warm-up voice and characters in “raymond’s run”

© Edgenuity, Inc. 1

Warm-Up Voice and Characters in “Raymond’s Run”

Lesson Goals

Words to Know

Fill in this table as you work through the lesson. You may also use the glossary to help you.

direct stated

indirect implied based on what is

characterization the way a character is or developed

narrative voice the unique of the person telling the story

character traits a character’s inner

Lesson Question

?

WK2

Read “Raymond’s Run,” by Toni Cade Bambara.

Analyze

voice.

Understand characters through their words and

.

Identify directand indirect

.


Warm-Up Voice and Characters in “Raymond’s Run”

Family Relationships

Family relationships are often important in literature.

• Relationships between parents and children

• Relationships between

Individual characters become more based on family relationships.


InstructionPart 1

Voice and Characters in “Raymond’s Run”

2Slide

2 Toni Cade Bambara (1939–1995)

• Was born Miltona Mirkin Cade on March 25, 1939

• Wrote stories influenced by her childhood in , where she lived until age 10

• Credited her as her greatest influence

• Included “Raymond’s Run” in a 1971 of stories titled Tales and Stories for Black Folks

Character Traits

Character traits: a character’s inner

traits:

• Determined

• Silly

traits:

• Short

• Blue-eyed



InstructionPart 1

4Slide

Characterization

Characterization: the way a writer or presents a character

Examples of Characterization

Underline the character traits in each passage.

Characterization

• The author uses specific adjectives to tell readers about a character.

• The author uses a character’s actions, thoughts, and speech to show readers who the character is.

This is an example of

characterization.

• Impatient

• Quiet

• Shy

This is an example of

characterization.

• Courageous

• Fighter

I don’t like bullies. When the bully approached

me, I was ready to take him on. I balled up my

fists at my sides and planted my feet. I knew there

was no backing down now.

The impatient young man paced the

floor nervously, waiting for the phone

to ring. His quiet, shy wife sat on the

couch.



InstructionPart 1

4Slide

Drawing Conclusions about Character

• Look for specific adjectives.

• Look for thoughts

and that

describe the character.

• Pay attention to relationships.

• Use

description to create mental images of the character.

Narrative Voice

Narrative voice is the quality that makes writing .

To determine narrative voice, a reader can:

• look specifically at how the narrator describes his or her own thoughts,

, and relationships.

• pay attention to the narrator’s description of other characters to discover characteristics of the narrator.

• look at the narrator’s word choice and with others.

8

Underline the phrases in the passage that can be used to draw conclusions about the narrator’s brother.

Sometimes I slip and say my little brother Raymond.

But as any fool can see he’s much bigger and he’s

older too. But a lot of people call him my little

brother ’cause he needs looking after ’cause he’s not

quite right. And a lot of smart mouths got lots to say

about that too, especially when George was minding

him. But now, if anybody has anything to say to

Raymond, anything to say about his big head, they

have to come by me.

–“Raymond’s Run,” by Toni Cade Bambara


InstructionPart 1


Slide

8 Narrative Voice in “Raymond’s Run”

Underline the examples of narrative voice in the passage.

“You signing up for the May Day races?” smiles Mary Louise, only it’s not a smile at all. A

dumb question like that doesn’t deserve an answer. Besides, there’s just me and Gretchen

standing there really, so no use wasting my breath talking to shadows.

“I don’t think you’re going to win this time,” says Rosie, trying to signify with her hands on

her hips all salty, completely forgetting that I have whupped her behind many times for less

salt than that.




2Slide

Evaluating Characters’ Actions

Underline the text that indicates that Gretchen wants to confront Squeaky but backs down in the passage.

InstructionPart 2

Evaluating a Character Based on Her Words

Underline the text that gives a clear insight into Squeaky’s personality.

“Signing up for the May Day races?” smiles Mary Louise, only it’s not a smile at all. A dumb

question like that doesn’t deserve an answer. Besides, there’s just me and Gretchen standing

there really, so no use wasting my breath talking to shadows.

“I don’t think you’re going to win this time,” says Rosie, trying to signify with her hands on her

hips all salty, completely forgetting that I have whupped her behind many times for less salt

than that.

“I always win ’cause I’m the best,” I say straight at Gretchen who is, as far as I’m concerned, the

only one talking in this ventriloquist-dummy routine.


“So they just stand there and Gretchen shifts from one leg to the other and so do they. Then

Gretchen puts her hands on her hips and is about to say something with her freckle-face self but

doesn’t. Then she walks around me looking me up and down but keeps walking up Broadway,

and her sidekicks follow her.



Summary

? Lesson Question


Lesson Question

How does an author use narrative voice to create believable characters?

Answer

Use this space to write any questions or thoughts about this lesson.

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warm-up voice and characters in “raymond’s run”

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