Marigolds Eugenia Collier

Build Background  Read the paragraph on page 74.  When was the story written?  Why did African-Americans suffer more than most Americans?  Do you know all of the “Words to Know”? Which words are not familiar?

Setting 1. What is the setting 2. Is the narrator in conflict with the setting 3. What does the setting teach us about the narrator? 4. How would you describe the atmosphere or mood created by the setting?

Characters  Who is the protagonist of the story?  Lizabeth  Is she round or flat?  round  How does she show the complexities of real people?  She is confused. She acts before thinking.  How old is she? Why is this significant?  14 going on 15. This is a time of change.  How old is she when she narrates the story? How does this effect the POV and tone?  Reflective

Conflict  What is the internal conflict?  What is the external conflict?  What is the climax of the story?

Writing Style Figurative LanguageExample from text Simile“Everything was suddenly out of tune like a broken accordion” (82) Metaphor“But memory is an abstract painting- it doesn’t present things as they are, but rather as they feel” (75).

Writing Style  Powerful Verbs: List the most powerful verbs in “Marigolds”

Writing Style SightSoundTouchTaste/Smell Sensory Language– Good descriptive writing appeals to our senses. Find words and phrases that Collier uses to appeal to our senses.

Reading Comprehension  When Lizabeth looks back at herself at age 14, what does she remember?  What are two things Lizabeth remembers about Miss Lottie, her house, or her yard?  What does Lizabeth do after she overhears her mother and father talking in the night?

Critical Thinking- Symbolism  Interpret what the marigolds symbolized to Miss Lottie.  What do the marigolds symbolize to Lizabeth as a child?  Why are the marigolds important to the adult narrator Lizabeth?

SOAPSTone AnalysisConcrete Detail Subject The general topic, content, and ideas contained in the text. What is this piece about? State this in a few words or a phrase Occasion The time and place of the piece; the current situation or context which gave rise to the writing. Think time period, environment of ideas, attitudes, emotions, etc. Audience The group of readers to whom this piece is directed. The audience may be one person, a small group, or a large group. What qualities, beliefs, or values do the audience members have in common? The choice of an audience will affect how and why one writes!. Purpose The reason behind the text. What does the speaker, writer, or filmmaker want the audience to do, feel, say or choose? Why did the author write the piece? You must use a purpose verb to describe this. “to ___ that_____” Speaker The voice that tells the story. Whose voice is being heard? Does the voice belong to a fictional character, a real person, or the writer? In nonfiction, you must include important facts about the speaker that will help the audience assess the point of view. What do we know about the writer’s life and views that shape this text? Tone What is the attitude of the writer? Tone is conveyed through diction, syntax, and imagery/figurative language. It is tone that extends the meaning beyond the literal. Is the tone light-hearted or deadly serious? Mischievous or ironic?