Literary Reading Literature

Genres You’ve been reading for most of your life, from your favorite childhood fairy tales
Workshop to the novels, plays, and Web sites you encounter today. What more can you
possibly learn about reading? In this book, you’ll take your reading to a new level.
Get started by discovering how literature can help you explore ideas that matter.

The Genres
Think about the ideas that are important to you. For example, are you curious
about what it means to be respected or trusted? Writers often explore these
R2.1 Identify the structural features
of popular media (e.g., newspapers, same ideas, choosing a literary genre, or category of literature, in which to
magazines, online information)
and use the features to obtain
express their thoughts. A genre is characterized by its unique style, form, or
information. content.
R3.1 Identify the forms of fiction and
describe the major characteristics of Within each genre, writers use different forms to share their ideas with
each form.
readers. Writers of fiction may create novels or short stories, for instance.

genres at a glance

fiction
Fiction refers to made-up stories about characters and events.
• short stories • novels • novellas • folk tales

poetry
Poetry is a type of literature in which words are chosen and
arranged in a precise way to create specific effects.
• haiku • limericks • narrative poems

drama
Dramas are stories that are meant to be performed.
• comedies • historical dramas • radio plays

nonfiction
Nonfiction tells about real people, places, and events.
• autobiographies • essays • news articles
• biographies • speeches • reference articles

types of media

The word media refers to communication that reaches

many people.
• TV shows • advertising • Web sites

4 the power of ideas

 LITERARY GENRES
Format
false, fantasy, fable,
fairy tale, fictitious, Novel
fabricated, phony,
long fiction
fib, figment, fake,
fraud Short Story
Types short fiction
fantasy
Setting: In a place that does not exist
in the real world. fable
Setting: In the distant past or a
Elements timeless place.
Events occur that could not happen Elements
in the real world. a very short story that usual has
only 2 or 3 characters.
Characters: people animal or objects are able to do things
they cannot do in the real world. Characters: Often the characters
are animals or things that talk and
act like humans.

fairy tale
Setting: in the distant
past. Often has an open Types
phrase, “Once upon a
time…” or “A very long
time ago…”

Elements
myth
A difficult, sometimes seemingly
impossible, problem to solve. Elements
Characters: often with magical powers; May explain how
imaginary characters such as dragons, something in nature
fairies, giants, elves; royal looks or works
characters such as queens, (example: why the
princes, etc. The granting of spider spins a web).
wishes often occurs.
May explain why people behave in
Has a happy ending in certain ways.
which good wins over
evil. Characters: Often includes gods or
goddesses who interact with humans.
 “tall tales”
Setting: in the recent or
distant past.
Types
Elements

humorous exaggeration to tell the realistic fiction

adventures of a fictional (or possibly
nonfictional) character.
Build upon improbable incidences and unusual
problems that are saved in creative ways.
Setting: a real place or could be a real place.
Elements
The events in the story could happen in real life.

Characters: behave as people do in real life.

folk tale

Types historical fiction

Elements
Setting: some specific
Stories passed down from one generation to period of the past.
another. Originally told orally. Reflect the
culture in which they originated. Elements
Characters: may include animals or
inanimate objects that speak. They often A type of
teach a moral or lesson in life. realistic
fiction. Often,
Some folk tales called trickster tales are but not
about weak people or tiny animals always, the
outwitting their stronger enemies. story is based
on actual
Action builds through repetition. Has an historical
exciting climax at the end. Goodness and events and
intelligence win out over evil and people of the
foolishness. period.

Told from 3rd person point of view. The plot reflects

events or problems of
the period.
legend
The details about
Setting: in the past. clothing, tools, and
Elements food are authentic to
the period.
Tells the story of a hero.
May be based on facts and real history,
but through numerous retellings the hero Types
and his or her deeds become larger than
life, and some facts are distorted.
 LITERARY GENRES
Format
Book
long nonfiction

The opposite of fiction.

Essay
True. short nonfiction
Real.
told as a story
Writing Styles

facts; information
Types Elements
biography Often includes subheads
The true story of to organize topics.
someone’s life Might contain diagrams,
written by someone photographs and other
else. opinions &
illustrations.
Elements
philosophy
Contains information that
It may span a person’s whole life, or it can be checked by
may tell about an important part of a looking at other sources.
person’s life.
An account of an person’s entire life is
almost always told in chronological order
(in the time order events occurred). facts about history,
science, politics, etc.
Contains a variety of
important information
about the person’s life.
Often tells how the
person feels and thinks
about things.

autobiography
The true story of
someone’s life written
by that person.
Elements
see “biography” instruction manuals
 Name: _________________________
Genre Worksheet 1
Directions: Read the descriptions of the texts. Look for details that reveal the genre. Write the genre and
subgenre on the lines and write a sentence explaining your answer.

1. The Hard Way Out by Terry Vaughn

In this novel, Brian is struggling. After losing both of his parents in a tragic car accident, Brian is living at
his Aunt's house and sharing a room with his cousin. Basketball is his only escape. But after getting
benched for low progress report grades, Brian's world shatters. Does he have it in him to improve his
grades? Will Brian come to peace with his emotions? Can anyone help him?

Fiction
Genre: ___________________________________ Realistic Fiction
Subgenre: _________________________________
Explain your Answer
because Brain seems like a normal person

2. Newton's Law by Morton Mallon

After a life of studying the nano-transportation sciences, Professor Melton stumbles upon a major
breakthrough. On April 20th, 2042, Melton discovers a way to transport particles at light-speed across
fixed distances. Now he can teleport from one location to another. But Professor Melton soon discovers
that there is no such thing as a free lunch. He learns that the body ages relative to the distance travelled,
not just the time. This means that a teleporting body ages very rapidly. Can Melton solve this problem
before his time is up?

Fiction
Genre: ___________________________________
Science Fiction (Sci-fi)
Subgenre: _________________________________
Explain your Answer
because it is about nano-transportation sciences and teleportation isn’t real

3. Intermediate Math Problems for Students by M. Colwell

This workbook explains how to perform basic mathematical operations, like double-digit addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division. It also explains fractions and decimals.
Non-fiction Instruction Manual
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________
Explain your Answer
It is a workbook about math

4. "If a Tree Falls" adapted by Stan Tanner

This is the very short story of a buck. The buck was admiring his horns in the water's reflection and
feeling bad about his skinny legs. Then a hunter tries to kill him. As the buck tries to escape, his big horns
get stuck in some tree branches, but his skinny legs manage to pull him free. The moral is that what is
truly valuable is often unappreciated.
Fiction Fable
Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

Because it has a moral and it is about an animal. / The buck can think and act like human.
5. The Tinfoil Key by Rob Burnside
When young Ian Bradley accidently switches suitcases with an intergalactic space explorer, he ends up
going on the trip of a lifetime. Now that he's left holding the bag, Ian must deliver it to the light scientists
on Gamma Outpost 9 in time. Every life form in the galaxy is unknowingly depending on the success of
Ian's efforts.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

6. Seeing More, Being More by Fletch Carpenter

"Dr." Fletch gives readers a dose of hard medicine. He believes that most people cause their own
problems. Fletch teaches readers to solve problems such as bullying, insecurity, and relationship troubles.
He does this with a three-step strategy: letting go of ego, seeing the "real" reality, and finding a role.
Some readers find Carpenter's ideas to be refreshing. Others find them to be offensive.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

7. Bronze Star by Irwin Keene

World War II has been hard for Mama Conner. While her husband and three sons have been away at war,
Mama Conner has had to fend for herself. She keeps the house together, raises money, and provides for
Baby Maple. The mood in town suddenly darkens when her neighbor Betsy loses one of her loved ones in
battle. At Mama Conner's ladies club, several upstanding ladies of the town are on edge. They heard a
garbled news report announcing that a man from their town was lost in battle. But the man's name went
unheard and the women are left to speculate. This novel ends in a surprising twist.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

8. "Rapunzel" adapted by Craig Hooper

Once upon a time a young girl named Rapunzel was running an errand for her mother. An evil witch
kidnaps Rapunzel and imprisons her in the tower of a castle. After years in the tower, Rapunzel grew
long, beautiful hair. Having seen nobody but the evil witch her whole life, Rapunzel is very lonely. One
day a prince wanders by and climbs up her hair. The witch doesn't like this and action ensues. Eventually
the prince and Rapunzel live happily every after.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
 Name: _________________________________
Genre and Subgenre Worksheet 2
Directions: Choose the genre and subgenre in which the story most likely belongs. Then explain how
you got your answer.
Fiction: science fiction, historical fiction, and realistic fiction
Nonfiction: autobiographies, biographies, informational writing, and essays
Folklore: myth, fairytale, legend, tall tale, and fable
1. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
The story of a German professor who believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the center of the
Earth. He, his nephew Axel, and their guide Hans climb down a crater and have many wild adventures,
encountering dinosaurs and prehistoric man. They eventually return to surface again in southern Italy.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

2. Sleeping Beauty retold by Charles Perrault

A beautiful princess pricks her finger on a sewing needle, after being cursed by a wicked fairy. The
princess falls into a deep sleep. One hundred years later, a prince fights his way through the enchanted
forest and awakens the beautiful sleeping princess with a kiss.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

3. The Reign of Attila the Hun by Ed Reaves

Attila the Hun was the scourge of both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires in the 440s and 450s. .
He invaded and conquered territory in what would now be considered France and Italy, terrorizing the
countryside along the way. This text tells the story of Attila's life.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

4. No Way In by Patty Slate

High school student Darren Banks is sick of being a viewed as a nerd. Darren enlists the help of his
older cousin Tyrone to help him learn to dress, walk, and talk. With Tyrone's help, Darren soon climbs
to the peak of high school popularity, but in his quest to become someone else, will Darren forget who
he was? Find out in this exciting novel.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
5. The Big Book of Science, Grades 5-6 by Mortini School Publishing
This science book for grades 5 and 6 puts the "fun" in "fundamental." Students complete a variety of
exercises to develop their science skills using materials that can be found at home. This version contains
over 62 practice activities.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

6. The Fox and the Grapes retold by Aesop

One day a fox came upon a grape orchard and found a bunch of beautiful grapes hanging from a high
branch. "Boy those sure would be tasty," he thought to himself. He backed up and took a running start,
and jumped. He did not get high enough. He went back to his starting spot and tried again. He almost
got high enough this time, but he still could not reach the grapes. He tried again and again, but he just
couldn't get high enough to reach the grapes. Finally, he gave up. As he walked away, he put his nose in
the air and said: "I am sure those grapes are sour anyway." It is easy to hate what you cannot have.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

7. Bump in the Night by John Fox

Fox tells the story of the fictional John Potter, a seasoned Union soldier who gets captured by
Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Potter undergoes some of the most dreadful
conditions imaginable while detained in a Confederate POW camp, but he soon makes friends with a
Confederate guard who helps Potter survive as they realize that their differences are not as striking as
their similarities.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

8. Paul Bunyan and the Seven Wonders of the World retold by Patrick Schuster
This text contains a handful of different stories about the world's largest lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, who
is so big that he wrings out a handful of maple trees to make syrup for his giant waffles. He is so big that
he made the Great Lakes when he couldn't find his spittoon. Read about how he met his giant blue ox,
Babe, and how they became best friends and inseparable companions. Also read about how he dug the
Grand Canyon by dragging his axe behind himself after a long day of work.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
9. A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
When John Carter finds gold in Arizona, he makes enemies with some Apache warriors. While
attempting to escape from these warriors, Carter hides in one of their sacred caves and is mysteriously
transported to Mars. He finds that he has great strength and superhuman agility in this new environment
as a result of its lesser gravity. He soon falls in with a nomadic tribe of Green Martians and thanks to his
strength, speed, and fighting skills, Carter rises to a high position in the tribe. When the Green Martians
capture Dejah Thoris, princess of the humanoid Red Martians, Carter can't help but to be taken with her
beauty. He will have to make some tough decisions in the exciting novel.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

10. The Reading Times published by the Mortini Group

This periodical contains strategies for teachers and students to improve reading comprehension skills.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

11. The Silver Cross by Steve Stark

This novel tells the story of a fictional American teenager named Henry Cross. Against his mother's
wishes, Cross enlists in the fight against the Germans in World War II. At first he is frightened and
ineffective in battle, but after making friends with an elite sniper, Cross learns to overcome his fear in
battle and become a better solider. Soon Cross is a war machine, but sometimes soldiers have to make
difficult decisions concerning the lives of others. Will Cross make the right decision when he runs into
just such a situation? Is there a right choice for Cross to make?

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

12. African Creation Story by unknown

According to this Bakuba account of the world's creation, the Earth was once just darkness and water
and it was ruled by the giant Mbombo. One day Mbombo felt some sharp pains in his stomach, which
caused him to vomit the sun, moon, and stars. The sun's rays evaporated the water covering the Earth,
which created clouds, and soon the dry hills emerged from the water. Still feeling some pains in his
stomach, Mbombo vomited again, this time expelling the world's first man and woman, all of the
animals, the trees, falling stars, the firmament, and lighting.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
13. Shooting for the Moon by Lance Legstrong
Lance tells the true story of his own adventure into outer space. Legstrong was once an underachiever
with a troubled past, until one day a teacher influences him positively. Lance describes how he worked
hard from that point on until getting accepted into an experimental NASA space program and going to
the moon. Lance shares with readers the many life lessons he has learned in this exciting text.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

14. The Most Exciting Moment of My Life by Mr. Morton

Mr. Morton, in a five paragraph narrative, tells the true story of the most exciting moment in his life:
when he went to a reading workshop near downtown Chicago.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

15. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by unknown

Sir Gawain is King Arthur's nephew, and this is the story of how Gawain met a challenge from a giant
knight dressed in all green armor. The story is very serious and is told as though it was true; many
people believe that King Arthur was a real person, but this story is probably not true. If it were true, it
has been greatly exaggerated.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

16. U.S. History by Mortini Publishing Group

This textbook tells the history of America, from the Revolutionary War to the Iraq War.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

17. The Rising by Lindsay Logan

When Sheila moves to a new school in California, she has some trouble fitting in with the other kids.
She cannot afford the expensive clothing that the other kids wear and she does not have the newest cell
phone, but she does have a good heart. Will a chance run-in with a celebrity whom Sheila admires give
Sheila the confidence she needs to adapt to her new environment?

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
 Name: _________________________
Genre and Subgenre Worksheet 3
Directions: Read the descriptions of the texts. Look for details that reveal the genre. Write the genre and
subgenre on the lines and write a sentence explaining your answer.

1. Fallen Walkers by Wells Taylor Dyson

Far below the surface of earth, a group of children engage in a secret government program. They are
trained to pilot Mech-Walkers, which are giant mechanical insects. These kids protect Earth from hostile
space barbarians using their robo-insect powers. Vander, the leader of the Mech-Walkers, mysteriously
disappears in combat. Now the Mech-Walkers need to find a new leader. Seth, a boy from the surface,
stumbles into Mech-Walkers while being chased by bullies. Now he has become an unlikely candidate.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

2. Super Fun Science Book for Kids by Pam Orbison

Have you ever wondered why a submarine can stay underwater for so long? How a web page shows up on
a phone screen? Or how to build a robot that plays basketball? Science doesn't have to be dusty and
boring. This functional science textbook teaches the fundamentals of science. It describes technologies in
ways that are interesting and relevant to young people. This text contains 32 experiments that students can
try at school or home. There is also a vocabulary practice activity for each section.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

3. From Athena to Zeus: The Greek Gods and Goddesses retold by Chris Reed
This book retells the epic stories of the gods, goddesses, and heroes in Ancient Greece. All of the classic
stories are in this text: the adventures of Perseus, the battles of Heracles, Odysseus and the Trojan wars,
and the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

4. Diary Wanted by Gail Labors

Katie Oaks is one of the most trusted girls in her class. Maybe they like how Katie listens, or maybe they
just feel comfortable around her, but all of the other girls tell their secrets to Katie. When Katie gets a
diary for her birthday, she can't help but to write down the secrets that she learns, but when her diary goes
missing, Katie finds herself in a tight corner.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
5. Mr. Lincoln's Groceries by Curtis D. Davis
The year is 1835 and Bobby Pierce is working as a delivery boy at a local grocery store. One of his duties
is to deliver groceries to a young state politician named Abraham Lincoln. The two get off to a rough
start, but Soon Bobby learns the wisdom of Lincoln's ways. They learn to respect one another and each
offers the other advice when it is needed most.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

6. Dog Soldiers: Warriors of the Cheyenne by M. D. Carroll

The Dog Soldiers were one of six elite military societies of the Cheyenne Indians. During the 1830s they
played a strong role in repelling and pushing back American expansion in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado,
and Wyoming. The Dog Soldiers were known for their highly aggressive and effective attacks and their
peculiar habit of "pinning down" their long tails to the ground. Once "pinned down," Dog Soldiers fought
to the death or until a tribe mate "unpinned" the tail of the warrior. This text describes the Dog Soldiers'
society and role in history.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

7. John Henry retold by Elijah Newman

John Henry was born with a hammer in his hand and he came out swinging it. When he was a baby, he
built his own crib. As a toddler, he got sick of sharing his bedroom with his sister, so he built his own
house. As an adult he laid track for the railway and was renowned as the best steel driver in world. His
abilities are put to the test when he is challenged to race against a steam-powered drill through a
mountain.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer

8. Why Are They Booing? by Mr. Morton

In this candid and gripping account, Mr. Morton describes his real life career as a musician. After playing
the trumpet in the school band for two years, Mr. Morton thinks that he has what it takes to make it big as
a musician. He then quits his job teaching and starts making demo tapes in the studio, even though
nobody has a cassette player anymore. Will Mr. Morton strike it big as a musician or will he crawl back to
his principal begging for his old job? Find out in this compelling 940-page text written by Mr. Morton and
about Mr. Morton.

Genre: ___________________________________ Subgenre: _________________________________

Explain your Answer
 reading fiction academic
The most common types of fiction that people enjoy reading are short vocabulary
for fiction
stories, novels, and novellas.
• plot
• A short story usually centers on one idea and can be read in one sitting.
• conflict
• A novel is a long work of fiction in which the characters and story line • character
can be developed thoroughly.
• setting
• A novella is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.
• theme
Whatever you read, there’s nothing quite like being swept away by • point of view
good fiction. These strategies can help make the most of your journey.
• Make connections. Ask: Have I experienced similar situations?
• Picture the scene. Note descriptions of characters and settings. Use
these descriptions to help you visualize a lifelike picture in your mind.
• Predict what will happen. At each twist and turn, ask: What’s going
to happen next? Then read on to find out if you guessed correctly.
• Track the events. Every story follows a plot, or a series of events that
traces a problem. Keep track of the events in your notebook.
Read the Model Annemarie is a young girl living in Denmark in 1943.
German soldiers who occupy her city intend to imprison all Jewish people,
including Annemarie’s friend Ellen. In this excerpt, Annemarie is racing
with Ellen. Use the strategies to explore the key idea of fear.

from

Number the Stars Novel by Lois Lowry

Annemarie outdistanced her friend quickly, even though one of her Close Read
shoes came untied as she sped along the street called Østerbrogade, 1. What do you think
past the small shops and cafés of her neighborhood here in northeast the soldier will say to
Copenhagen. Laughing, she skirted an elderly lady in black who carried Annemarie? Make a
prediction, based on
5 a shopping bag made of string. A young woman pushing a baby in a
what you’ve read so far.
carriage moved aside to make way. The corner was just ahead.
Annemarie looked up, panting, just as she reached the corner. Her 2. Key Idea: Fear If you
laughter stopped. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. were in a scary situation
“Halte!” the soldier ordered in a stern voice. like Annemarie’s, would
10 The German word was as familiar as it was frightening. Annemarie you be able to hide
had heard it often enough before, but it had never been directed at her your fear? Would most
people be able to?
until now.
Explain.

introducing the essentials 5

 reading poetry academic
A red wheelbarrow, windshield wipers, war—a poet can create poems vocabulary
for poetry
about anything. Yet, poets express their ideas differently than fiction
writers do. For example, poets arrange their thoughts in lines, rather than • form
sentences. Lines are often grouped into stanzas, instead of paragraphs. • line
Use these strategies to fully appreciate any poem you read. • stanza

• Examine the form. First, notice how the poem looks on the page. • rhythm
Are the lines long or short? Are they grouped into stanzas? • rhyme

• Notice the punctuation. In a poem, a single sentence can continue over

many lines. Use the punctuation to help you figure out when to pause
while reading.
• Read the poem aloud. Listen for the poem’s musical rhymes or rhythms.
• Form a mental picture. Look for words and phrases that can help you
imagine what’s being described.
Read the Model As you read this poem, notice how the writer uses the
description of an old quilt to explore the key idea of family.

Quilt Poem by
Janet S. Wong
Our family
is a quilt
Close Read
1. Read the poem aloud,
pausing only where
1 there is punctuation.
of odd remnants
How many sentences
patched together are in this poem? How
many lines and stanzas
5 in a strange are there?
pattern,
2. Key Idea: Family This
threads fraying, poem compares a family
with a quilt. How does
fabric wearing thin— this comparison help
you understand the
but made to keep positive qualities of
10 its warmth family?

even in bitter
cold.

1. remnants: leftovers; remainders.

6 the power of ideas

 Literary Genres Workshop

reading drama academic

vocabulary
A drama is meant to be acted out for an audience. However, it can be just
for drama
as exciting on the page as it is on the stage. To read drama, you have to
• plot
visualize the action in the theater of your mind. These strategies can help.
• character
• Read the play silently, then aloud with others. Sometimes, hearing
• act
the dialogue can help you better understand what’s happening.
• scene
• Read the stage directions. Often printed in italic type, stage directions
• dialogue
are the writer’s notes about everything from the setting and props to
the characters’ feelings and movements. Use these notes to help you • stage directions
picture the setting, action, and characters.
• Get to know the characters. Characters’ words and actions tell you
what they are like. Pay attention to their dialogue, or what they say,
as well as the stage directions.
Read the Model Sara is treated like a princess at school because of
her family’s wealth. After her family fortune is lost, however, she must
become a servant. In this excerpt, Becky, the school maid, comforts
Sara. The two girls have always been friends, despite their different
circumstances. What is the author suggesting about the key idea of
differences?

from

The !ittle "rincess Novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Dramatized by Adele Thane
Close Read
Becky. I just wanted to ask you, miss—you’ve been such a rich young 1. How does Becky feel
about Sara? How does
lady and been waited on hand and foot. What’ll you do now, miss,
Sara feel about Becky?
without any maid? Please, would you let me wait on you after I’m done How can you tell?
with my pots and kettles?
5 Sara (with a sob). Oh, Becky! Do you remember when I told you that 2. Key Idea: Differences
we were just the same? Not a rich girl and a poor girl, but just two girls. Becky and Sara are
Becky. Yes, miss. You said it was an accident that I was not you and you friends, even though
they come from
were not me.
different backgrounds.
Sara. Well, you see how true it is, Becky. There’s no difference now. I’m What other differences
10 not a princess any more. (becky presses sara’s hand to her cheek.) can people overcome in
Becky. Yes, miss, you are! Whatever happens to you, you’ll be a princess the name of friendship?
just the same—and nothing could make it any different.

introducing the essentials 7

 reading nonfiction academic
vocabulary
From articles on the Web to front-page news, nonfiction is all around
for
you. It includes not only informational texts like encyclopedia entries nonfiction
and news articles, but also autobiographies, essays, and speeches.
• purpose
By reading different types of nonfiction, you can learn about real
• organization
people, places, events, and issues that matter.
• main idea
• text features

types of nonfiction
autobiography/ news article
biography Factual writing that
The true story of a person’s reports on recent events
life, told by that person
(autobiography) or by
someone else (biography)

essay reference article

A short piece of writing Informative writing
about a single subject that provides facts and
background on a specific
subject

speech consumer document

An oral presentation of Printed material that
a speaker’s ideas or usually comes with a
beliefs product or a service

Strategies For Reading

• Consider the purpose. Is the writer trying to
persuade, inspire, or inform? Understanding
the purpose can help you know what to look
for in the text.
• Note the main ideas. As you read, look for the
main ideas, or the most important points about
a topic. Record these ideas in a notebook to help
you remember them.
• Preview the text. Some types of nonfiction
have text features, like subheadings or captions.
Before you read, look at the features to get a
sense of what the text is about.
• Examine the graphic aids. Photographs and
illustrations also convey information. Think
about how they add to your understanding
of a topic.

8 the power of ideas

 Literary Genres Workshop

model 1: reading a biography

This excerpt is from a biography about Steven Spielberg, a famous movie
director. How does it help you understand the key idea of inspiration?

from
Steven Spielberg:
Crazy for Movies Biography by
Susan Goldman
Rubin

When Steven Spielberg was ten, his father woke him up and took him Close Read
out to the desert near where they lived in Phoenix, Arizona. They spread 1. What do you learn
out a blanket and lay on their backs looking up at the sky. Steven’s about Steven Spielberg
father, Arnold Spielberg, liked astronomy and hoped to see a comet from this excerpt?
5 that was supposed to appear. Instead, they saw a meteor shower. “The 2. Key Idea: Inspiration
stars were just tremendous,” recalled Arnold. “They were so intense it The memory of a
meteor shower led
was frightening.” He gave Steven a scientific explanation of what was Spielberg to create
happening. science-fiction films.
“But I didn’t want to hear that,” said Steven. “I wanted to think of What other experiences
10 them as falling stars.” That memory of falling stars stayed with him and might inspire people to
inspired his first full-length movie, Firelight. pursue certain careers?

model 2: reading a reference article

Turning a moment of inspiration into a life-long career takes more than
just wishing on a falling star. Hard work and a curious mind are essential.
As you read this Web article, think about the key idea of curiosity.

Meteors Student reference article Close Read

1. What do you learn
Meteors are small particles of stone and iron about this article simply
that enter the earth’s atmosphere at great by previewing the title,
speeds. Friction with the atmosphere causes the subheading, and the
intense heat, triggering the meteor to give off a photograph?
brilliant light. This flying bright light creates the 2. Key Idea: Curiosity
appearance of a shooting or falling star. People have always
been fascinated by
Meteorites
mysteries of science and
Most meteors burn up before they reach the nature. What scientific
earth’s surface. Occasionally, though, very This meteorite was mysteries have sparked
large meteors—called meteorites—make found at the edge of your curiosity?
impact with the earth’s surface. the Kalahari Desert.

9
 reading the media academic
vocabulary
Has an ad persuaded you to buy something you didn’t need? Do you
for media
ever find yourself glued to the television or unable to tear yourself away
• medium
from the Web? Media messages influence your life in all kinds of ways.
That’s why it’s important to become media literate—that is, learn how • message
to “read,” analyze, and evaluate what you see and hear. You can begin • target audience
by identifying the structural features of each medium and using those
features to help you find the information you want.

type of media strategies for viewing

films and tv shows • Know what’s happening. Ask

Motion pictures, a friend or an adult if you’re
shown in movie confused about the plot.
theaters or broadcast • Spot the techniques. Ask yourself:
on television, that How does the director use sound
tell stories and visuals to make the story more
interesting?

news media • Get the facts. Make sure the report

Reports of recent answers the questions who, what,
events in newspapers when, where, why, and how?
and magazines and • Evaluate the information.
on TV, the radio, and Ask yourself: Can I trust what
the Web I’m seeing and hearing?

advertising • Recognize the pitch. Consider

The promotion of what the sponsor wants the
products, services, audience to buy, believe, or do.
and ideas using print • Don’t be duped by dazzle. Visuals
and broadcast media and sounds can be persuasive.
Don’t let flashy techniques influence
your decisions.

web sites • Know the source. Anyone can

Collections of related publish on the Web. Ask: Is this
pages on the World a good source of information?
Wide Web; include • Don’t get lost! Always remember
hyperlinks and menus your purpose for visiting a site so
you don’t veer too far off course.

10 the power of ideas

 Literary Genres Workshop

Strategies That Work: Literature

1 Ask Yourself the Right Questions 2 Make Connections
Sometimes, reading literature can be a challenge. That’s Literature is more meaningful
why it helps to ask the right questions before, during, and when you connect to it
after you read. personally. Use these
strategies to “get into” a text.
Stage of Reading Kinds of Questions
• Connect to Your Life Is fear
Before • What is this selection about? paralyzing? What makes a
Know what you’re • Why am I reading? to be family? Think about how
reading and why. entertained? to learn something? your own experiences can
help you understand the
During • What’s happening in the ideas in literature.
Check your selection? Which parts are • Connect to Other Subjects
understanding. confusing to me? The effects of fear, meteor
• What details help me to picture showers, careers—the
the scene in my mind? subjects you read about
can help you learn more
After • What might be the selection’s about the world. If a
Analyze the theme, or its message about life? subject interests you,
selection and • What is unique about the investigate it on the Web.
explore its key ideas. author’s style, or way of writing?

3 Record Your Reactions

Jot down your questions, thoughts, and impressions in a Reader’s Notebook.
Try one of these formats.
journal graphic organizer
Write your reactions as you read. After reading, create a graphic organizer to deepen
your understanding of events and characters.
The Little Princess
Becky’s Traits Evidence
Becky treats Sara like
a princess, even though polite calls Sara “miss”
Sara is no longer rich. comforting presses Sara’s hand to
It’s interesting that her cheek
Becky still views Sara loyal tells Sara she is still
the same way. a princess no matter
what

introducing the essentials 11

 Reading Becoming an Active Reader
Strategies To really appreciate stories, poems, plays, and articles, you have to be able to
Workshop understand what you’re reading. These strategies can help you unlock the
meaning of all kinds of texts, including novels, newspapers, blogs, and even
blockbuster movies. Which strategies do you recognize? Which are new to you?

skills and strategies for active reading

Preview Visualize
Look at the title, the pictures, and the Picture the scene in your mind, using the writer’s
first paragraph. What do they tell you descriptions of settings, characters, and events.
about what you’re about to read?

Set a Purpose Monitor

Know why you are reading—for Check your understanding as you read.
information, for enjoyment, or to • Question what is happening and why.
understand a process?
• Clarify what is unclear to you by rereading or
asking for help.
Connect
Think about whether the characters
Make Inferences
or situations remind you of people or
Make logical guesses about characters and events
experiences in your own life.
by considering details in the text and your own
experiences.
Use Prior Knowledge
Jot down what you already know Details in What I Know My Inference
about a topic. Use these notes to help “The Circuit”
you make sense of what you read. “Ito, the People in charge Ito is probably
strawberry get worried or unhappy that the
sharecropper, unhappy when strawberry-picking
Predict
did not smile” business slows season is over
Guess what will happen next. Look
when the season down. because that’s how
for details in the selection that serve
was ending. he makes a living.
as clues.

12 the power of ideas

 model: short story
Panchito is a young Mexican-American boy whose family frequently
moves in search of farm work. The time has come for Panchito’s family to
move—again. How will he react? As you read an excerpt from this story,
use the Close Read questions to practice the strategies you just learned.

from

Short story by Francisco Jiménez

I t was that time of year again. Ito, the strawberry sharecropper, did not
smile. It was natural. The peak of the strawberry season was over and
the last few days the workers, most of them braceros,1 were not picking as
Close Read
1. Monitor Reread the
boxed text. Why is
many boxes as they had during the months of June and July. Panchito sad to hear
the words Ya esora this
5 As the last days of August disappeared, so did the number of braceros.
time?
Sunday, only one—the best picker—came to work. I liked him.
Sometimes we talked during our half-hour lunch break. That is how I
found out he was from Jalisco, the same state in Mexico my family was
from. That Sunday was the last time I saw him.
10 When the sun had tired and sunk behind the mountains, Ito signaled
us that it was time to go home. “Ya esora,” 2 he yelled in his broken
Spanish. Those were the words I waited for twelve hours a day, every
day, seven days a week, week after week. And the thought of not hearing
them again saddened me.
15 As we drove home, Papa did not say a word. With both hands on the
wheel, he stared at the dirt road. My older brother, Roberto, was also
silent. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Once in a while he
cleared from his throat the dust that blew in from outside.
Yes, it was that time of year. When I opened the front door to the
20 shack, I stopped. Everything we owned was neatly packed in cardboard
2. Connect If you suddenly
boxes. Suddenly I felt even more the weight of hours, days, weeks, and found out that you
months of work. I sat down on a box. The thought of having to move were moving, would
to Fresno and knowing what was in store for me there brought tears you react as Panchito
to my eyes. does? Consider whether
you would get used to
moving or dread it every
time.
1. braceros (brä-sDPrôs) Spanish: Hispanic farm workers.
2. Ya esora: a made-up spelling for the sharecropper’s pronunciation of the Spanish expression
Ya es hora (yäPDs-ôPrä), which means “It is time.”

introducing the essentials 13

 25 hat night I could not sleep. I lay in bed thinking about how much I Close Read
hated this move. 3. Make Inferences
A little before five o’clock in the morning, Papa woke everyone up. Reread lines 25–30.
A few minutes later, the yelling and screaming of my little brothers and Why would younger
kids—more than
sisters, for whom the move was a great adventure, broke the silence of
someone Panchito’s
30 dawn. Shortly, the barking of the dogs accompanied them. age—view moving as
While we packed the breakfast dishes, Papa went outside to start an adventure?
the “Carcanchita.” That was the name Papa gave his old ’38 black
Plymouth. He bought it in a used-car lot in Santa Rosa in the winter of
1949. Papa was very proud of his car. “Mi Carcanchita,” my little jalopy,3
35 he called it. He had a right to be proud of it. He spent a lot of time
looking at other cars before buying this one. When he finally chose the
“Carcanchita,” he checked it thoroughly before driving it out of the car
lot. He examined every inch of the car. He listened to the motor, tilting
his head from side to side like a parrot, trying to detect any noises that
40 spelled car trouble. After being satisfied with the looks and sounds of
the car, Papa then insisted on knowing who the original owner was. He
never did find out from the car salesman. But he bought the car anyway. 4. Visualize What details
Papa figured the original owner must have been an important man, in lines 31–44 help you
because behind the rear seat of the car he found a blue necktie. to picture the family car
and the father’s initial
45 Papa parked the car out in front and left the motor running. “Listo,” 4
inspection of it?
he yelled. Without saying a word, Roberto and I began to carry the
boxes out to the car. Roberto carried the two big boxes and I carried the
smaller ones. Papa then threw the mattress on top of the car roof and
tied it with ropes to the front and rear bumpers.
50 Everything was packed except Mama’s pot. It was an old large
galvanized pot she had picked up at an army surplus store in Santa
Maria the year I was born. The pot was full of dents and nicks, and the
more dents and nicks it had, the more Mama liked it. “Mi olla,” 5 she
used to say proudly.
55 I held the front door open as Mama carefully carried out her pot by
both handles, making sure not to spill the cooked beans. When she got
to the car, Papa reached out to help her with it. Roberto opened the rear
car door, and Papa gently placed it on the floor behind the front seat.
All of us then climbed in. Papa sighed, wiped the sweat off his forehead
60 with his sleeve, and said wearily, “Es todo.” 6
As we drove away, I felt a lump in my throat. I turned around and 5. Predict Do you think
looked at our little shack for the last time. . . . Panchito will eventually
adjust to life in Fresno?
Try to guess what will
3. jalopy: a shabby, old car. happen once he arrives.
4. listo (lCPstô) Spanish: ready.
5. mi olla (mC ôP yä) Spanish: my pot.
6. Es todo (Ds tôPdô) Spanish: That’s everything.

14 the power of ideas

 Reading Strategies Workshop

Strategies That Work: Reading

1 Know Your Purpose 2 Take Notes
Determining ahead of time why you are reading can Jotting down your impressions
help you choose the right strategy to use. Consider as you read can deepen your
these purposes and strategies. understanding of a selection.
In your notebook, create a two-
Purpose Strategy column chart. In one column,
For enjoyment Don’t rush. Read at a write details or quotations
comfortable pace for you. from the selection. In the other,
record your thoughts.
To learn or Take notes on the main ideas “The Circuit” My Thoughts
become and supporting details as you
informed read. Panchito worked That seems like
“twelve hours a an impossible
day, every day, amount of work.
seven days a week, I hope Panchito
For research Skim the subheadings, captions,
week after week.” won’t have to
and graphics to quickly
(lines 12–13) work so hard
determine if a text has the
when his family
information you’re looking for. .
moves to Fresno.
.
To follow Be sure you understand each
directions step. Use illustrations or
photographs as guides.

3 Create a Personal Word List

When you encounter words that are unfamiliar to you, Word Meaning
look them up. Start a list of these words and their
meanings, and add new words as you come across them. surplus (n.) Definition: extra
“The Circuit,” materials or supplies
• Choose your words. Consider writing down the line 51 Synonym: excess
vocabulary words for each selection, as well as any
Antonym: shortage
other words you find challenging.
• Know more than the definition. Knowing synonyms Sentence: The owners
(same), antonyms (opposite), and context (use in donated the restaurant’s
a sentence) adds to your total understanding of a surplus of canned goods
word’s meaning. to a local hospital.
• Practice makes perfect. Visit the Vocabulary Center
at ClassZone.com for more practice.

introducing the essentials 15

 unit 1
Reader’s What Makes a Good Story?
Workshop Can the hero save the city from danger? Will the lost hikers reach home? Good
stories capture our attention and keep us wondering what will happen next.
Although stories are different in many ways, all good stories share certain parts.

Part 1: Parts of a Story

R3.2 Analyze the effect of the
qualities of the character (e.g.,
courage or cowardice, ambition
or laziness) on the plot and the
resolution of the conflict.
R3.3 Analyze the influence of setting
on the problem and its resolution.
R3.8 Critique the credibility of
characterization and the degree to
which a plot is contrived or realistic
(e.g., compare use of fact and fantasy
in historical fiction). See page 26.
Think about two very different stories. One is about a city detective
struggling to solve a case. The other is about space aliens invading Earth.
Even stories as unlike as these have parts in common—the setting,
characters, and conflicts—which are described in the chart.
basic parts examples
setting • a rainy day on the planet
Setting is the time and place of the action. Venus
The time can be the past, present, or future. • a tropical island in the
It can also be a season or a time of day. present day
The place can be a room, a country, • a city park in the year 2086
or any place you imagine. Often, • a palace in England in 1547
the setting affects the story’s
problem and how it is solved.

characters • a 12-year-old girl

Characters are the people, animals, or • a wizard with mysterious
creatures who take part in the story’s powers
action. The most important characters • a baseball coach
are main characters. Less important • a family’s pet dog
ones are minor characters. The
characters’ qualities, such as
courage, affect the story’s
events and conflict.

conflict • A girl is made fun of by

External conflict A conflict is the problem or struggle that
Internal conflict a character faces in a story. The struggle
can be between characters or between a
character and the setting or a
force of nature, such as a storm.
A conflict can also be within a
character, as he or she struggles
with difficult problems.
her friends. (girl vs. friends)
• A family seeks shelter from
a storm. (family vs. storm)
• A boy must decide between
telling the truth and lying to
protect his friend’s feelings.
(telling the truth vs. lying)

24 unit 1 : plot, conflict, and setting

 MODEL 1: SETTING AND CHARACTERS
In this excerpt, a woman panics when her grandson Dewey disappears.
Notice the details that describe the time and place of the action.

from
!rouble"iver
Novel by Betsy Byars
She rose and moved to the open doorway where she looked out over Close Read
the golden prairie. 1. In what way does the
“Dewey!” she called, her voice breaking with anxiety. “Deweeeeeee.” setting add to the
When there was no answer, she went back to her rocking chair. woman’s anxiety? Find
two details that describe
5 “Dewey Martin,” she called from her chair. “Oh, Deweeee.”
her surroundings. One
After a moment she went to stand in the doorway again. For as far as detail has been boxed.
she could see there was only the prairie, the long waving line of grass on
2. What do you learn
the horizon with not one single cabin or chimney in sight.
about the woman from
The sun was dropping behind the horizon, and she knew how quickly the way she reacts to
10 darkness would cover the land, how quickly the colorful prairie would her grandson’s absence?
become desolate and cold. Support your answer.

MODEL 2: CONFLICT
A boy named Aaron has just left his village to sell his family’s goat.
What unexpected conflict will he face on his journey?

from

Short story by Isaac Bashevis Singer

The sun was shining when Aaron left the village. Suddenly the Close Read
weather changed. A large black cloud with a bluish center appeared in 1. Find three details that
the east and spread itself rapidly over the sky. A cold wind blew in with convey the dangers of
it. The crows flew low, croaking. At first it looked as if it would rain, the weather. One detail
has been boxed.
5 but instead it began to hail as in summer. It was early in the day, but it
became dark as dusk. After a while the hail turned to snow. 2. In your own words,
In his twelve years Aaron had seen all kinds of weather, but he had describe the conflict
that Aaron is facing.
never experienced a snow like this one. It was so dense it shut out the
Whom or what is the
light of the day. In a short time their path was completely covered. The conflict with?
10 wind became as cold as ice. The road to town was narrow and winding.
Aaron no longer knew where he was.

reader’s workshop 25
 Part 2: What Happens in a Story?
The power of a story comes from the action—what happens as the story
develops. While the action varies from story to story, most stories follow
a pattern called a plot. A plot is the series of events in a story. A typical
plot begins by introducing a character who has a conflict. Suspense builds
as the character tries to resolve, or work out, the conflict. Shortly after
the conflict is resolved, the story comes to a close. Some plots will seem
like real-life events to you, while others will seem contrived, or completely
invented. A contrived plot is more fantastic than it is realistic. It can even be
unbelievable.
Most plots have five stages. Learning about these stages can help you
keep track of a story’s events and answer the question “What happened?”
when someone asks you about a story. Thinking about what happened and
why will also help you judge if a plot is realistic or contrived.

the stages of a plot

climax
• Is the most exciting
part and a turning falling action
point • Eases the tension
rising action • Makes the outcome • Shows how the
• Shows how the of the conflict clear main character
conflict becomes
resolves the
more difficult
conflict
• Builds suspense

exposition
• Introduces the
setting and the
characters
• Sets up or hints
at the conflict resolution
• Reveals how
everything
turns out
• Sometimes
ends with a
surprise twist

26 unit 1 : plot, conflict, and setting

 Reader’s Workshop

MODEL 1: EXPOSITION
This story is about a young Japanese-American girl. What do you learn
about the setting and the conflict in the exposition of the story?

from
the bracelet Short story by Yoshiko Uchida

It was April 21, 1942. The United States and Japan were at war, and Close Read
every Japanese person on the West Coast was being evacuated by the 1. Where and when does
government to a concentration camp. Mama, my sister Keiko, and I this story take place?
were being sent from our home, and out of Berkeley, and eventually out 2. Reread the boxed
5 of California. details. Explain the
The doorbell rang, and I ran to answer it before my sister could. I conflict that the girl’s
thought maybe by some miracle, a messenger from the government family has. How does
the setting influence
might be standing there, tall and proper and buttoned into a uniform,
their situation?
come to tell us it was all a terrible mistake; that we wouldn’t have to
10 leave after all.

MODEL 2: RISING ACTION

Billy is overjoyed when his mother buys him a bike for his birthday.
What happens when Billy rides his prized possession to school? Find
out by reading this excerpt from the rising action of the story.

You’re Not a winner

from

Unless Your Picture’s in the Paper

Short story by Avi

The racks were not sufficient for all the bikes, so lots of them were Close Read
just dumped on the ground. Billy wouldn’t do that to his bike. He 1. Describe what you learn
leaned it carefully against a tree. The tree being in leaf, it shaded the about Billy’s conflict in
bike from a too-hot sun. the boxed lines. What
is Billy’s initial reaction?
5 On Wednesday, right after three o’clock dismissal, when Billy came to
collect his bike, it was gone. 2. In lines 8–9, Billy
At first Billy thought he had just forgotten where he had left it, and concludes that his
problem is worse than
went searching. But as more and more kids claimed their bikes and took
he first realized. How
off, it became obvious that his bike wasn’t just gone, it had been stolen. does the conflict become
more complicated?

reader’s workshop 27
Part 3: Analyze the Literature
Jenny has heard stories about a ferocious boar—a wild pig—that roams the
woods near her home. Will she be the first person to come face-to-face with
the dreaded creature? Use what you’ve learned in this workshop to analyze
the plot, conflict, and setting of this suspenseful story.

Boar Out There

Close Read
Short story by Cynthia Rylant Exposition (lines 1–15)

Everyone in Glen Morgan knew there was a wild boar in the woods
over by the Miller farm. The boar was out beyond the splintery rail
fence and past the old black Dodge that somehow had ended up in the 1. Where and when does
this story take place?
woods and was missing most of its parts.
Find three details in
5 Jenny would hook her chin over the top rail of the fence, twirl a long lines 1–16 that help you
green blade of grass in her teeth and whisper, “Boar out there.” to visualize the setting.
And there were times she was sure she heard him. She imagined him One detail has been
running heavily through the trees, ignoring the sharp thorns and briars boxed.
that raked his back and sprang away trembling.
10 She thought he might have a golden horn on his terrible head. The
boar would run deep into the woods, then rise up on his rear hooves,
throw his head toward the stars and cry a long, clear, sure note into the
air. The note would glide through the night and spear the heart of the Close Read
moon. The boar had no fear of the moon, Jenny knew, as she lay in bed, Rising Action (lines 16–46)
15 listening.

O ne hot summer day she went to find the boar. No one in Glen
Morgan had ever gone past the old black Dodge and beyond, as far
as she knew. But the boar was there somewhere, between those awful
2. Explain what Jenny
decides to do in lines
trees, and his dark green eyes waited for someone. 16–20. What conflict do
20 Jenny felt it was she. you think might result
from her plan of action?

28 unit 1 : plot, conflict, and setting

 Reader’s Workshop

Moving slowly over damp brown leaves, Jenny could sense her ears 3. Reread lines 21–34.
tingle and fan out as she listened for thick breathing from the trees. She What details help to
stopped to pick a teaberry leaf to chew, stood a minute, then went on. build suspense about
Deep in the woods she kept her eyes to the sky. She needed to be what might happen
next?
25 reminded that there was a world above and apart from the trees—a
world of space and air, air that didn’t linger all about her, didn’t press
deep into her skin, as forest air did.
Finally, leaning against a tree to rest, she heard him for the first 4. The conflict becomes
time. She forgot to breathe, standing there listening to the stamping of clear in line 36. How do
30 hooves, and she choked and coughed. Jenny and the boar react
to each other when they
Coughed! finally meet?
And now the pounding was horrible, too loud and confusing for
Jenny. Horrible. She stood stiff with wet eyes and knew she could always
pray, but for some reason didn’t.
35 He came through the trees so fast that she had no time to scream or 5. Would the story be
run. And he was there before her. different if Jenny met
the boar in a different
His large gray-black body shivered as he waited just beyond the setting? Explain how
shadow of the tree she held for support. His nostrils glistened, and his the setting in the woods
eyes; but astonishingly, he was silent. He shivered and glistened and was influences the story.
40 absolutely silent.
Jenny matched his silence, and her body was rigid, but not her eyes.
They traveled along his scarred, bristling back to his thick hind legs. Close Read
Climax (lines 47–50)
Tears spilling and flooding her face, Jenny stared at the boar’s ragged
ears, caked with blood. Her tears dropped to the leaves, and the only
45 sound between them was his slow breathing.
Then the boar snorted and jerked. But Jenny did not move.
High in the trees a bluejay yelled, and, suddenly, it was over. Jenny
6. What is surprising about
stood like a rock as the boar wildly flung his head and in terror bolted what happens at the
past her. climax, or the turning
50 Past her. . . . point in the story?

A nd now, since that summer, Jenny still hooks her chin over the old
rail fence, and she still whispers, “Boar out there.” But when she
leans on the fence, looking into the trees, her eyes are full and she leaves Close Read
Falling Action and
wet patches on the splintery wood. She is sorry for the torn ears of the Resolution (lines 51–57)
55 boar and sorry that he has no golden horn.
But mostly she is sorry that he lives in fear of bluejays and little girls,
when everyone in Glen Morgan lives in fear of him.

7. The tension eases after

Jenny’s encounter with
the boar. How has her
impression of the boar
changed?

reader’s workshop 29