Literary Analysis & Close Reading Assignment

Climaxmost exciting/suspenseful moment

Resolutionproblems are resolved

Complications/Rising Actionsnew problems arise

Basic Situation/Expositionconflict is introduced

*Elements of Plot Diagram - Notes

Falling ActionWinding down

The Butterfly EffectDid you know that each of these shows and /or movies has been influenced by the story we are about to read? Can you guess how?

The Butterfly EffectThe phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado or delay, accelerate, or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in another location. The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.

The Butterfly EffectTo understand the concept first let’s start with something we already know like the domino effect.

1) As the world runs out of oil gas prices will rise.

2) When this happens prices for specialized items of import and export (coffee) will eventually rise.

3) Food prices will then rise4) The price of products that require

oil to make them will also rise. (8 & ½ gallons of oil in each car tire)!

The “Butterfly Effect” is similar, except that we cannot see what causes what. We know that small things can effect entire systems.

A Sound of Thunder The idea that one butterfly could eventually have a far-reaching ripple effect on subsequent historic events seems first to have appeared in “A Sound of Thunder”, a 1952 short story by Ray Bradbury about time travel.

The “Butterfly Effect” is now a common clichéd plot device; however Bradbury was the first to use the idea in fiction.

Can you give any examples in stories when changing the past even if only in the smallest way alters the course of the future?

Literary Device Catalog ASOT LIT. Devices

Catalog

(p. 505) Imagery = “oiled striding legs”Simile = “fence of teeth like daggers”Metaphor = “Each lower leg was a piston”

Bradbury’s simile comparing a TREX’s teeth to a fence of daggers is effective writing because it allows the reader to get a sense of how much danger the narrator is in.

Objectives: Students will practice identifying and critiquing literary elements in “A Sound of Thunder.” Students will improve their writing style through transferring what they have learned in the note taking processes to writing a short descriptive paragraph.

Requirements: While reading, you must document 2 examples of literary devices per page in your journals. Pick one of the two literary device examples you wrote down and in a sentence explain why you think it is effective /good writing.

Literary Device Review

Imagery –(sights, sounds, smells, tastes, & feelings)

Simile – A comparison using “like” or “as”

Metaphor – – A comparison of two unalike things not using “like” or “as.” Ex. “Juliet is the sun”

Onomatopoeia –– When words sound like what they mean. Ex. Boom! Pow!

Personification – Giving human characteristics to something not human. Ex. The wind screamed

Literary Device Class PracticeNotice the ways Bradbury describes his time machine. (p.2) Find 3 similes or metaphors that help us to better imagine the essence of this machine?

(p. 2 and 3) What effect does the diction have on the mood of the story?

(p. 3- The dinosaur in described as an “incredible monster”. What are the connotations of these two words?

Special Note:

In German the name (Deutscher) means “German.” This story was written right after WWII when Hitler’s Germany was considered the ultimate example of evil, not only because of the holocaust, but in a political sense because they were so different from us. They had long had a dictatorship while we have had a democracy.

Critical Thinking What is the purpose of the antigravity path?

(p. 5-6) How then are they allowed to hunt if they can’t step on the grass? If they do not want to kill a mouse, then why a T-REX? Isn’t this also problematic?

What does the theme of this story seem to be so far? Make some predictions as to what might happen.

Elements of Style (Very Important!)

Bradbury is extremely proud and with good cause of his description of the Tyrannosaur. Bradbury about this section has stated, “I say to the audience ‘ I’m going to stop you here okay?...and you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to describe a dinosaur as it has never been described. Now watch this.’ And then I sit down and write a prose poem about this wonderful creature that comes gliding out the jungle.”Pg. 10

What effect do the literary devices have on the reader? How do they give us insight as to what the narrator would be feeling?

Critical Thinking (p. 12-13) How serious of a problem is it that Eckels jumps off the path? Why does he do it?

(p. 12-13) – rather grotesque – in what detail does the author describe the final moments of the beast? Is this good writing? Why or why not? What is the effect of the author’s choice of words?

(p. 14-15) – Why is Travis angry at Eckels? Is this thematic?

The Grand Finale

The story concludes with an eerie, twilight zone type of ending not only for Eckles, but for the reader.

How does Bradbury use his theme to shock his reader in the end of this story?

TYME SEFARI Inc. Sefaris tu any yeer en the past.

Yu naim the animall.Wee taek yu thair.

Yu shoot it.

Pg. 17 Why would this sign be

disturbing for a contemporary

reader shortly

after World War II?

Writing Assignment Observe with care the specific literary devices you paid attention to while reading this story. Remember what made you select these devices and why you thought these were effective. Now you are going to emulate Bradbury’s style in a page length piece of fiction of your own.

Writing prompt: Choose a specific scene from the story. First, retell the story through Eckels point of view ( 1st person). Decide first what your tone is and what mood you want to create. Use careful diction and words that have the correct connotations to convey your meaning.

Some possible scene choices- opening scene, pgs. 1-3, meeting the T-Rex, pgs. 9-12., the return, pgs. 16-18.

* A Sound of Thunder Mini Quiz

____1) The resolution of the story can be defined asA. When new problems ariseB. the most exciting/suspenseful momentC. problems are resolvedD. conflict is introduced

2) Describe in your own words the rising action of A Sound of Thunder.

3) Which country does Deutscher’s last name come from?

4) Other than the death of Eckels, what is another way the author scares the reader into an agreement with the moral of his story.

5) Give one literary device or description the author uses to create his T-rex. Why is this good writing?

Climaxmost exciting/suspenseful moment

Resolutionproblems are resolved

Complicationsnew problems arise

Basic Situation/Expositionconflict is introduced

*Elements of Plot Diagram

Falling ActionWinding down

Complete a plot Diagram For this story

Characterization

Travis represents a “Type A” personality, in that he strictly abides by all rules and regulations as directed by the government.  “Stay on the path,” Travis sternly states, “Don’t go off it.  I repeat.  Don’t go off.  For any reason!  If you fall off, there’s a penalty.  And don’t shoot any animal we don’t okay” (Bradbury).  Travis’ character represents safety, not only of the passengers, but of all of history.  He understands the possible hazardous, life changing, Earth shattering consequences that can occur if the past is altered in any way, where Eckels’ character has no real concept of any of that. 

The various characters in the story represent different types of personalities.

Characterization

The main character, Eckels, is an example of someone who is searching for thrill and excitement, but does not consider the consequences of his actions. 

Where in the story do we see this?

How do both Eckels and Travis help us understand the THEME (lesson we can apply to life) of this story?

The various characters in the story represent different types of personalities.

*Somebody, Wants But So Paragraph

– HW Examples

Somebody Wants But So

Harry Potter

wants to learn about his parents, be happy, and make friends

but he must protect himself from the dangers he faces at Hogwarts

so he learns how to use his powers for good and to protect himself and his friends

Write a paragraph about “A Sound of Thunder” that SHOWS the theme of this story using the Somebody, Wants, But, So model.

*Somebody, Wants But So paragraph – HW

somebody = who - the individual/character

wants = what but =

=complications/problems/conflict

so = solution/outcome Examples Somebody Wants But So

Peter Parker wants to learn about his parents, and…

   

A Sound of Thunder

(Eckels)