2. Jens
Martensson
Objectives
and CA
Content
Standards
CA Content Standards:
• Determine a theme or central idea of a text
and analyze in detail its development over
the course of the text, including how it
emerges and is shaped and refined by
specific details; provide an objective
summary of the text.
• Analyze how complex characters (e.g.,
those with multiple or conflicting
motivations) develop over the course of a
text, interact with other characters, and
advance the plot or develop the theme.
Objectives:
• Students will be able to understand
context, both inside and outside of the text.
• Students will also be able to understand
how to analyze different parts of the text
and identify thematic elements and how it
develops through the course of the novel.
• Students will also be able to analyze
different characters and cross exam them
and their development.
4. Jens
Martensson
What is Context?
Context is the circumstances that
form the setting for an event,
statement, or idea, and in terms of
which it can be fully understood
and assessed
► Context is key
► When we think about Gatsby’s quote, we
consider the events in the book at the
same time and it brings more meaning to
the quote
► Out of context, the quote may mean
something else to those who read it.
► What do you think “Out of context
means?”
6. Jens
MartenssonBreaking from conformity
Dead Poet’s SocietyThemes
• Let’s watch the clip briefly
and consider the message it
is telling us
• There is a general message
that comes from this short
clip: one that discusses
conformity and how not to
conform
• This theme also has further
meaning when you consider
the context of the whole
movie
• What did you think of the
message without context?
Does the meaning change
when there is context?
8. Jens
Martensson
Discuss and write in your notes:
What do you think this quote means? Do you think this
quote changes when you understand the context of it?
“The bird that would soar above the level plain of
tradition and prejudice must have strong wings”
9. Jens
Martensson
Given what you have just learned about context, how do
you think it affects your reading? Why do you think it is
important?
10. Jens
Martensson
Looking Closer
Analyzing
How can we do it?
► Consider context
■ Historical
■ textual
► Break down the passage
■ Identify different components of the passage
• Symbolism
• Themes
• Characteristics of differing characters
► Organizing identified material
► Synthesize and discuss
11. Jens
Martensson
Different components of the
passage
► Symbols
■ Characters, settings, images that stand for bigger
ideas
■ i.e.The eyes of DoctorT.J. Eckleburg
► Themes
■ Money
■ Power
■ Hope
► Characteristics of other characters
■ Tom Buchanon’s brutish behavior
■ Gatsby’s rage
■ Daisy’s indifference
► When looking at a passage, it’s important
to identify the different components of it
Taking a closer look
12. Jens
Martensson
After you’ve identified some aspects of the passage you want to discuss,
you can then organize it using a visual organizer. Here is an example of
a visual organizer intended to compare character traits of two different
characters
15. Jens
MartenssonGraphic Organizer
We’ve worked on a visual
organizer already, and
through this we looked
closely at the passages that
identify differing aspects of
the character’s personality.
By organizing this
information in a visual
organizer, information can
be easily organized, stored,
and evaluated.
16. Jens
Martensson
Choose a graphic organizer (different from the graphic organizer we have
already worked on) and write about your chosen theme or set of
characters to analyze and discuss in that graphic organizer.
