A Secret Lost In The Water
Vocabulary Alders- any shrub or tree belonging to the genus Alnus, of the birch family, growing in moist places in northern temperate or colder regions and having toothed, simple leaves and flowers in catkins. Pious- having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations. Intoxicated- mentally or emotionally exhilarated.
Vocab- Cont. Flock- A group of animals that live, travel, or feed together. Writhe - To move with a twisting or contorted motion.
Theme In today's world, the lessons fathers teach to their son's are being lost.
Characters Dad - He is a flat character because his traits aren't described with great depth through the story. He is a protagonist, seeing as he shows his son his secret talent of being able to discover hidden spring water, and encourages his son to use his gift. Dad is the catylist because he demonstrates his gift to his son, and tries to change his life. He appears to be un-educated, and also very stubborn about modern eduction. He believes in fathers passing down their gifts to their sons.
Characters -Cont. The Son- Although the son is described with more detail then the father, he is still a flat character, Son is protagonist, as well as the antagonist, seeing as he has the inner conflict within himself as he looses the power too discover underwater springs. He is the foil of the story because his father does not use the gift his father intrusts him with. He is intelligent and enjoys spelling, and choose a normal modern day life rather then relying on his fathers gift. He is very loving, and looks up to his father.
Plot Plot: This story starts with the son just beginning to go to school and his father does not approve. One day his father took him out to a field and showed him how to find running water by using an alder shaped in a y. Later on in his life he returns to his home town and his father had died, he finds out that his father is famous in the region because of his “gift”. Everyone in town would ask him before digging to make sure they got water. Then he meets a farmer who knew his father well, he asks him to try to do his fathers trick that he taught him but he couldn't do it.
Person VS. nature; The alder stick won't let him find water. CONFLICT!!!!!111ONE!!! Conflict: person VS. person; When his father doesn't want him to go to school. Person VS. self; He can't remember how to find water when the farmer asks. Person VS. nature; The alder stick won't let him find water.
POV The story is told from a 1st person point of view. We can tell it is told from this point of view by the authors use of “i” and “me.”
Setting: This story takes place in the not to distant past. Mood: Regretful atmosphere: At the begging of the story there's a cheerful atmosphere but it slowly turns to regret when he can't seem to feel the water under the ground like his father showed him.
Literary Devices Used Simile- “wriggling like a small frighted snail” Personification- “The branch is squirming” Personification – Water beneath the earth refused to sing