Hands

Cluster On a clean sheet of paper, write the word, “hand” in the middle and circle it. Then begin clustering images and ideas related to hands. Cluster both positive and negative connotations of hands. For example, hands can “murder” or “create.” Think specifically about your hands and how you use them.

Think of common expressions which refer to hands: For example, –“Hands down” –“Give that man a hand” –“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”

Free-Writing Look at your hand and brainstorm 10 words that describe it—think of color, texture, size, shape, scars, etc. Then write about your hand in one of the following ways: –Descriptive: Write a detailed description of your hand—what it looks like or what it can do – Narrative: Tell a story about something that happened to your hand –Expository: Explain several meanings of “hand” or how we use the word in a variety of ways.

Reading—The Kite Runner Authors often use motifs or recurring images to reinforce a thematic idea. Consider Hosseini’s use of hands on the following pages: Page 67—Is the connotation of “hand” positive or negative? Why? Page 74—Is the connotation postive or negative? Why?

Connecting with Poetry Read Mark Strand’s poem, “The Dirty Hand” and mark lines which connect to The Kite Runner. Review pages 67 and 74 to see which phrases or sentences relate to the poem. Then construct three sentences of your own which incorporate quotations from both the poem and the novel. These sentences should illuminate your understanding of the novel.

Draw your hand Begin by choosing a color of paper that reflects the mood in yesterday’s writing piece. For example, if you described your talent as pianist whose hands fly over the keys, you might choose an exuberant color such as yellow. If you told a story about breaking your hand—the pain—the end of your basketball season, etc., you might choose a “sad” or regretful color such as blue. Then, trace your hand on the colored paper you have chosen. Carefully print the three sentences you wrote yesterday around the fingers of your hand-tracing.

Poetry or Prose: You Decide Based on the free-writing you completed yesterday, decide whether to share your feelings in poetic or prose form. If you wish to write a poem, reread your prose piece, lifting lines that illustrate your feelings with strong images. Arrange these lines in a poetic form that conveys meaning. Remember, poetry is putting feelings into picture language. You may write your poem (in ink) inside of the hand you traced or you may type it on a separate sheet of paper. Or…

You may polish the prose piece you wrote in class yesterday--make it even more vivid and compelling, and pay attention to conventions! Carefully print the title and first sentence of your writing piece inside the hand. Write the remainder of your vignette under the hand or on another piece of paper. If you wish to type your poem or vignette on another sheet of paper, write words or phrases from your cluster inside of your hand. Include this artistic masterpiece in your Kite Runner scrapbook.