1. Sci Fi / Fantasy Literature August 26, 2015
Welcome!
Here is today’s Agenda:
Imagery Notes
Watch “We Ate the Children Last”
“We Ate the Children Last” imagery analysis
Read Kij Johnson’s “Ponies” (finish next class)
Formative Assessment: “Ponies”
I can analyze a short story to show how imagery influences theme.
Sci Fi / Fantasy Literature August 26, 2015

2. Imagery Imagery is language that appeals to the senses.
That doesn’t mean just the sense of sight. Imagery can also appeal to hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
Among other techniques, an author uses imagery to help establish tone and arouse a certain mood in the reader.
Imagery may have a certain connotation—that is, emotional or intellectual associations the reader or viewer makes with the image. For example…
Imagery

3. Imagery What is the connotation of this image?

4. “We Ate the Children Last”
Today’s stories are award winning shorts and are satires.
Satire is a genre of fiction that exaggerates an aspect of society in order to make a critical statement about it (or, in other words, establish theme).
The key to finding out what a satire is trying to do is analyzing its imagery to find out what the piece is criticizing.
Let’s watch, then talk.
“We Ate the Children Last”

5. Discussion of video So, what did you think?
What is being satirized in this film?
Favorite parts? Too much? Why did the director go as far as they did?
Why the title?
Discussion of video

6. Topics: What is this about?
Technology, Discrimination, medicine, nature, government control, out of control science.
Topics: What is this about?

7. Strong imagery from “We Ate the Children Last”

8. Connecting Imagery to theme
Let’s develop a theme statement for “We Ate the Children Last” about the universal idea of “belonging.”
Irresponsible application of science and technology could lead to a breakdown of a society and a loss of humanity.
Connecting Imagery to theme

9. Connecting Imagery to theme
Which example of imagery would be the strongest support for our theme statement?
Why?
Connecting Imagery to theme

10. Kij Johnson’s “Ponies” is an award-winning satirical Fantasy short story.
As we read the short story, “Ponies,” write down three strong examples of imagery and the connotation of each in the table provided.
“Ponies”

11. Write an ACE paragraph to completely answer this question:
A. Identify a theme for “Ponies.” (keep the end of the story in mind!!!!)
C. Describe two images that the author uses to support that theme, telling what those images are explicitly and what emotional effect they have on the character and/or reader.
E. Analyze how these images help you more fully understand your theme.
Formative Assessment