0. As I Lay Dying Summer Project
Created by Ms. Amaro

1. Assignment Character astrology signs
After reading brief descriptions of astrology or sun signs, figure out which signs you think THREE of the main characters from your book was born under.
Write an explanation of why you think they fit the signs, drawing on their actions, attitudes, and thoughts from the book.

2. Cash Bundren: Taurus

3. Taurus Qualities Patient Solid Practical Stable Gentle Self-reliant
Slow
Reliable
Affectionate
Building
Supportive

4. Cash Bundren
Cash works long and hard on building Addie’s coffin, which shows that he is patient, reliable, stable, and self-reliant
Cash is affectionate toward his siblings, especially Darl
Cash does not complain about the pain in his leg, and is supportive of his family and their goal of getting Addie’s coffin to Jefferson

5. Jewel Bundren: Aries

6. Aries Qualities Aggressive Bold Impulsive Energetic Fast Fearless
Impatient
Assertive
Daring
Competitive
Self-centered
Bossy
Angry

7. Jewel Bundren
Jewel owns a horse and he is often aggressive and violent toward it
Jewel is very independent and impulsive, and he is usually on his own
Jewel is fast on his horse and has a lot of physical energy
He does not express his feelings easily, and can be self-centered
He can get very angry at other people, and will be bold enough to tell them how they bothered him

8. Vardaman Bundren: Pisces

9. Pisces Qualities Compassionate Impressionable Dreamy Sacrificial
Romantic
Sensitive
Misunderstood
Confused
Devoted
Idealistic
Imaginative
Fantasizing

10. Vardaman Bundren Vardaman is the youngest member of the Bundren family
He is very sensitive and cries over the death of his mother
Vardaman has a big imagination, and sees a connection between a fish he caught and his mother
He is misunderstood by most people, but especially Tull
He is romantic and idealistic about his family and the possibility of getting a toy train for Christmas

11. Some Personal Connections
My first pet was a beta fish named William, named after both Faulkner and Shakespeare
My second pet was another beta fish named Quentin, after a character in another Faulkner novel The Sound and the Fury
I see a bit of myself in all the Bundren children, but especially Jewel, who acts tough but who actually has a big heart

12. Empathy
Why is it important to try to understand other people’s experiences?
Seeing things from other people’s perspectives allows us to understand them more
As I Lay Dying opens up each character’s mind to us, and we get to see the same events from many perspectives
Thinking about each character’s personality in the book helps us avoid being judgmental and jumping to conclusions about other people

13. Sources
Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying: The Corrected Text. New York: Vintage, Print.
"Creating Character Depth With Astrological Signs." "Characters According to Astrological Sign" by C.J. Winters. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Aug

14. Reminders
Your project must have a creative component AND an oral presentation
Your oral presentation should be 4-5 minutes long
You should make personal connections to the text
Presentations will start on Wednesday
me if you have any other questions or concerns!