1. Whirligig
By Paul Fleischman

2. Whirligig: noun 1. a toy that spins around in the wind
2. a thing regarded as hectic or constantly changing.
"the whirligig of time“ (Webster).

3. Whirligig Examples

4. Literary Terms
Characterization: The method in which an author develops a character
Dynamic Character: A character that CHANGES over time
Static Character: A character that does NOT change in a story
Setting: The time(s) and location (s) a story takes place
Theme: The author’s main message of a story; it must be more than one word (a complete thought and complete sentence)

5. Key Terms to know
Restitution: The act of making good or compensating for loss, damage, or injury
Karass: A network or group of people that are unknown to them are somehow connected or linked
Chrysalis: anything in the process of developing (protected stage of developing into an adult)

6. Characters
Describe Brent Bishop and how he changes from the beginning to the end.

7. Characters
Lea Zamora: the name, Lea, means spun by the wind.” Why is a whirligig symbolic?

8. Who is in Lea’s Karass
Anthony Steph Flaco Jennifer’s grandmother Why isn’t Brent part of her karass?

9. Setting Non-linear, multiple locations, and multiple times
Begins in Chicago- Brent goes to Chaz’s party, drinks to fit in, and decides to kill himself by driving and swerving into traffic, but he kills innocent Lea instead
Mrs. Zamora wants Brent to place whirligigs of Lea’s image in the four corners of the nation to spread her spirit and joy
Brent stayed in a camp ground –Washington…meets cyclist
Stayed at a hostel-California…meets Emil
Stayed at a hotel- Main…meets artist

10. Setting Continued
Bellevue, Washington- angel playing harp: Anthony finally can stop playing the violin
San Diego, California- mermaid on whale: Jennifer’s grandmother had hope for survivors to keep on moving forward.
Miami, Florida- wooden marching band- Flaco, the street sweeper- discovered that people belong together like a band and flock of birds
Weeksboro, Main- Lea’s face decorated with sea glass and shells Brent found-helps Steph visualize her future and finds her boyfriend

11. Characters that Taught Brent
Cyclist
Taught him how to play Go
Emil
A German traveler; gave him a book to read, “Two Years Before the Mast”/love of learning and education
Mrs. Zamora
Taught Brent to self-discover, forgive, and give back to the world
Artist in Main
Taught Brent that he can forgive himself and people are not defined by their past
Brent
Taught himself to make whirligigs, play the harmonica, forgive himself, constellations
Lea
There is more to life than superficial needs like fitting in/belonging

12. Discussion Question
Why are those other four stories placed between the chapters about Brent’s growth?

13. Discussion Question
Name three behaviors that show Brent to be desperate in the beginning of the novel.

14. Discussion Question
What was Mrs. Zamora’s plan for Brent? How does Brent react?

15. Discussion Question
What did we learn from Flaco, the street cleaner?

16. Discussion Question
Why were whirligigs a tribute to Lea? How is the whirligig a symbol in this book?

17. Discussion Question
Why did the whirligig have so much beauty attached to it according to Jennifer’s grandmother?

18. Themes
Brainstorm possible themes for: belonging, guilt, forgiveness, self- discovery/coming of age

19. Review for your test and work on your essay!
Questions?
Review for your test and work on your essay!