1. Unit 10.1 Short Story Architecture Conflict Overarching Questions
How does conflict hinder and help the world?
What is the role of language in creating and resolving conflict?
What are the elements of a well crafted effective short story?
How resilient is the human spirit?
Short Stories
“The Lottery”
Jackson
“Two Kinds”
Tan
“Everyday
Use”
Walker
“The Bet”
Chekhov
“Where Have
You Gone,
Charming Billy?”
O’Brien
Sorting/Comprehension Questions
What is the setting? Who are the characters? What do we know about them? How do we know?
Difficulty
Locate passages you find difficult to understand. What is it about these passages that you find difficult? Work to untangle the difficulty.
Significance
What three moments strike you as most significant to the text? Explain why those moments are significant.
Interpretation of Text: WriteAbouts
How does "The Lottery" prevent the breakdown of society in this community? How does it preserve the story’s suspense? Use textual evidence to support your opinion.
What is ironic about Billy Boy’s death?
What is ironic about Paul’s reaction to this death?
Explain why Billy’s death is ironic. What type of irony is it?
What one thing ultimately motivates each character? Use textual evidence to support your opinion.
Does Dee treasure her heritage? Provide textual evidence to support your thoughts. What does the quilt symbolize to each of the sisters? Once again, provide textual evidence to support your thoughts.
How do the lawyer and the banker differ in their attitudes toward punishment? What does it say about their character as a human being?
Analysis of Text: Inquiry Questions & WriteLikes
How does the setting of the story reflect Paul’s internal conflict?
What is the function of the exposition (setting and tone) and its impact on the overall effect on the story?
How does internal/external conflict influence the characters motivation and development?
Why does the author begin the story by using a flashback and is it effective in building the setting of the story?
What is the function of conflict as used by the author in the story i.e., plot, characters?
Retrospective Assignment: Culminating Project
Narrative Short Story or memoir including all elements of a short story i.e., exposition (setting, time, background knowledge), rising action, climax,
falling action, resolution, conflict, and theme