The Sign of the Beaver5th Grade

Literary Elements

• The name of the book…

• The Sign of the Beaver

Title!!

• The setting of a story is the time and place in which the story occurs.– Physical details

– Date

– Time of Day

– Season and/or weather conditions

– Time in history

– Geographic location

Setting

• The people, animals, or other creatures in a story. The ones that act out the events of the story.

• PROTAGONIST– The main character

– Matt

• ANTAGONIST– The character who works against the

protagonist (main character)

– ???

• List 5 characters that play a major role in The Sign of the Beaver

Characters

• This explains the roles and functions of the characters.

• Shows what the character says, does, thinks, feels, or looks like.

• What the other characters think about the main character.

Characterization

Write down traits for each of your characters.

Make sure you are clear enough for a friend to understand your work.

• The overall message of the book.

• What the author wants you to take away from the book, or wants you to know.

• Collaborate with your table group to think of the theme!

Theme

Conflict/Problem

• The conflict is the struggle the main character is having with himself, another character or thing.

• Described as the heartbeat of the story.

• The person who wrote the book

• Elizabeth George Speare

Author has many jobs throughout the book…let’s explore what the author can do for the reader!

Author

• The position from which the story is told– First Person

– The narrator is a character in the story

– Tells the story from his or her perspective

– Uses I and We

– Third Person

– The narrator is an invisible storyteller

– Reports the events in the story

– Uses he, she, or they

Point of View

• What the reader feels when reading the story.

• These emotions are influenced by the author’s choice of words!

Mood & Tone• What the author thinks

and feels about the characters or story.

• The reader can guess at this by thinking about the author’s choice of words!

• Usually, the author of the story writes a book for a purpose. Some purposes include entertainment, persuade or convince the reader, and possibly to teach or inform the reader.

Author’s Purpose

The name of the book we read in class was The Sign of the Beaver. In the book, the author introduces us to Matt and Attean-two teenage boys from different cultures. These boys meet each other in the forests of Maine during a time when white men and Indians were not always at peace. Throughout this essay, we will watch how Matt and Attean develop an unlikely friendship.

A-Title

A-Character

A-Setting

A-Theme

Introduction Paragraph

• Title

• Setting

• Character

• Characterization

• Theme

• Conflict/Problem

• Author

• Point of View

• Mood & Tone

• Author’s Purpose

Recap

• The sequence of events in a story.

• Plot consists of 5 parts:– Exposition

– Rising Action

– Climax

– Falling Action

– Resolution

Plot

Story Arc

• The beginning of a story where the characters, setting, and main conflict are introduced.

• Often tells what happened before the story begins.

• Background information is important to understanding the characters’ feelings, personalities, and motives.

Exposition

• The series of events in the story that builds suspense.

• Changes the conflict/problem

• Makes you keep reading!!!

• Collaborate with your shoulder partner to name some rising action details from The Sign of the Beaver

Rising Action

• The most exciting part of the story

• Conflict/Problem can be at it’s worst

• Called the turning point

• Reader can predict the outcome

Climax

• Use your handout as a guide!

This story begins with Matt’s father leaving to go get the rest of his family in Massachusetts. Matt is going to live on his own, in a new place, with no neighbors, for at least seven weeks. Matt quickly learns that living on your own can be dangerous. For example, one day he was craving honey and tried to take some from a beehive and was stung countless times. Luckily, Attean, and his Grandfather, Saknis, were close by to help him. To repay Saknis, Matt consents to teaching Attean how to read. This is the beginning of a long journey between the two young boys.

Following this, Matt and Attean start to become friends. There are many awkward times together, and a lot of childish fighting. But, as time progresses, the two boys start to share secrets and activities. For example, Matt shares a book Robinson Crusoe and the Bible stories with Attean. Attean teaches Matt how to hunt and fish without “white man tools.” The boys bond over fishing and even had a close call in the story. A bear attacked the two boys, and they worked together to kill the bear. Matt was slowly being accepted by the Indian tribe, and more importantly, was getting Attean’s friendship and respect. Matt got even more respect when he saved Attean’s “good-for-nothing dog” from another tribe’s traps. Attean knew, that Matt was a true friend. To show Matt that he was his “Indian brother” he and Saknis invited him to leave on the annual winter hunt and to move to a new location with the tribe. Matt was conflicted because he did not know if he should wait for his family.

2nd and 3rd Paragraph

•Exposition

•Rising Action

•Climax

Recap from yesterday

• The characters try to resolve the conflict

• The events that close the story

Falling Action

• The outcome of the story

• The ending!!!!

Resolution

• Use your handout as a guide!

Matt decided to stay where his family could find him. Even though, Matt worked hard to make a new friend and gain the respect of his tribe, his family was still more important to him. He could not bear thinking his family thought something bad happened to him, or worse, the Indians did something to hurt him. Matt took all the skills that Attean had taught him and started preparing for his families return. He was probably extremely scared. By the time Attean left with his tribe, it was clear into November. It had been more than seven weeks. Finally, Matt’s family arrived at the cabin. His mother, father, and younger sister were excited to see him. Unfortunately, Matt’s new baby sister did not make the journey and died 5 days after she was born. Matt had grown up and his family was proud of him maintaining and providing for the entire family on his own.

4th Paragraph