T: “Federigo’s Falcon” from the Decameron

A: Giovanni Boccaccio

N: Italian

G: novella/short story (part of a frame story)

Prentice Hall Literature (pages 742-751)

CHOOSE ONE and respond in a paragraph (4-6 sentences):

Proofread!!!!!

What is your most prized possession? Would you ever be

willing to part with it? Explain why you would or would not.

ORWhat role, do you think, does

chance or luck play in the achievement of happiness? Do you believe in destiny, or do you believe you control your future?

Explain.

Anticipation Guide: Answer Agree/Disagree to the following

statements BEFORE you read “Federigo’s Falcon.”

•You should be willing to do anything for love.*Love conquers all.*Pets are family too.

*It’s okay to use people to get what you need. *It’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.

*Love is more important than any possession.•Impressing others is an important part of life!

“Federigo’s Falcon” Vocabulary Record the vocabulary:1) Courtly- (adj.) dignified, polite; elegant (745)2) Sumptuous- (adj.) costly; lavish (745)3) Chaste- (adj.) innocent; pure (745)4) Frugally- (adj.) thriftily; economically (745)5) Deference- (n) courteous regard or respect (748)6) Affably- (adv.) in a friendly manner (748)7) Impertinence- (n) insolence; impudence (748)8) Contrary- (adj.) unfavorable (748)9) Despondent- (adj.) dejected; hopeless (749)

Next, find the sentence from the story in which the word was used and copy it.

---------Literary Terms---------------(We will apply these terms as we read.)

Theme The central message or lesson of a story

(the main idea) Should be something the reader can apply

to their own lives Directly stated theme- the author tells the

reader. Implied theme- the readers have to guess

the main idea by using clues from the work.

Symbol Using an object or repetitive theme to

represent a larger idea (An object that stands for something else) Example:

Wedding rings A cross Skull and crossbones

Conflict

Struggle between two forces in a story Types of conflict:

Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Supernatural Man vs. Society Man vs. Self (internal conflict)

Situational Irony When you get the opposite of what you

expect in a situation Surprise ending of a story

Dramatic Irony When the audience is aware of information

that the characters are unaware of (When we (the readers) know something a

character doesn’t know)

Characterization Methods used by an author to reveal the

looks, beliefs, motivations or personality of a character

Two types of characterization: Direct characterization – author comes out and

tells you exactly what the character is like Indirect characterization – you must decide about

the character based on character’s words and actions

As you read, list the characteristics of Federigo. Are these examples of direct or

indirect characterization?

List the characteristics of Monna Giovanna. Are these examples of direct or indirect characterization?

After Reading Activities:(Applications of Literary Terms)

What directly stated theme is stated at the beginning of the work?

What implied theme can you infer from the work?

What dramatic irony occurs in the work? What situational irony occurs in the work? What could the falcon symbolize in this

work? Which character has an internal conflict?

What was it?

Review Questions: 1) How did Federigo feel about Monna Giovanna when the

story opened? Midway? At the end? 2) How did Monna Giovanna treat Federigo at the beginning

of the story? 3) What happened to Federigo as a result of Monna

Giovanna’s lack of interest? 4) After becoming a widow, what tragic turn happened in the

life of her son? What was his one desire? 5) How does the story end for Federigo? 6) Do you think he regretted his decision to sacrifice his

falcon? Why or why not? 7) How might the outcome of the story have been different if

Monna had told Federigo at the start of her visit that she had come for the falcon?

Plot the following on the diagram: Monna eats the falcon she came to get. Federigo spends all his money to woo Monna, but she is not

impressed (external conflict). Monna’s brothers urge her to marry again. Monna’s son becomes sick and asks for the falcon. Federigo decides to feed Monna the falcon. Monna asks Federigo for the falcon. Federigo shows Monna the beak and feathers. Monna marries Federigo. Federigo blames Fortune (external conflict). Monna’s son dies. Monna’s husband dies and she moves to the country. Monna’s son befriends Federigo. Federigo says he will be more wise with money. Federigo moves to the country when he becomes poverty-stricken. Monna asks Federigo to dine with her. Monna debates asking Federigo for the falcon (internal conflict).

Connect it to today… Federigo and Monna G. live in 14th C Italy, but we share with them

some basic human problems. Some of their struggles include: Federigo loves someone who doesn’t love him. Giovanna must cope with a dying son’s wish. Giovanna has to ask a favor of someone she has ignored and rejected. Federigo has to deal with the discovery that a noble gesture was actually a

terrible mistake. Find more contemporary examples of these lovers’

problems. How would a modern filmmaker treat these characters?

How are Federigo’s and Monna’s problems like and different from the problems faced by lovers today? Imagine there is a new movie today that is loosely based on this work. Your main characters are Fred and Mary and the scene is Bladenboro, NC in 2013. Describe what would occur in the modern day play. How would things be different than that of “Federigo’s Falcon”? What actor and actress would you cast as Fred and Mary? Why did you choose these thespians?