1. A Glory over Everything
Feature Menu
Introducing the Biography
Literary Focus: Biography and Third-Person Point of View
Reading Skills: Following the Sequence

2. A Glory over Everything by Ann Petry

3. A Glory over Everything by Ann Petry
She left her family and friends behind and headed out into the dark night.
She risked everything to get to the North.
She risked everything for freedom . . .
over and over again.
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4. A Glory over Everything Literary Focus: Biography and Third-Person Point of View
A biography is
the true story of a person’s life
written by another person
told from the standpoint of someone outside the story

5. A Glory over Everything Literary Focus: Biography and Third-Person Point of View
In a biography, the writer imagines and describes the characters’ thoughts and feelings.
In an autobiography, a person tells the story of his or her own life. The writer is the main character in the story.
“They had not gone more than a mile when she became aware that they had stopped.”
We had not gone more than a mile when I became aware that we had stopped.
Third-person pronouns
First-person pronouns

6. A Glory over Everything Literary Focus: Biography and Third-Person Point of View
Author
Character
A biography is told from the third-person point of view. The author is outside the story.
Character
Character
Character
An autobiography is told from the first-person point of view. The story is about the author. The author is inside the story.
Character
Author
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7. A Glory over Everything Reading Skills: Following the Sequence
As you read “A Glory over Everything,” practice following the sequence.
Sequence is the order of events in a story.
Writers use words like first, then, and when to show the order of events.
Some words and phrases show the amount of time that has passed between events: the next day, the following week, later that night.

8. A Glory over Everything Reading Skills: Following the Sequence
Here is the beginning of a sequence chart that tracks Harriet Tubman’s journey to freedom.
Complete a chart like this one as you read “A Glory over Everything.” Include at least six events and using time-order words that show the sequence of events.
Sequence Chart
1. That night, Harriet prepared to leave.
2. As she worked, she heard John stir in his sleep.
3. When she was done, she headed for the woods.
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9. A Glory over Everything
The End

10. A Glory over Everything
Background

11. A Glory over Everything Background
This story takes place in the United States in At that time, runaway slaves were free when they crossed into a free state.
After the Fugitive Slave Act passed in 1850, runaways had to reach Canada to be free.

12. A Glory over Everything Background
The Underground Railroad was set up to help runaways reach freedom.
It wasn’t a railroad. It wasn’t underground.
It was many people who gave food, shelter, and protection to the runaways.
To keep the operation secret, railroad terms were used. Station meant a safe house on the route. Conductors were people who helped.

13. A Glory over Everything Background
Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave, was one of the most famous conductors. She helped more than three hundred men, women, and children along the road to freedom.
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14. A Glory over Everything
Make the Connection: Quickwrite

15. A Glory over Everything Make the Connection: Quickwrite
In small groups, share your thoughts about what people held in slavery would feel. What would it be like to be “owned”? What would they be unable to do? What would they risk if they ran away? Choose one group member to summarize the discussion.
Then write about what you felt and learned during your group discussion. What questions do you have about slavery?
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16. A Glory over Everything
Vocabulary

17. A Glory over Everything Preview the Vocabulary
Get to know these words before you read about Harriet Tubman.
elude v.: escape the notice of; avoid detection by.
inexplicable adj.: not explainable.
legitimate adj.: reasonable; justified.
defiant adj.: disobedient; openly and boldly resisting.
sinewy adj.: strong; firm; tough.

18. A Glory over Everything Vocabulary
Activity Which vocabulary word best completes each sentence?
1. After many weeks of training, the muscles in his arms had become __________.
elude
inexplicable
legitimate
defiant
sinewy
sinewy
2. You may be able to turn in your homework late if you have a __________ excuse.
legitimate
3. His constant headaches worried him because they seemed completely __________.
inexplicable

19. A Glory over Everything Vocabulary
Which vocabulary word best completes each sentence?
4. The criminals cleverly managed to __________ the police.
elude
inexplicable
legitimate
defiant
sinewy
elude
defiant
5. The __________ child threw the cup on the ground and began screaming.
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20. A Glory over Everything
Meet the Writer

21. A Glory over Everything Meet the Writer
Ann Petry ( ) is best known for the biography Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad. Another of her books is Tituba of Salem Village, about an African American woman in early colonial times.
More about the writer.
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