Plot is everything that happens in a story but in a sequence of events. The five events are the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
(Exposition)- This book is mainly about a white jewish girl named Ellie and a dark skin colored boy named Jeremiah. They both fall in love and try to keep there relationship at a straight level. But there are some fights that they had to deal with. One thing keeping them from fighting is that Ellie does not care what others think about her dating a dark skinned boy. The relationship lasts for a long time. Ellie and her mom deal with some problems from the past.
(Rising action)- Jeremiah and Ellie first met in the hallway when they both bumped into each other. Jerimiah never got Ellie's name. They both went home wondering about each other. And days later they both saw each other in the classroom and Jeremiah had to site next to Ellie. Ellie remembered him from the hallway when he knocked her books from her hands by accident. So they talked and Jerimiah found out her name. Ellie remembered when they first met and what she really felt.
(Climax)-Like any usual relationship between friends come along as in dating. Ellie and Jerimiah started dating but wondered about each others race. Ellie and Jeremiah were such a cute couple. They ditched school together to get to know each other not just based on there names. They both went to Central Park where they saw others looking at them. Ellie ignores them but feels uncomfortable with others looking and judging the both of them but she tries not to care. "Lets say it's rain- the people who got problems with us being together- let's call them the rain" That showed to me that Jeremiah did not care what any one else thought. Jeremiah asked Ellie "If she feels like she for got she was white?" and she says "yes." and she asked Jeremiah "If he ever forgot he was black?" and he said "no." She felt uncomfortable but knew that Jeremiah stood her. Jeremiah felt like he could express himself in anyway because Ellie was always there to listen to him. They both had some up's and down's but at least they got through the problems . Like when Jeremiah told Ellie that his father was a film maker and Ellie thought that he was just a rich kid but later on she knew that Jeremiah's father and mother was divorced so Ellie knew it was hard on him. Later on Jeremiah felt like he should tell his mom he has a white friend named Ellie which he did Jeremiah's mom actually like Ellie and they spent so much time talking and get along. But than Jeremiah wants to show that he likes her so much that he wants to see her mom and Ellie doesn't want to let her see Jeremiah because she may judge him by his skin. Now every time Jeremiah asks to see Ellie's mom Ellie wants her mom to know about Jerimiah but she is afraid there relationship will change.
(Falling action)- The falling action is when Jeremiah got shot in the book. The author doesn't come out and say he was shot, but she describes it as if Jeremiah did get shot.
(Resolution)-The book has passed 2 years. Ellie is 18 years old now and she has been accepted to a good college thanx to Percy academy. As she was in the month of june every one was getting graduation and prom night ready. But Ellie noticed a plaque at the out side gym and it said (In memory of Jerimiah Roselind. Someone will always be calling your name.). So Ellie found out that Jeremiah passed away. She constantly keeps thinking about him but actually moves on. It's been two years and she still loves him the same way. But Ellie feels like when she did not want Jeremiah to meet her mom and dad about him she felt guilty but now at the end of the book on page 180-181 she tells her parents bout him.
Discussion Questions:
What would happen if the sequence of events were in a different order?
- Christina Vhlahaki
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Characterization
Characterization is the method the author uses to develop a character. This includes their personality and appearance.
Jeremiah (Miah) is a 15 year old who likes to play basketball. But hates Percy Academy. The only thing keeping him on the run is Ellie. A girl he met in Percy Academy's hallway. Miah has greenish eyes with locks in his hair and dark colored skin. He is quiet and respects others. He also wants some one to love him as him and wants to be discovered in his own way. Not just known as Nelia and Nelson's son. Jeremiah is smart, intrested in some things and thoughtful because Miah cared about how he will spend time with Ellie who is his girlfriend. He has a father that makes movies and a mom who writes novels. His parents are divorced but live across the street from each other. Miah lives with his mom but sometimes visits his dad. His grandmother passed away from cancer and Miah misses her much because throughout the book he has flashbacks about her.
Ellie (Elisha) is a white 15 year old girl that is jewish, with a quiet personality. She is from 1 out of 5 sibilings. She does not really complain about what is going on in situations but on pages 22-23 Ellie confronts her mom about leaving her when she was younger. Now that her mom left her, Ellie doesn't want to have the same communication with her because she does not want to feel the pain again for a mother leaving again. She is want to express her self and tell her mom about Jeremiah but she is scared on what her mother may think. Ellie feels all alone in her family because her sibilings all moved out or went away to collage. Now when Ellie talks to her sister Ellie feels so exited and happy because she has some one she trust and some one that will really listen to her. Ellie's sibilings visit once in a while like on haunika or other important days. She is sweet and remembers every thing that happened between her and miah. She has many flash backs thought the book. Ellie will take the rist to get into trouble for a boy or at least for miah. Ellie is the one who wants to see that black and white people could mix together. On page 131 paragaph 6 from the Quote that Ellie said "lets say it's rain- the people who got problems with us being together- lets call them and their problems the rain!"that really made sence to how she really cared on what people thought when she stayed with miah. She seems like a calm character and is willing to express her self for people to notice her.
Discussion Questions:
How does the author characterize the other characters in the story?
What methods does she use to create the character?
- Christina Vlahaki
Jeremiah (Miah) is a 15 year old who likes to play basketball. But hates Percy Academy. The only thing keeping him on the run is Ellie. A girl he met in Percy Academy's hallway. Miah has greenish eyes with locks in his hair and dark colored skin. He is quiet and respects others. He also wants some one to love him as him and wants to be discovered in his own way. Not just known as Nelia and Nelson's son. Jeremiah is smart, intrested in some things and thoughtful because Miah cared about how he will spend time with Ellie who is his girlfriend. He has a father that makes movies and a mom who writes novels. His parents are divorced but live across the street from each other. Miah lives with his mom but sometimes visits his dad. His grandmother passed away from cancer and Miah misses her much because throughout the book he has flashbacks about her.
Ellie (Elisha) is a white 15 year old girl that is jewish, with a quiet personality. She is from 1 out of 5 sibilings. She does not really complain about what is going on in situations but on pages 22-23 Ellie confronts her mom about leaving her when she was younger. Now that her mom left her, Ellie doesn't want to have the same communication with her because she does not want to feel the pain again for a mother leaving again. She is want to express her self and tell her mom about Jeremiah but she is scared on what her mother may think. Ellie feels all alone in her family because her sibilings all moved out or went away to collage. Now when Ellie talks to her sister Ellie feels so exited and happy because she has some one she trust and some one that will really listen to her. Ellie's sibilings visit once in a while like on haunika or other important days. She is sweet and remembers every thing that happened between her and miah. She has many flash backs thought the book. Ellie will take the rist to get into trouble for a boy or at least for miah. Ellie is the one who wants to see that black and white people could mix together. On page 131 paragaph 6 from the Quote that Ellie said "lets say it's rain- the people who got problems with us being together- lets call them and their problems the rain!"that really made sence to how she really cared on what people thought when she stayed with miah. She seems like a calm character and is willing to express her self for people to notice her.
Discussion Questions:
How does the author characterize the other characters in the story?
What methods does she use to create the character?
- Christina Vlahaki
Mood
Mood is the atmosphere or general feeling of a literary work.
The mood in the story If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson, is romance. It starts off with just two young adults experimenting with love, but it goes deeper and has different moods in the story. For example, the mood is a vivid and desperate need for hope and determination, but realizing the careful balance you must hold. Even if your nationality and famiy won't allow a unique source of love and a relationship having a "happily ever after" ending.
Discussion Questions:
Does the mood change during the book? And if so, how?
If author's didn't use mood, how would the novel be affected?
- Jamel Rogers
The mood in the story If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson, is romance. It starts off with just two young adults experimenting with love, but it goes deeper and has different moods in the story. For example, the mood is a vivid and desperate need for hope and determination, but realizing the careful balance you must hold. Even if your nationality and famiy won't allow a unique source of love and a relationship having a "happily ever after" ending.
Discussion Questions:
Does the mood change during the book? And if so, how?
If author's didn't use mood, how would the novel be affected?
- Jamel Rogers
Point Of View
Point of view is the perspective from which a narrative is told on first person, third person limited, and third person omniscient. The point of view is changed each chapter, it mostly is from Ellie's point of view in both first person and third person. It also switches to third person from someone who isn't there.
Discussion Questions:
Do you feel that Jacqueline Woodson should have changed the point of view?
What was her purpose for changing the point of view?
- Alexis Savva
Discussion Questions:
Do you feel that Jacqueline Woodson should have changed the point of view?
What was her purpose for changing the point of view?
- Alexis Savva
Conflict
Conflict is a struggle or problem in a story. An internal conflict occurs when a character struggles between opposing needs, desires or emotions within his or her own mind. An external conflict occurs when a character struggles againstan outside force. This force may be another character, a societal expectation, or something in the physical world.
Miah and Ellie are a dating. They met at Percy academy in the hallway, Miah bumped into Ellie by accident. He helped her pick up her books and when he helped her he felt this undescriable feeling, he never got her name. When he went to home all he could do is think about her. They started having classes together and their relationship progressed as well. The internal problem is that Miah is hard on himself for being black. He thinks being black is a bad thing, and doesnt really take pride in his heritage. Ellies internal problem is her mother. Her mother doesn't approve of inter-racial relationships. Ellie has trust issues with her mom because when she was yonger her mom left her and she's scared she'll just leave at any given time. The external problem is racisim. Many people look at Miah and Ellie with odd facial expressions. In One part of the book, Miah and Ellie were in front of the library and a black woman looked at them and rolled her eyes. Miah grunted and Ellie asked if it was always going to be like this for them. Miah said there will always be people who disapprove, but rain comes and it passes so those who have problems with us being together are rain, there will always be rain, but the storm always passes.
Discussion Questions:
How do the conflicts in the book get resolved?
Are there any other parts of the book that show conflict?
- Alexis Savva
Miah and Ellie are a dating. They met at Percy academy in the hallway, Miah bumped into Ellie by accident. He helped her pick up her books and when he helped her he felt this undescriable feeling, he never got her name. When he went to home all he could do is think about her. They started having classes together and their relationship progressed as well. The internal problem is that Miah is hard on himself for being black. He thinks being black is a bad thing, and doesnt really take pride in his heritage. Ellies internal problem is her mother. Her mother doesn't approve of inter-racial relationships. Ellie has trust issues with her mom because when she was yonger her mom left her and she's scared she'll just leave at any given time. The external problem is racisim. Many people look at Miah and Ellie with odd facial expressions. In One part of the book, Miah and Ellie were in front of the library and a black woman looked at them and rolled her eyes. Miah grunted and Ellie asked if it was always going to be like this for them. Miah said there will always be people who disapprove, but rain comes and it passes so those who have problems with us being together are rain, there will always be rain, but the storm always passes.
Discussion Questions:
How do the conflicts in the book get resolved?
Are there any other parts of the book that show conflict?
- Alexis Savva
Irony
Irony is when the author leads you to believe something is going to happen, but a wild twist of events occur and something completely different happens.
During If You Come Softly, irony is used throughout the book. During the book, Ellie and Miah fall more and more in love with everyday that goes by. As the book continues, Miah is very eager to meet Ellie's parents, for Ellie has already met his mom. Ellie promises that he is going to meet her parents the next day for dinner. Miah is ecstatic, too ecstatic to go home. So Miah takes a turn into Central Park. At Central Park, he is too focused on the dream behind his eyes that he doesn't realize his surroundings and he gets killed. The author creates Irony by leading you to believe that Miah and Ellie are going to be together for ever because they can overcome racial tensions with other people, "'Let's say its rain-the people who got problems with us being together-let's call them and their problems rain'"(Woodson, 131) Also, Jaqueline Woodson leads you to believe that Miah is going to meet Ellies parents, "'I'm going to tell them about you,' Ellie said. 'You're going to meet them. Get ready. I love you.'" (Woodson, 169) But instead, Miah ends up being murdered.
Discussion Questions
Does irony occur in any other places during the book?
Did you believe that Ellie and Miah were going to be together forever?
- Colleen Fox
During If You Come Softly, irony is used throughout the book. During the book, Ellie and Miah fall more and more in love with everyday that goes by. As the book continues, Miah is very eager to meet Ellie's parents, for Ellie has already met his mom. Ellie promises that he is going to meet her parents the next day for dinner. Miah is ecstatic, too ecstatic to go home. So Miah takes a turn into Central Park. At Central Park, he is too focused on the dream behind his eyes that he doesn't realize his surroundings and he gets killed. The author creates Irony by leading you to believe that Miah and Ellie are going to be together for ever because they can overcome racial tensions with other people, "'Let's say its rain-the people who got problems with us being together-let's call them and their problems rain'"(Woodson, 131) Also, Jaqueline Woodson leads you to believe that Miah is going to meet Ellies parents, "'I'm going to tell them about you,' Ellie said. 'You're going to meet them. Get ready. I love you.'" (Woodson, 169) But instead, Miah ends up being murdered.
Discussion Questions
Does irony occur in any other places during the book?
Did you believe that Ellie and Miah were going to be together forever?
- Colleen Fox
Symbolism
Symbolism is the art or practice of using symbols especially by investing this with symbolic meaning.
In the novel, If you come softly by Jacqueline Woodson, Jacqueline Woodson expresses forms of symbolism. An example Jacqueline Woodson uses in the novel is when Ellie said that she really doesn’t trust her mother. The keyword is trust meaning that she thinks that if she said something to her mother, her mom will leave again like how she did when she was younger. Another form of symbolism is when Ellie gives Miah a necklace that she wears of the Jewish star. This represents the love she has for him and that they are both equal, even though they are of different races.
Discussion Questions:
Do most authors use symbolism in their writing?
How do you know what symbol represents?
- Jamel Rogers
In the novel, If you come softly by Jacqueline Woodson, Jacqueline Woodson expresses forms of symbolism. An example Jacqueline Woodson uses in the novel is when Ellie said that she really doesn’t trust her mother. The keyword is trust meaning that she thinks that if she said something to her mother, her mom will leave again like how she did when she was younger. Another form of symbolism is when Ellie gives Miah a necklace that she wears of the Jewish star. This represents the love she has for him and that they are both equal, even though they are of different races.
Discussion Questions:
Do most authors use symbolism in their writing?
How do you know what symbol represents?
- Jamel Rogers
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Flashback
Flashback is when the narrator takes time during the novel to look back on past events.
If You Come Softly expresses flashback numerous times. "A long time ago, Marion left us. Just packed up and was gone. I was little and the twins were still living at home then. The three of us cried every night for a week while my father took time off from medical school to try to find her. Then we stopped crying, and three weeks later she returned.
When she left the next time, I was eight and the twins had left for college. I was old enough to understand what it meant that she wasn't coming home for awhile, that she might never come home. When she did, I couldn't speak to her for a long time. Scared to say the wrong thing. Scared she'd leave again."(Woodson, 21-22) Here, Ellie looks back on when her mother left her and her family when she was younger.
Flashback also helps characterize a character. "I had chosen Percy myself -from a dozen schools -because I liked the name. It made me think of that song 'When a Man Loves a Woman' by Percy Sledge. I know it was a stupid reason to choose a school, but they all seemed exactly alike.
'I had nice friends at Jefferson'
Marion and my father had decided to send me to private school in May, when the New York Times reported that Thomas Jefferson had the lowest reading levels and college acceptance rate in all of New York City" (Woodson, 31) This characterizes the parents as caring, they want the best for their children. Ellie misses her old friends and she didn't really care so much about what new high school her parents were making her go to.
Discussion Questions
Why do you think that Flashbacks are needed in a story?
If we didn't have Flashbacks in stories, do you think you would be confused?
- Colleen Fox
If You Come Softly expresses flashback numerous times. "A long time ago, Marion left us. Just packed up and was gone. I was little and the twins were still living at home then. The three of us cried every night for a week while my father took time off from medical school to try to find her. Then we stopped crying, and three weeks later she returned.
When she left the next time, I was eight and the twins had left for college. I was old enough to understand what it meant that she wasn't coming home for awhile, that she might never come home. When she did, I couldn't speak to her for a long time. Scared to say the wrong thing. Scared she'd leave again."(Woodson, 21-22) Here, Ellie looks back on when her mother left her and her family when she was younger.
Flashback also helps characterize a character. "I had chosen Percy myself -from a dozen schools -because I liked the name. It made me think of that song 'When a Man Loves a Woman' by Percy Sledge. I know it was a stupid reason to choose a school, but they all seemed exactly alike.
'I had nice friends at Jefferson'
Marion and my father had decided to send me to private school in May, when the New York Times reported that Thomas Jefferson had the lowest reading levels and college acceptance rate in all of New York City" (Woodson, 31) This characterizes the parents as caring, they want the best for their children. Ellie misses her old friends and she didn't really care so much about what new high school her parents were making her go to.
Discussion Questions
Why do you think that Flashbacks are needed in a story?
If we didn't have Flashbacks in stories, do you think you would be confused?
- Colleen Fox
Tone
The tone is the manner of which the author speaks.
The tone of this book is exciting in the beginning because Ellie met Jeremiah in the hallway and she did not really know what to say, but the same day they both went home where they were thinking of each other. But when Ellie and Jeremiah went out that was probably the most exciting part because we really did not know what was going to happen with the both of them. But when Ellie and Jerimiah cut school together was a fast change because they really wanted to start knowing each other not just there names. The book skips like two years which is really not fair it's like a quick feeling. The chaning tone really gets me exited when Jeremiah dies it's like an edge of a seat feeling because you really dont know what happened to the character. It's like the author wants you to imagine your own conclusion to what really happened to Jeremiah.
Discussion Questions:
Does the tone change throughout the story?
Does the author show tone in any other parts of If You Come Softly?
- Christina Vlahaki
The tone of this book is exciting in the beginning because Ellie met Jeremiah in the hallway and she did not really know what to say, but the same day they both went home where they were thinking of each other. But when Ellie and Jeremiah went out that was probably the most exciting part because we really did not know what was going to happen with the both of them. But when Ellie and Jerimiah cut school together was a fast change because they really wanted to start knowing each other not just there names. The book skips like two years which is really not fair it's like a quick feeling. The chaning tone really gets me exited when Jeremiah dies it's like an edge of a seat feeling because you really dont know what happened to the character. It's like the author wants you to imagine your own conclusion to what really happened to Jeremiah.
Discussion Questions:
Does the tone change throughout the story?
Does the author show tone in any other parts of If You Come Softly?
- Christina Vlahaki
Imagery
Imagery is the description of words used to create pictures in your mind. It appeals to one or more of the five senses.
During the novel, If You Come Softly, the author, Jacqueline Woodson, uses different words and phrases to create images in your head. "I stepped out of my shoes by the closet then sat on the bed to peel off my wet socks. From my room, I could lie across my bed and watch the cars rush along Central Park." (Woodson, 15) In this passage, I can feel the peeling off of wet socks, Also I think of someone being high above, in a hotel overlooking Central Park.
"I couldn't stop looking at him, at his smile and his hair. I have never seen locks up close. His were thick and black and spiraling down over his shoulders." (Woodson, 14) Imagery also includes the description of a persons outer characteristics. In my head, I pictured a tall guy, who is dark skinned and has dreadlocks to just about his shoulder. He had a Jamaican look to him. The author usually just gives you a brief description of the character to allow you to see in your own mind the character. "... that I'd turn a corner and find him standing here, his head pressed against the window, his locks falling softly around his shoulders, thinking about me."(Woodson, 103) Imagery also can describe a characters actions at the time.
"I nodded, feeling my stomach rise and dip, rise and dip, until Miah's lips were on mine, soft and warm as his hand." Imagery creates feeling when you read it. For me, I was able to feel a warm sensation on my lips, that was soft. If the author is descriptive enough, you can feel a lot of things that the narrator feels, like you were in their shoes.
Imagery also contributes to setting. Towards the end of the book, Ellie goes to Brooklyn with Miah where the author describes Brooklyn but Miah's part of Brooklyn. "It was cold when we came up out of the Subway. I shivered and Miah put his arms around me for a second, then let it drop back at his side.
The streets were quiet and still as we walked. 'So many trees,' I said. I hadn't remember Brooklyn having so many trees. 'It's so pretty here.'"
Discussion Questions:
Are there any other parts of the book that captivate your imagination?
What images do you picture in your mind when you read these passages?
- Colleen Fox
During the novel, If You Come Softly, the author, Jacqueline Woodson, uses different words and phrases to create images in your head. "I stepped out of my shoes by the closet then sat on the bed to peel off my wet socks. From my room, I could lie across my bed and watch the cars rush along Central Park." (Woodson, 15) In this passage, I can feel the peeling off of wet socks, Also I think of someone being high above, in a hotel overlooking Central Park.
"I couldn't stop looking at him, at his smile and his hair. I have never seen locks up close. His were thick and black and spiraling down over his shoulders." (Woodson, 14) Imagery also includes the description of a persons outer characteristics. In my head, I pictured a tall guy, who is dark skinned and has dreadlocks to just about his shoulder. He had a Jamaican look to him. The author usually just gives you a brief description of the character to allow you to see in your own mind the character. "... that I'd turn a corner and find him standing here, his head pressed against the window, his locks falling softly around his shoulders, thinking about me."(Woodson, 103) Imagery also can describe a characters actions at the time.
"I nodded, feeling my stomach rise and dip, rise and dip, until Miah's lips were on mine, soft and warm as his hand." Imagery creates feeling when you read it. For me, I was able to feel a warm sensation on my lips, that was soft. If the author is descriptive enough, you can feel a lot of things that the narrator feels, like you were in their shoes.
Imagery also contributes to setting. Towards the end of the book, Ellie goes to Brooklyn with Miah where the author describes Brooklyn but Miah's part of Brooklyn. "It was cold when we came up out of the Subway. I shivered and Miah put his arms around me for a second, then let it drop back at his side.
The streets were quiet and still as we walked. 'So many trees,' I said. I hadn't remember Brooklyn having so many trees. 'It's so pretty here.'"
Discussion Questions:
Are there any other parts of the book that captivate your imagination?
What images do you picture in your mind when you read these passages?
- Colleen Fox
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