SIGNPOSTS

Close Reading Strategies for “Death and Transfiguration of a Teacher” by Maria Teresa Solari

Signpost and Definitions / Clues to Signpost / What Literary Element it Helps Us Understand / Anchor Questions
1. Contrasts and Contradictions:
A sharp contrast between what we would expect and what we observe the character doing; behavior contradicts previous behavior or well-established patterns. Also contrasts between characters or situations. / A character behaves or thinks in a way we don’t expect, or an element of a setting is something we would not expect.
Example) A character who is very loud and always the life of the party suddenly being quiet, shy, and a loner. / Character Development
Internal Conflict
Theme
Relationship between plot and setting / -Why would this character act or feel this way?
-How do the contrasts between characters help us understand them?
-How might contrasts between situations help us predict the plot or conflict?
2. Word Gaps
When you are reading an the author uses a word or phrase you do not know. / If you want to figure out what the word means without asking or looking it up, you need to use CONTEXT clues to figure out what the word means. / Plot
Setting
Symbolism
Theme
Character Development
Conflict / -Can I find clues in the sentence to help me figure out the meaning of the word?
-Do I need to look this word up?
3. Words of the Wiser
The advice or insight a wiser character, usually older, offers about life to the main character / The main character and another are usually off by themselves in a quiet serious moment, and the wiser figure shares his/her wisdom or advice in an effort to help the main character with a problem or decision / Theme
Internal Conflict
Relationship between plot and setting / -What is the life lesson and how might it affect the character?

Now that you are familiar with the 3 signposts above, read Solari’s “Death and Transfiguration of a Teacher.” As you read, annotate looking for the signposts and figurative language. Be sure to make direct notes in the margins of the text. After you have finished reading, work with a partner to complete the questions below based on your annotations.

Contrast and Contradictions: Identify and explain 2 contrasts in the story.

1st Contradiction:

Explain a section of the text where contradictory behavior occurs in your own words.

List a quote to support this contradiction.

What do we learn about the characters or situation based on this contradiction?

2nd Contradiction:

Explain a section of the text where contradictory behavior occurs in your own words.

List a quote to support this contradiction.

What do we learn about the characters or situation based on this contradiction?

Word Gaps: Track all of the words you did not know from this reading:

Word #1: Sentence
Word you did not know:
Guess of the meaning based on context clues:
Actual meaning:
Word #2: Sentence
Word you did not know:
Guess of the meaning based on context clues:
Actual meaning:

Words of the Wiser:

List a piece of evidence to demonstrate wise words being given to the main character. / What is the life lesson? / How might this lesson affect the main character? Do you agree with the lesson?

Figurative Language Search: Identify 3 pieces of figurative language in the text and explain the impact.

Type of Figurative Language
(ex. Metaphor) / Direct Text Evidence / What is the impact of this figurative language?

Exit Thoughts?