Lesson Before Dying Envelope Activity

Lesson before Dying Envelope Activity

Created by Lara Freeman

AP Language/Composition
British Lit/World Lit./9th Grade Lit.
GHS, Georgia

Consider the following topic as you read, and locate passages that deal with this topic and write them onto index cards for each assigned section. Write legibly as these will be shared and used in a number of ways. Along with the passage (carefully quoted), include your name, the chapter and page numbers, and the date you recorded it.

Topic: Justice / Injustice

The word justice means the quality of being fair, moral, or right. Justice applies to more than court cases. Justice applies to the way society treats groups of people or the differing ways that people are treated. Justice may apply to opportunities available to individuals.

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Consider the following topic as you read, and locate passages that deal with this topic and write them onto index cards for each assigned section. Write legibly as these will be shared and used in a number of ways. Along with the passage (carefully quoted), include your name, the chapter and page numbers, and the date you recorded it.

Topic: Dignity / Redemption

Dignity means a quality of self respect or a show of respect toward another person. Redemption means to be rescued or “saved” from sin or a downfall. Think about instances in the book that deal with characters being treated with dignity or a lack of dignity as well as characters that try to attain redemption or lead others to redemption.

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Consider the following topic as you read, and locate passages that deal with this topic and write them onto index cards for each assigned section. Write legibly as these will be shared and used in a number of ways. Along with the passage (carefully quoted), include your name, the chapter and page numbers, and the date you recorded it.

Topic: Dehumanization / Humiliation

One of the tools of racism is the use of dehumanization, which is taking away human qualities from a person and treating him like an animal. Another tool is humiliation, which involves demeaning or treating a person as less than he is. Think about instances of this throughout the novel as you read.

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Consider the following topic as you read, and locate passages that deal with this topic and write them onto index cards for each assigned section. Write legibly as these will be shared and used in a number of ways. Along with the passage (carefully quoted), include your name, the chapter and page numbers, and the date you recorded it.

Topic: Effects of Racism on the Community

Racism obviously affects the black race in this novel, but I want you to look at the effects it also has on the community as a whole and on what it turns the white community into. Although the white community may not seem hurt by the racism, pay attention to what it does to them as well. Pay attention to what racism does to those caught in the middle as well.

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Consider the following topic as you read, and locate passages that deal with this topic and write them onto index cards for each assigned section. Write legibly as these will be shared and used in a number of ways. Along with the passage (carefully quoted), include your name, the chapter and page numbers, and the date you recorded it.

Topic: Identity

Characters in the novel struggle with their identity or who they are or are supposed to be. There are stereotypes that are shattered as well as some that are reinforced. Pay attention to how identity is found for individuals and for the community. Are there heroic characters in the novel? Villains? Christ-figures?