Examination Day Henry Slesar

Prediction… What do we already know about the story? It is a dystopian story It is titled Examination Day Based on this knowledge, what do you predict the story will be about?

Read the story for the first time 

Listening Test! Answer the following questions about the plot of the story. The protagonist of the story is called? How old is the protagonist? What does the protagonist have to do? How do his parents appear to feel about this? What happens at the end of the story? Why?

Who is Henry Slesar? Henry Slesar is an American author and playwright. He lived in New York. Sleasar was born in 1927 and died in 2002. Slesar is known for his use of irony and twist endings, particularly in his stories. Slesar is known for using his knowledge and past experiences (time spent in the airforce) to develop ideas in his writing. He uses this experience and observations of totalitarian governments and exaggerates these in his writing, as a kind of warning to the government of the day.

Historical Context Examination Day was written in 1958. Slesar was influenced by his experience of the Great Depression in which intelligence went to waste as unemployment rose to 25% in the USA. The story was also written during the Cold War (a conflict between the USA and the USSR) During this time, Americans became more aware of the nature of totalitarian governments (such as the communist government of the USSR) and were extremely fearful of this. Slesar reflects this fear by creating an extreme version of this.

How do we know Dickie is Intelligent? Complete the following table with as many examples as you can find. His Appearance Things He Says Things he is told by his parents

Dystopian Society The author has presented us with a society of the future. Make a list of all the things in the story that tell us that this is set in the future. What references to 'the Government' are there in the story? (a) Make a list of each one. (b) Discuss, with a partner, what we learn about this particular government.

His parent’s reactions How do Dickie's parents speak to Dickie, and react to him, at different parts in the story? Fill in the table below to chart their behaviour towards him, showing what they say, how they say it and how they act. Event Mother Father At the breakfast table When Dickie is looking at the rain Birthday present/cake time Breakfast time on Exam Day In the Govt. Ed. Building “misty” – vague and distant but affectionate

Thinking outside the text 6. What kind of government would want to dispose of highly intelligent children? In groups, decide the policies (LAWS) of this government and the reasons it would not want these children to live. Do you think all intelligent children would be disposed of? Can you think of any exceptions? Write 3 laws and the reason for each.