Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Motivational Activity: Visit the following sites-

Aim: Why does the child dream of a star?

Do Now: In your journal, describe one of your child's dreams and where the dream came from.

Procedures:

  1. As we read the story together, circle any words or phrases that depict certain images or convey certain types of mood.
  2. What kind of relationship there is between the sister and the brother as described in paragraph 1? What word can you use to describe their personality?
  3. How did they discover and get to know the star?
  4. What is the significance of this line-"There was one clear shining star that used to come out in the sky before the rest, near the church spire, above the graves"?
  5. What happened to the sister? How did it affect the boy?
  6. Why did the child dream about the star? What did he see in his dream? What is your interpretation of his dream? What's the effect the dream had upon the boy?
  7. What is the dominant imagery in the story? When does it occur?
  8. There are a few different settings in the story that indicate the changes in the boy's life. What are they?
  9. What's your emotional response to the ending of the story?
  10. Did the story somehow change your views about death? If so, in what ways?
  11. What themes can we draw from the story?( Death is our destiny but not the end of everything./ People need faith and hope to get through hard times in our life./ A child's dream will never disappear.)

HW#7

Choose one of the assignments to do as your response to the story.

Turn the story into a narrative poem using poetic language (descriptive, rhythmic, symbolic), such as imagery, simile, and metaphor, and symbolism. The poem should at least contain 5 stanzas and in each stanza, there should be at least 5 lines.

* Remember your poem should -

  1. Reflect the main idea or theme of the original story (The main idea of the story should be obvious to those who never read the story if they read your narrative poem).
  2. Illustrate one of the themes in the original story.
  3. Have at least 5 stanzas and 5 lines in each stanza.
  4. Include some imagery from the story.
  5. Incorporate some phrases and lines directly from the story.

Extra Credit Work:

  1. Create a point of view writing based on the story.
  2. Analytical essays on characters, conflicts, the structure, symbolism, irony, etc.