1. By Katherine Mansfield
Miss Brill
By Katherine Mansfield

2. Journal #1: Look at this painting and write a paragraph answering:
Where is the setting of this painting?
When was it painted?
Who is this person?
What is she feeling?
How do we know?
As usual, no right answers, but your assumptions need to be supported with EVIDENCE
“The Plum (Brandy)” by Edouard Manet

3. Characterization
Characterization is the way a writer reveals a character.
To create a “round” character, authors must develop a character in several ways.
A writer will use two techniques to achieve this: direct and indirect characterization

4. Direct and Indirect Characterization
Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is. Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.” Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
There are five indirect ways a character is revealed. Together, they spell the acronym STEAL:
Speech
Thoughts and Emotions
Effect on Others
Actions
Looks

5. Characterization (STEAL)
Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts/Emotions: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts? How does the character feel about things?
Effect on Others: How does the character cause others to react?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

6. Read Miss Brill on your own
While you read, write down 2-3 adjectives that describe her as a character
Once done, you will share your adjectives with the class

7. Complete the worksheet entitled “Part One” & the sheet from the package
Identify ten significant quotes that characterize Miss Brill throughout the short story. For each quote identify they characterization type – direct or indirect (STEAL) – then identify what conclusions or inferences you can make about Miss Brill’s character based on these quotes.
Once done, complete the “Characterization” worksheet in your short story unit package.

8. Journal #2: Free-Write
Look at this painting and using the evidence that you put together last class, write a story about the character in this painting. Use the STEAL method to create the character.
Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts/Emotions: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts? How does the character feel about things?
Effect on Others: How does the character cause others to react?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
“The Plum (Brandy)” by Edouard Manet

9. What is a Theme?
Theme: Life lesson, meaning, moral, or message about life or human nature that is communicated by a literary work. In other words… Theme is what the story teaches readers.

10. Themes A theme is not a word, it is a sentence.
You don’t have to agree with the theme to identify it.
Examples
Money can’t buy happiness.
Don’t judge people based on the surface.
It is better to die free than live under tyranny.

11. Identifying Themes Themes are not explicit (clearly stated).
Themes are implied.
Themes are bigger than the story.

12. Themes are about the big picture.
Not “Yellow Starbursts taste bad” Not “Yudy and Carrie are bad friends.” Think BIGGER. Find “Real” World advice.

13. What theme is versus what it isn’t
YES NO
“Friendship is an important part of life”
“Appearances can be deceiving”
“People often assume that other people’s lives are better than their own”
“Love is stronger than hate”
“Humanity’s relationship with technology is fraught with difficulty”
“Power corrupts people”
“Friendship’s importance”
“Appearances”
“The grass is always greener on the other side”
“Romeo and Juliet’s love overcomes their families’ hate”
“Technology”
“Power always corrupts people”

14. Review Theme is what we can learn from a story.
Themes must be inferred.
Themes are about the BIG world.

15. Finding Theme In order to find theme, take the following steps:
1. Write a plot summary of approximately 30 words
2. Identify and note the conflicts in the story
3. Choose one word that summarizes the topic of the story
4. Write one question about this topic
5. Answer the question (#4) as you think the author would
With the people around you (groups of 3-4), work together to try to discover the theme of Miss Brill.
Once everyone comes up with an idea, we will discuss as a class.

16. Check your answers against the following criteria
1. If your theme statement one full sentence?
2. Does your theme avoid generalizations?
3. Does your theme statement reveal a universal idea , topic or experience?
4. Does it reveal something about human nature? (ie: appearances can be deceiving)
5. Do you avoid mentioning story specifics? (title, character, setting, etc)
6. Do you avoid clichés? (ie: all you need is love)
7. Does your theme statement make sense for your story?

17. Journal #3
Consider the central theme of Miss Brill that you have discovered. Reflect on how this relates to the unit topic of the human condition.
Guiding questions: Why is this story so easy for the reader to understand Miss Brill’s perspective? How is this something that we can all relate to?
Reminder: The human condition is defined as "the characteristics, key events, and situations which compose the essentials of human existence, such as birth, growth, emotionality, aspiration, conflict, and mortality.”

18. Building a literature essay outline
A classic literature essay outline:
Introduction
Summary of the work in 1-2 sentences
Thesis statement
Body:
1st point connected to your thesis with quotations from the piece
2nd point connected to your thesis with quotations from the piece
MOST IMPORTANT IDEA. Discuss your interpretation and support with quotations
Conclusion:
Summarize your main points and connect to the thesis. Explain the learnings from the story here (what did you learn about human nature? Conflict? Etc)