1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
James Thurber
Fairbloom, Blyth

2. Prediction
Write a paragraph predicting what the story is about based on the terms on your handout.

3. Before Reading Daydreams
Authors write about universal behaviors in order to create characters and situations that have universal appeal
James Thurber was a humorist who liked to write about peculiarities and quirks of behavior he found in humanity
Created a character whose daydreams contrast dramatically and comically with his actual life.
Point of view = Third person limited omniscient

4. Themes
Masculinity
Versions of Reality
Identity

5. Read
Ben Stiller reading the beginning of the story: tory/life/books/2013/12/19/ walter-mitty-listen/ /

6. Reflect
What is the secret in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? What is the title referring to? Who is Walter keeping a secret from?
What aspects of Walter’s life are his fantasies compensating for?
What are the major differences between Walter in real life and Walter in his fantasy life?
Theme Focus: Masculinity
How would you describe Walter in a nutshell after watching the movie trailer, and then reading the story?
Walter’s final dream…
World War II

7. Cause-Effect-Resolution
The cause: What is happening in Walter’s real life before he daydreams?
The effect: What is his daydream?
The resolution: What brings him back to reality?

8. Dream
Cause
Effect
Resolution
(1)
The sound of the car engine reminds him of a ship’s engine.
Commanding a Navy hydroplane through a terrible storm.
Mrs. Mitty yells at him that he is driving too fast.
(2)
He puts on and takes off his gloves as he passes a hospital.
World-famous surgeon saving an important life.
Boy shouts at him to back up because he entered the parking lot through the exit lane.
(3)
Hears a newsboy shouting about the Waterbury trial.
Being interrogated in a courtroom.
Remembers to buy puppy biscuits.
(4)
Sees pictures of German bombers
Air Force pilot
Mrs. Mitty hits him on the shoulder
(5)
Standing against a wall outside a drugstore.
Firing squad
None

9. Assignment
Put yourself in Thurber’s shoes and create an additional daydream for Walter. Brainstorm ideas for daydreams before determining the one to use for this assignment. It can occur at any place in the story, but you need to capture Thurber’s sense of humor, drama, and mood in Walter’s daydream. Maximum of 250 words.