijdens de presentatie moet het duidelijk zijn dat ALLE leden van het Team een rol hebben gehad in de voorbereiding & uitvoering

For example: plot

www.lessonup.com

What is the plot twist at the end of the story?

Answer:

• Charles is actually Laurie

7. Do you think Laurie's parents should have realized the truth about Charles sooner?

Yes

No

Why?

Class discussion.

Both answers are possible

Just make sure you underpin your answer correctly.

8. What is the point of view of this story?

1. first person perspective
2. second person perspective
3. third person perspective
4. omniscient perspective

9. How does the point of view contribute to the humour in lines 105-113?

Discuss in groups.

Answer:

• We read the story from the mother's point of view
  
• She has no idea who Charles is
• It sets up the humour (dramatic irony) of the final line

10. Can you identify a theme in this story?

Answer:

• People's blindness to flaws in ones close to them
  

11. Explain how Shirley Jackson uses irony in this story.

Discuss in groups.
Hint: question 9

Answer:

• It’s dramatic irony, as the mother doesn’t know that Laurie and Charles are one person, but we do.

12. Fill in the grid

The grid

Plot: Laurie goes to kindergarten and starts talking about a rude boy named Charles. In the end we find out that this rude boy is actually Laurie.

Characters: Laurie / Charles, mother, father, teacher

Setting: the kitchen table, kindergarten, time is unknown.

Theme: The way people are blind to flaws in ones close to them.

Irony: dramatic irony, we know Laurie and Charles are the same, but the mother doesn’t.