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A Worn Path Lesson 2
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I Can… Locate motifs that create patterns or contrasts throughout the story (9-10.RL.KID.3) Express in writing how an author uses patterns of language to create meaning. (9-10.W.RBPK.9)
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Word Wall Now that you’ve read the story, you should be able to group the words in more specific ways. Can anyone think of more specific categories? HINT: Think about how these words relate to “A Worn Path.” In response to the question “What other categories are present besides positive, negative, and neutral?,” students may notice the following categories: diction describing the general setting diction describing Phoenix diction describing the path and obstacles diction describing the city
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December Bright Frozen Red Heaviness Lightness Neat and tidy Straight ahead Wrinkles Eyes blue with old age Old Severe Trembling Fiercely Face lighted A hundred years old Deaf Solemn Rigidity Forgot Without education Dark Pine Shadows Wild hogs Long way Deep and still Too bright Up a hill Chains Thorny bush Sun so high Trial Pearly cloud Barbed wire fence Dead trees Black men Withered Buzzard Two-headed snake Dead corn Maze Black Death Cold as ice Scarecrow Quiet bare fields Boarded shut Swampy Big black dog Old dead weeds Little closed claw Shadows Shining Bells were ringing Red and green electric lights Perfume Red roses Hot summer Big building Tower of steps Gold frame Ceremonial stiffness Soothing medicine Little windmill
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What we have done by reorganizing the cards is identify patterns in diction.
Patterns in diction that recur are called motifs. Motifs
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Color Groups—Let’s find some MOTIFS in “A Worn Path!”
DIRECTONS—Look at each event you identified. Look for patterns in the language Welty uses to describe that event to identify a MOTIF. Guiding Question: What words, phrases, images, ideas, objects, events repeat or are emphasized throughout the story or the specific section of the text you are analyzing?
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Save for later in the lesson!
Event 1 Description Event 2 Description Event 3 Description Event 4 Description Phoenix maneuvers through the maze of corn and believes she sees a ghost. Cause/Outcome Because of her bad eyesight, Phoenix cannot see that the “ghost” is a scarecrow; however, she is undeterred in her journey. Motif Cold—”She found a coat and inside that, an emptiness, cold as ice.” We also see this idea with the references to time of year and to her grandson being bundled in an old quilt. Save for later in the lesson!
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Color Groups—Let’s find some MOTIFS in “A Worn Path!”
DIRECTONS—Look at each event you identified. Look for patterns in the language Welty uses to describe that event to identify a MOTIF. Guiding Question: What words, phrases, images, ideas, objects, events repeat or are emphasized throughout the story or the specific section of the text you are analyzing?
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Interpretive Commentary Guiding Questions
What is this story about on a literal level? How is Phoenix's trip into the city representative of journeys in the wider human experience? Consider Phoenix’s name. What is the significance of her name to a theme of the story? What motivates Phoenix’s journey into the paved city? How does this motivation give her journey meaning? How do Phoenix’s reactions to the trials on her journey reveal a central idea or theme of the story? Consider the title of the story. What does the description of the path as “worn” convey about Phoenix’s journey, both literally and allegorically? NOTE: You may not be able to answer ALL these questions with your current level of understanding for the narrative. That’s is OKAY! No worries! Find the questions you CAN answer and work from that point forward!
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Interpretive Commentary
Event 1 Description Event 2 Description Event 3 Description Event 4 Description Phoenix maneuvers through the maze of corn and believes she sees a ghost. Cause/Outcome Because of her bad eyesight, Phoenix cannot see that the “ghost” is a scarecrow; however, she is undeterred in her journey. Motif Cold—”She found a coat and inside that, an emptiness, cold as ice.” We also see this idea with the references to time of year and to her grandson being bundled in an old quilt. Interpretive Commentary The motif of cold suggests death, struggle, and trial. Phoenix, brave and resilient, confronts all obstacles.
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Interpretive Commentary Guiding Questions
What is this story about on a literal level? How is Phoenix's trip into the city representative of journeys in the wider human experience? Consider Phoenix’s name. What is the significance of her name to a theme of the story? What motivates Phoenix’s journey into the paved city? How does this motivation give her journey meaning? How do Phoenix’s reactions to the trials on her journey reveal a central idea or theme of the story? Consider the title of the story. What does the description of the path as “worn” convey about Phoenix’s journey, both literally and allegorically? NOTE: You may not be able to answer ALL these questions with your current level of understanding for the narrative. That’s is OKAY! No worries! Find the questions you CAN answer and work from that point forward!
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So how do we arrive at a THEME?
First and foremost, themes and motifs are NOT the same thing! Themes… should be expressed using declarative sentences. should be universal. The thematic statement should be able to apply to another text and to students’ own lives. should not be bound by time period, genre, culture, etc. should reveal truths about human nature. Example: Motif—Love Theme—Love never fails.
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In the journal section of your binder…
Write a CCC paragraph explaining how Welty uses motifs to develop a theme in “A Worn Path.” Vivid Verb Suggestion communicate illuminate disclose express reveal illustrate exemplify Once you finish your topic sentence (CLAIM), look for evidence to back it up (CITE), and the CLARIFY the connection between the evidence and your claim!
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