Was It A Dream By Guy de Maupassant

Was It A Dream? By Guy de Maupassant

What is “the dream”? • Reflect on the different ways of interpreting the title of the story. Which one do you think best fits the story? What (literal or metaphorical) answer “best” suits the interpretation of the title? (Consider what the author's purpose might have been in choosing an ambiguous title)

The Key 5 • 1. Who created the message? • 2. What techniques are used to attract my attention? • 3. How might different people understand this message differently from me? • 4. What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in or omitted from this message? • 5. Why was this message sent?

Think Critically • What is the message of this story? What is the author trying to say / What is his point? (use the 5 Key Questions to help you decide)

What Are We Supposed to Take Away? So… • What is the message of this story? What is the author trying to say / What is his point?

The Author’s Truth • Author Henry James wrote that de Maupassant's axiom (a widely established principle) seemed to be "that you produce the effect of truth better by painting people from the outside than from the inside. " Consider how this statement applies to "Was It a Dream? " How is the notion of “truth” depicted in the story?

• 1. Pick a theme (one word or short phrase) from this story. Make sure it the MOST IMPORTANT one (what the author was REALLY trying to get a • 2. Turn it into a sentence that is a lesson/reminder for humanity. If it’s “love”, ask yourself “WHAT ABOUT love? What does the author think about it? ” • 3. Make sure it is not a saying. This is now the author’s “truth” or “message” for you. • 4. Turn it into a proper topic sentence by adding the story title and author’s name. • 5. Find 3 ways to prove that this message is actually true from the story (Your PEEs).