Lesson Topic A Summers Reading By Bernard Malamud

Lesson Topic: A Summer’s Reading By Bernard Malamud Bridging Text, Context and Theme Name of Teacher: Susan Strikovsky Target Class: 10 th Grade Lesson Place in the Curriculum: Lesson Ten

Table of Contents • Introduction • Bridging Text and Context • Theme – Appearance • Theme- Change • Theme- Loneliness

Table of Contents • Other Themes • Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTs)- Explaining Cause and Effect • Cause and Effect in A Summer’s Reading • Conclusion

Why did people come to America? What life did they imagine to have in America? What is the “American Dream? ” Immigrants arriving in America in 1902

Bridging Text and Context Bernard Malamud (1914 – 1986) was an American novelist and short story writer. He was one of the best known American Jewish authors of the 20 th century. Bernard Malamud was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants. By John Bragg http: //read. gov/fiction/malam ud. html, Public Domain, https: //commons. wikimedia. o rg/w/index. php? curid=182314 33

Bridging Text and Context Bernard Malamud wrote many of his stories about the immigrants' hard life in New York in the 1930’s. He is known for teaching moral lessons in his stories. How is this information connected to the story? By John Bragg http: //read. gov/fiction/malam ud. html, Public Domain, https: //commons. wikimedia. o rg/w/index. php? curid=182314 33

Bridging Text and Context The moral lesson here is shown through Mr. Cattanzara. He represents the adult who did not make anything of himself despite his intelligence.

Bridging Text and Context He reads The New York Times every day yet he works as a change maker in the subway. He also has a drinking problem which shows that he is unhappy and frustrated with his life.

Bridging Text and Context Mr. Cattanzara tries to show George that he still has a chance to avoid the mistakes he himself has made and can change his life, but he cannot do that by lying, being lazy or living in his imagination.

Theme - Appearance George likes the fact that his neighbors are beginning to treat him differently because they believe he is spending his time reading. It is as if their new found appraisal of him boosts his confidence.

Theme - Appearance No longer is he just a twenty year old man who lives with his father and sister above a butcher’s shop but rather he has the potential to be somebody.

Theme - Change Though the reader is aware that George has put in no effort to make the changes he would like to make in his life. As to why this might be is difficult to say but it is possible that George finds his environment overwhelming.

Theme - Change It is also possible that George does not understand that for change to occur he must do something (like read). He knows he wants to leave the neighborhood but he does not put any effort to make the changes. If anything he remains paralyzed.

Theme - Loneliness Not only does George spend all day in the apartment (which would also suggest a paralysis in George’s life) but it is obvious that he misses being educated though he appears to be too proud or stubborn to enroll in night school.

Theme - Loneliness When George walks the streets of the neighborhood at night time he stops and talks to only one person, Mr. Cattanzara. Apart from talking to his sister and Mr. Cattanzara, George talks to no one else. This suggests that George is not only disconnected from others but he is lonely too.

Other Themes v The effect of a lack of self confidence and respect v Importance of education and reading https: //www. pexels. com/photo/adult-aged-baby-care-226618/ https: //www. pexels. com/photo/black-pen-on-white-book-page-159621/

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTs)- Explaining Cause and Effect Definition: Identifying the reasons why things happen (the cause) Identifying and describing the result (the effect) of specific action.

Cause and Effect in A Summer’s Reading Cause Effect George wants people to respect him George tells Mr. Cattanzara a lie that he is reading around 100 books George is in a good mood People are friendly with George Mr. Cattanzara discovers his lie He feels embarrassed

Today’s Lesson was about: A Summer’s Reading By Bernard Malamud Bridging Text, Context and Theme Next lesson will be about: Mr. Know All By Somerset Maugham: Basic Understanding, Analysis and Interpretation