All Summer in a Day Ray Bradbury Demos 2010

Before You Read  Have you ever known somebody who just didn’t fit in?  Have you ever been that person?  Why do you think this happens?  Have you even been jealous of one of your peers?  How did these feelings make you act toward that person.  Have you ever known somebody who just didn’t fit in?  Have you ever been that person?  Why do you think this happens?  Have you even been jealous of one of your peers?  How did these feelings make you act toward that person.

Write About It  What makes “All Summer in a Day” a science fiction story?  Record all of the scientific details in your notes.  What makes “All Summer in a Day” a science fiction story?  Record all of the scientific details in your notes.

Write About It  Who is the protagonist of “All Summer in a Day?”  Hint: The protagonist is the main character.  The protagonist is in conflict with something.  Margot  Who is the protagonist of “All Summer in a Day?”  Hint: The protagonist is the main character.  The protagonist is in conflict with something.  Margot

Getting to know Margot  Authors use a variety of techniques to develop their main characters:  Some of these are:  Descriptions (including similes and metaphors)  Dialogue and thoughts  Actions  Reactions  Authors use a variety of techniques to develop their main characters:  Some of these are:  Descriptions (including similes and metaphors)  Dialogue and thoughts  Actions  Reactions

With a partner  Skim the story, looking for all the different ways that Bradbury characterizes Margot.  Use blue to underline descriptions.  Use red to underline dialogue and thoughts.  Use green to underline Margot’s actions.  Use purple to underline how the other children react to Margot.  Skim the story, looking for all the different ways that Bradbury characterizes Margot.  Use blue to underline descriptions.  Use red to underline dialogue and thoughts.  Use green to underline Margot’s actions.  Use purple to underline how the other children react to Margot.

For Example  “Margot stood alone. She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair.”  Margot’s actions in green  Margot’s description in blue  “Margot stood alone. She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair.”  Margot’s actions in green  Margot’s description in blue

Try it  Write five adjectives about Margot that are not used in the story.

How do authors do that?  Authors often develop their characters through indirect characterization.  This means they show us who the character is, rather than telling us.  Authors often develop their characters through indirect characterization.  This means they show us who the character is, rather than telling us.

A second way  The opposite of indirect characterization is direct characterization.  This is when the author explicitly tells us what the character is like.  The opposite of indirect characterization is direct characterization.  This is when the author explicitly tells us what the character is like.

With a partner  Find a place in the story where Bradbury uses direct characterization.  Here’s a hint: this method is often used to describe a character’s appearance.  Find a place in the story where Bradbury uses direct characterization.  Here’s a hint: this method is often used to describe a character’s appearance.

Talk about it  Which method of characterization do you think is best?  Which method is most interesting to you as the reader?  Which method is most challenging to you as the writer?  Which method of characterization do you think is best?  Which method is most interesting to you as the reader?  Which method is most challenging to you as the writer?

Talk about it  Why is characterization important to a story?  What message does Bradbury send with the story “All Summer in a Day?” (In other words, what is the theme?)  How is Margot’s character an important part of the story’s theme?  Why is characterization important to a story?  What message does Bradbury send with the story “All Summer in a Day?” (In other words, what is the theme?)  How is Margot’s character an important part of the story’s theme?