Storytellers Unit: Practice with Themes by Katie Waferling https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0 First, discuss your assigned topic for each story, brainstorm appropriate textual evidence, and write a thematic statement. Then, add your assigned thematic statement and the concrete details that support it to the class padlet. Follow the sample provided. Keep in mind that there are various approaches to each theme, and that this is one group's interpretation. en-us 2020-10-20 03:25:36 UTC 2021-06-04 19:27:10 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4d4.png Type Topic Here katiewaferling https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/843447016
  • Add concrete detail(s), including page numbers
  • Add thematic statement
  • Add group member names

    • ]]>     2020-10-20 03:27:03 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/843447016     Community and Connectedness santiliavanaken23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845638045 1. “But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there? Asked the boy. Why does she come here at all -who wants her? Why doesn’t she keep her silly old mug at home?” (Mansfield 3)
    “They were odd, silent, nearly all old, and from the way they stared they looked as though they’d just come from dark little rooms -- even cupboards!” (Mansfield 5).

    2. In the short story “Miss Brill”, Katherine Mansfield implies that the judgment of others can lead to a disconnection in a community which results in a lack of authentic relationships. 

    3. Caroline, Tillie, Peyton, Sophia B
    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:34:00 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845638045     Expectations Vs. Reality aftoncspiegel23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845638697 "Of course, you can be a prodigy too', my mother told me when I was nine. 'You can be best anything.'"(Tan 1)
    "Why don't you like me the way I am? I'm not a genius. I can't play the piano. And even if I could, I wouldn't go on TV if you paid me a million dollars!' I cried."(Tan 4)
    In the short story, "Two Kinds", Amy Tan implies that when a parent sets unrealistic expectations for their child, it can cause a struggle, leaving the child feeling defeated and resentful.
    group 2-maro,afton,holly,sofi]]>     2020-10-20 16:34:08 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845638697     Reality vs. Illusion margauxberger23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845640705
     In the short story, “Miss Brill,” Katherine Mansfield suggests that internal illusions are created to mask despair might be better than the reality. 

    1. “Just at that moment a boy and girl came and sat down where the old couple had been. They were beautifully dressed; they were in love… And still soundlessly singing, still with that trembling smile, Miss Brill prepared to listen. ‘No, not now’ said the girl… ‘But why? Because of that stupid old thing at the end there?’ asked the boy. ‘Why does she come here at all- who wants her? Why doesn't she keep her silly old mug at home?’” (Mansfield 3).
    2. “They were all on the stage. They weren’t only the audience, not only looking on; they were acting. Even she had a part and came every Sunday. No doubt somebody would have noticed if she hadn’t been there; she was part of the performance after all. How strange she’d never thought of it like that before!” (Mansfield 9). 

    Margaux Berger, Lily Salazar, Sofia Saldana, Cecilia Kvochak
    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:34:34 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845640705     Human interaction with nature hollygmelich23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845643090 1. “He paused and watched Ken throw pinches of cornmeal and pollen into the wind that fluttered the small grey feather.” (Silko 23). “He felt good because it was finished, and he was happy about the sprinkling of the holy water; now the old man could send them big thunderclouds for sure.” (Silko 24). 
    2. In the short story, “The Man to Send Rainclouds” author Leslie Silko demonstrates humans’ interaction with nature as a way to find peace and stability in the cycle of life. 
    3. Afton, Sofi, Holly, Maro
    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:35:04 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845643090     Loneliness and alienation sofiaolona23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845645507 “They did not speak. This was disappointing, for Miss Brill always looked forward to the conversation. She had become really quite an expert, she thought, at listening as though she lived just for a minute while they talked round her.” (1)
    “She unclasped the necklace quickly; quickly, without looking, laid it inside. But when she put the lid on she thought she heard something crying.” (4)
     Throughout the short story, “Mrs Brill”, author Katherine Mansfield illustrates how social deprivation and alienation can lead one to a place of loneliness and to become in denial of that loneliness.  

    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:35:33 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845645507     Tradition vs. Change sofiasaldana23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845650637 1. - “‘No thank you, Father. I only came to ask you if you would bring your holy water to the graveyard.’ … ‘Why didn’t you tell me he was dead? I could have brought the Last Rites anyway.’ Leon smiled. ‘It wasn’t necessary Father.’” (Silko 24-26)
    - “But there he was, facing into a cold dry wind and squinting at the last sunlight, ready to bury a red wool blanket while the faces of his parishioners were in shadow with the last warmth of the sun on their backs”(Silko 34). 
    2.  In the short story, “The Man to Send Rain Clouds,” Silko argues that while traditions are significant and should be honored, sometimes change should be welcomed and accepted.
    3. Lily S., Cecilia K., Margaux B., Sofia S.]]>     2020-10-20 16:36:33 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845650637     Death peytonburns23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845652564 1a. “He felt good because it was finished, and he was happy about the sprinkling of the holy water; now the old man could send them big thunderclouds for sure.” (Silko, 16) 
    1b. “The priest approached the grave slowly...The people stood close to each other with little clouds of steam puffing from their faces. The priest looked at them and saw a pile of jackets, gloves, and scarves….He looked at the red blanket, not sure that Teofilo was so small, wondering if it wasn’t some perverse Indian Trick…” (Silko, 14)
    2. In the short story, “The Man to Send Rainclouds”, Silko shows us that death can bring people together, no matter how different their traditions are. 
    3. Tillie, Sophia B, Caroline, Peyton]]>     2020-10-20 16:36:55 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845652564     Old age and youth marcellalaguna23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845654974  “They were odd, silent, nearly all old, and from the way they stared they looked as though they'd just come from dark little rooms or even—even cupboards…” (26).
    “Just at that moment a boy and girl came and sat down where the old couple had been. They were beautifully dressed; they were in love. The hero and heroine, of course, just arrived from his father’s yacht” (27).
     In the short story “Miss Brill”, Katherine Mansfield suggests that there is a clear generational division between the elderly, who are often alienated by younger members of society, and young people, who are valued for their youth and liveliness. 

    Marcella, Madison, Natalie, Grace
    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:37:25 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845654974     Trust, Distrust, and Outsiders nataliemiera23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845658637 1a. “‘Did you find Teofilo?’ he asked loudly. Leon stopped the truck. ‘Good morning, Father. We were just out to the sheep camp. Everything is O.K. now’” (23).
    1b. “‘Why didn’t you tell me he was dead? I could have brought the Last Rites anyway.’ Leon smiled. ‘It wasn’t necessary, Father’” (24).
    2.  In the short story “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”, Leslie Silko communicates that it is often difficult for groups of people to accept the ideas of outsiders because of a natural wariness toward foreign influence. 
    3. Marcella, Grace, Madison, Natalie]]>     2020-10-20 16:38:10 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845658637     Family Relationships lilyannesalazar23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845661905 1) “[Dee] wrote me once that no matter where we “choose” to live, she will manage to come see us. But she will never bring her friends” (Walker 3).
    “‘You just don’t understand,’ … ‘What don’t I understand?’ I wanted to know. ‘Your heritage,’ she said. And then she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said ‘You ought to try to make something of yourself too Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live, you’d never know it’” (Walker 8).
    2) In the short story, “Everyday Use,” Alice Walker addresses how family relationships need the combined efforts and a level of respect from everyone to be functional; as these traits strengthen and weaken, the relationship can fluctuate over time. 
    3)Lily, Sofia S., Margaux, Cecilia
    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:38:53 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845661905     Education (academics vs. experience) sophiabarriga23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845679105 1. “But that was before we raised the money, the church and me, to send her to Augusta to school. She used to read to us without pity, forcing words, lies, other folks’ habits, whole lives upon us two, sitting trapped and ignorant underneath her voice” (Walker 10).
    “She wrote me once that no matter where we “choose” to live, she will manage to come see us. But she will never bring her friends” (Walker 8).
    2. In the short story “Everyday Use”, Alice Walker demonstrates that accessing education is a privilege, but it should not lead to disconnections from family and heritage.
    3. Sophia B, Caroline, Tillie, Peyton]]>     2020-10-20 16:42:23 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845679105     Defeat / failure sophiabarriga23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845695462 1. “By then I saw my mother’s face, her stricken face. The audience clapped weakly, and I walked back to my chair, with my whole face quivering as I tried not to cry, I heard a little boy whisper loudly to his mother, ‘That was awful,’ and mother whispered ‘Well, she certainly tried.’” (Tan 3).
    “In all of my imaginings I was filled  with a sense that I would soon become perfect: My mother and father would adore me. I would be beyond reproach. I would never feel the need to sulk for anything” (Tan 2).
    2. In the short story “Two Kinds”, Amy Tan exemplifies that extreme pressure from others can lead to immediate defeat and failure of living up to others expectations.
    3. Sophia B, Tillie, Peyton, Caroline]]>     2020-10-20 16:45:45 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845695462     Trends vs Traditions maroavedissian23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845699985 1. 1.“That’s not the point,” said Wangero. ‘These are all pieces of dresses Grandma used to wear. She did all the stitching by hand. Imagine!’ She held the quilts securely in her arms stroking them.” (Walker 6)
    2. “I didn’t want to bring up how I had offered Dee (Wangero) a quilt when she went away to college. Then she had told me they were old-fashioned, out of style.” (Walker 7)
    2.  In the short story, “Everyday Use”, Alice Walker illustrates the difference between popular social trends and cultural traditions, and how the effect of materialistic social trends can separate one from their family heritage.  
    3. Holly, Maro, Sofi, and Afton]]>     2020-10-20 16:46:38 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845699985     Mother / daughter (or family relationships) ceciliakvochak23 https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845706808

  • “‘You want me to be someone that I’m not!’ I sobbed. ‘I’ll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be!’” (Tan 8)

  • “‘You just not trying,’ my mother said. And she was neither angry nor sad. She said it as if announcing a fact that can never be disproved. ‘Take it’ she said. But I didn’t at first. It was enough that she had offered it to me (Tan 9).
  • In the short story, “Two Kinds”, Amy Tan asserts that the bond between mother and daughter can never be severed, though she also argues that the relationship can be distanced.
       
    • Cecilia, Margaux, Lily, Sofia
    ]]>     2020-10-20 16:48:04 UTC https://padlet.com/katiewaferling/9972uv1yhs1h0ps0/wish/845706808