Wednesday, December 5 ~ Short Story #7: A Piece of Chalk

For starters...Near the end of the story, John says, “Perhaps in the old days, they ate knowledge too fast.” What do you think he means? Are we “eating knowledge too fast” today? 

Discuss "By the Waters of Babylon" and J32. 

SHORT STORY VOCAB:

• Atmosphere - tells us the way a story makes the reader feel
• Tone - tells us the attitude the narrator has toward his subject and us.
• Theme - a central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work. For our purposes, a theme should be a lesson or insight.
• Motif - a recurring element, such as an image, reference, or even phrase which reveals the theme of the story.
• Foreshadow - a hint within the text about what will happen later. 
• Flashback - a method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events - usually in the form of a character's memories, dreams, narration, or even authorial commentary. 
• Practice: What motifs, theme, and foreshadowing did we see in By the Waters of Babylon. 

Short Story #7: "A Piece of Chalk" by G.K. Chesterton

• G. K. Chesterton (1874--1936) is staying at a house (perhaps a friend's?) in the country and decides to go out on the downs (rolling grass hills) to draw. While drawing he shares some deep thoughts about life. 

Journal 33

• Atmosphere: What feelings communicate to you?  Is this a scary environment?  A safe environment?  A jovial environment?  Is this a dull world of walking and chalk?  A wonderful world of walking and chalk? A deadly world or walking and chalk?

• Tone: How does it seem Chesterton feels about what he is writing on?
• What is Chesterton's attitude toward brown paper?  Nature?  The color white?  White chalk?  England, generally?
• How does Chesterton seem to view the reader?  Does he seem to be an intellectually superior Brit?  Does he seem timid?  Does he seem frank?  Do you picture him smiling or scowling or laughing or sneering or blankly staring? 

HW: Complete J33 and study for your Dangling Modifiers Quiz here. And here is yet another practice quiz.