Introduction to The Glass Castle Literary Nonfiction Unit

Introduction to The Glass Castle Literary Nonfiction Unit

Standards we will be addressing today… • ELACC 11 -12 RL 2: Determine two or more themes or central ideas of text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text. • ELACC 11 -12 L 6: Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases.

Consider the following poem by Langston Hughes: Ennui It’s such a Bore Being always Poor. 1. What is the basic situation of the poem? 2. What is the tone of the poem? 3. What do you think the title means? 4. The definition of the word ennui is a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction : boredom. Why did Hughes choose that title?

Themes in The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls • As you can tell from the Hughes poem, poverty is a major theme of the text as well as: – Forgiveness – Parental Responsibility – Self-Reliance – Overcoming Adversity – Nonconformity

Previewing Activity • Life is full of tough decisions. Often we have to make decisions by ourselves, not knowing the repercussion of each decision. For each number choose either option A or B and wait for further directions.

What is a Motif? • A recurrent image, word, phrase, represented object or action that tends to unify the literary work or that may be elaborated into a more general theme.

Motifs and Symbols in The Glass Castle • Fire • The Glass Castle

Motifs and Symbols in the Glass Castle • The Joshua Tree • The geode

Symbolism Journal • Apply to our reading of Chapter 1.

Types of Nonfiction Homework. Look up the definitions of each type of nonfiction and explain the differences. • Memoir • Journal/ Diary • Autobiography • Essay • Biography • Letter