1. “The Wife’s Story”
By Ursula K. Le Guin
Pages

2. Objectives
Students will use text features to improve their understanding short stories.
Students will use context clues to decode and define vocabulary terms.
Students will read and annotate a short story focusing on key literary elements and plot structure.
Students will respond to a variety of questions using evidence from the text to support their answers.

13. Quick Check
Why is the narrator initially happy with her husband? Why does she begin to worry?
What has happened to the husband at the end of the story?

14. Read with a Purpose
3. At first, the narrator describes her husband as “purely good” to her. How does she later regard him?

15. Tell whether each statement is true (T) or false (F).
Vocabulary Check
Tell whether each statement is true (T) or false (F).
Your cousins are considered your kin.
Most people rouse around 3 A.M.
Mortal dread might prevent you from taking a risk.
Some dogs attack when they see weapons brandished.
A happy boy would be cowering in his room.

16. Literary Analysis
10. Interpret – What point is Le Guin making by reversing the typical werewolf tale and telling the story from the wolf’s point of view?
11. Evaluate – Why do you think Le Guin chose to tell the story with a first-person narrator? Was her choice effective? Why or why not?
12. Extend – Do you think the narrator loves her dead husband? Can one both love and fear someone? Support your ideas.

17. Literary Skills: Voice
13. Analyze - Describe the narrator’s voice. How does it affect the way you respond to the story?

18. Literary Skills Review: Suspense
14. Analyze – Writers use suspense – that feeling of uncertainty about what will happen next in a sotry – to capture the reader’s attention. How does Le Guin create suspense in this story?

19. Why is the narrator initially happy with her
Quick Check
Why is the narrator initially happy with her
husband? Why does she begin to worry?
He is a good husband, a good father, and a hard worker.
What has happened to the husband at the end of the story?
The narrator, her sister, and her children attack and kill him.

20. She later describes him as the “hateful one”
Read with a Purpose
At first, the narrator describes her husband as “purely good” to her. How does she later regard him?
She later describes him as the “hateful one”

21. Literary Analysis
Interpret – What point is Le Guin making by reversing
the typical werewolf tale and telling the story from the
wolf’s point of view?
She makes the point that humans can behave like beasts and that animals can be caring.

22. Literary Analysis
11. Evaluate – Why do you think Le Guin chose to tell the
story with a first-person narrator? Was her choice
effective? Why or why not?
The use of a first-person narrator is effective because it builds suspense by only revealing what the narrator knows.

23. Literary Analysis
12. Extend – Do you think the narrator loves her dead
husband? Can one both love and fear someone?
Support your ideas.
The narrator still feels love for her husband when she wishes that she could see him as he once was.
One might love certain aspects of someone and hate other aspects about them.

24. Literary Skills: Voice
Analyze - Describe the narrator’s voice. How does it affect the way you respond to the story?
The narrator’s voice is simple and honest.
It encourages readers to sympathize with her.

25. Literary Skills Review: Suspense
Analyze – Writers use suspense – that feeling of uncertainty about what will happen next in a story – to capture the reader’s attention. How does Le Guin create suspense in this story?
The writer creates suspense by not fully explaining the changes in the husband that worry the narrator and frighten the baby.