Lessons on  Desiree's Baby by Kate Chopin

| Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 |

Lesson 1

11/19

 

Aim: Why is the ending of the story considered an irony?

Do Now:

  1. Copy WOD
  2. Do Test-Prep Question
  3. Read and copy one of the most interesting news summaries including the headline in your notebook

Procedure:

1. Who is Kate Chopin? Read the article about her and select five descriptions that you think best portray her.

2. Go over the list of novels and short stories Kate Chopin wrote. What are some of the themes she repeatedly portrays in her works?

HW#34

Write the responses in your journal :

A. What type of people are quickly blamed for other people's wrong doing? What's the psychological reason for this? Do you have such an experience? Describe.

B. Study New Vocabulary in the story of "Desiree's Baby" by Kate Chopin (Quiz tomorrow on 11/20)

  1. stray: n. the act of going astray

  2. accord: v. to bring into agreement : RECONCILE

  3. speculation: n. assumption

  4. beneficent: adj. doing or producing good; especially : performing acts of kindness and charity

  5. obscure: adj. shrouded in or hidden by darkness c : not clearly seen or easily distinguished : FAINT

  6. corbeille: n. a sculptured basket of flowers or fruit as an architectural decoration

  7. cowl: n. a hood or long hooded cloak especially of a monk b : a draped neckline on a woman's garment

  8. pall: n. a : a square of linen usually stiffened with cardboard that is used to cover the chalice b (1) : a heavy cloth draped over a coffin (2) : a coffin especially when holding a body
    3 : something that covers or conceals; especially : an overspreading element that produces an effect of gloom

  9. suffuse: v. to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light

  10. scamp: n. an impish or playful young person

  11. imperious: a. marked by arrogant assurance : DOMINEERING

  12. avert: v. to turn away or aside (as the eyes) in avoidance

  13. peignoir: n. a woman's loose  dressing gown

  14. sumptuous: adj. extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent

  15. quadroon: n. a person of one-quarter black ancestry

  16. rivet: v. to attract and hold (as the attention) completely

  17. totter: v. 1 a : to tremble or rock as if about to fall : SWAY b : to become unstable : threaten to collapse

  18. despairingly: adv. devoid of hope

  19. shod: adj. furnished or equipped with a shoe

  20. ablaze: adj. & adv. being on fire

  21. pyre: n. a pile of material to be burned

  22. remnant: adj. still remaining

  23. espousal: 1 a : BETROTHAL b : WEDDING c : MARRIAGE
    2 : a taking up or adopting of a cause or belief

11/20

Lesson Continued

Aim: How does the setting help create the mood of the story?

Quiz#4 For Period 4 (20% each Spelling 10% Definition 10%)

  1. suffuse: to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light
  2. avert: v. to turn away or aside (as the eyes) in avoidance
  3. sumptuous: adj. extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent
  4. obscure: shrouded in or hidden by darkness c : not clearly seen or easily distinguished : FAINT
  5. imperious:  marked by arrogant assurance

Quiz #4 for Periods 6, 7, & 8

  1. Suffuse: to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light
  2. avert: v. to turn away or aside (as the eyes) in avoidance
  3. sumptuous: adj. extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent
  4. imperious:  marked by arrogant assurance
  5. rivet: to attract and hold (as the attention) completely

Do Now:

  1. Copy WOD
  2. Do Test-Prep Question
  3. Read and copy one of the most interesting news summaries including the headline in your notebook

Procedure:

C. Discuss and answer the following questions:

  1. Read the story out loud and underline any sentence that is difficult to you or interests you. We will share the activity in class.

  2. Make a list of new vocabulary words and look them up using the Electronic dictionary above.

  3. After reading each paragraph, jot down the main idea.

  4. How would you describe Desiree and Armand?

  5. Describe the setting. Select the key words in the text .

  6. How does the setting help create the mood of the story?

  7. Give an example of foreshadowing.

Homework#35

Finish reading the story and answer

  1. How would you describe Desiree and Armand?

  2. Describe the setting. Select the key words in the text .

  3. How does the setting help create the mood of the story?

  4. Give an example of foreshadowing.

11/21

Lesson 2

Aim: How does the use of the literary elements make the story so unforgettable?

Do Now:

  1. Copy WOD
  2. Do Test-Prep Question
  3. Read and copy one of the most interesting news summaries including the headline in your notebook

Procedure:

Write a brief response to the story. For example, what do you think of the characters? the theme? the ending? the writing techniques? etc.

  1. Discuss the story. Raise the questions you have.

  2. Find examples of the literary elements in the story, such as the theme, characterization, irony, conflict, etc.

  3. Write a brief summary of the story including the description of the setting, the main characters, conflicts, the plot, and its conclusion.

Homework #36(Due after Thanksgiving's break).

Write a personal response to the story using a different point of view of narration, for example, from the point of view of a neighbor, Armand's deceased mother, Desiree, Armand's father, a slave, etc . You can write in the form of a diary, letter, dream, newspaper article, gossip, a scene etc.