Notes

“The Jewels of the Sea”

Compare and Contrast:  the author sometimes contrast story characters to better illustrate each character’s unique traits.

Example: 

·       When the younger brother cannot find the hook, he makes five hundred hooks from his sword.  The older brother shouts and calls his younger brother “a clumsy, blundering fool.”  The younger brother is kind, while the older brother is selfish.

·       The two stones are both large and beautiful jewels, and they both possess certain powers.  One has the power to call forth the waters of the sea.  The other has the power to make these waters recede.

Motivation:  Strategic readers pay attention to a character’s motivation.  In other words, they try to understand why a character does what he or she does.  A character’s actions move the plot along; so understanding character motivation helps readers understand the plot.

          Example: 

·       The prince gives the two young maidens a precious stone.  Why? What is his motivation? -  he is a “good” prince so he probably gave the maidens the stone to thank them.

·       The old man-the motivation of minor characters is not as important to the development of the plot as in the motivation of main characters.

Dialogue:  On page 223, the king talks to a silver fish and a red snapper.  How does this dialogue contribute to the story?

·       Helps reader picture the action;

·       Helps define each character;

·       Moves the story along;

On page 225, what purpose does the dialogue at the end of the story serve?