Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Snow Child discussion questions, interviews, readings

AGENDA:

HMWK: For Monday, read Ch. 9-13 (finish Part One)

Study guide from Writers and Books
THINK, PAIR, SHARE:  With a partner, answer five questions from the study guide and post on the blog

Continue working on your fairy tale/folk tale adaptation

Snegurochka  (The Russian folk tale)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snegurochka

2. The Snow Maiden
http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/tales/snow_maiden.html

http://vd-crystaldream.blogspot.com/2013/05/legend-of-snow-maiden-russian-fairy.html

Magical Realism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_realism

Eowyn Ivey at Rochester Public Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlgm_Ob6DDI

8 comments:

  1. Karina Le, Isabella Watts, Tamaron McKnight
    What different circumstances bring each of the main characters into the story?
    -For Mabel, she wants change. She wants solitude and to be alone with Jack after what happened with their child. For Jack, he wants his own settlement and to push through and do what’s best for Mabel.
    How does the author inform the reader about the initial setting of the narrative? What does the novel tell us about the people and culture of that region and that era?
    -She describes the landscape by comparing it to Mabel and Jack. She also describes the era as if that is the modern time right now. For example, the train, the cabin, the homesteading, the hunting, and the lack of residents.
    How are the personalities (and emotions) of the various characters revealed through small details?
    -She compares the current area where they’re living to how Jack and Mabel are feeling, especially it being winter and struggling to survive.
    How does author exhibit empathy in her writing?
    -She utilizes Mabel’s emotions by connecting what’s going on around the area to Mabel’s feelings.
    In what ways can this story be considered magical?
    -The reality of the snowgirl and how the circumstances and coincidences surrounding her add to the sense of mystery. For example, the snow child lead Jack to the moose, one of the biggest anyone had seen. She helped them basically survive.

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  2. Alexander, Kyra, Sara, Carina
    Why is it important that Mabel is an outsider in Alaska?
    It is important that she is an outsider because she’s not adjusted to the rugged lifestyle in Alaska and isn’t physically able to do the work that is necessary to survive. Originally, Mabel came to Alaska with Jack to try something new and interesting but once she got there, she was very discombobulated. It wasn’t at all what she had expected. This makes her seem out of the ordinary to the people who had already been living there for some time.
    Who is the main character/protagonist in the novel?
    Mabel is the protagonist in this novel. The story is centered on her feelings and struggles while in Alaska. It is primarily told through her eyes.
    How might the fact that Mabel lost a child lead her to be more accepting of a snow child?
    After she lost her child, there was a void in her that could not be filled by anything else, except for another child of her own. The idea of having a child, despite it being a mystery on how she came to be, makes Mabel feel like she has a purpose in her boring Alaskan life and someone who she can care for.
    How do the elements of magic realism function in the novel?
    These elements function in the novel by taking everyday situations and circumstances and using them to help the reader relate with the characters. The idea of magic is used through the creation of the snow child and this turns this novel into something more individual and interesting. The tiny glimmer of magic inside of the novel makes it an intriguing one.
    In what ways can this story be considered magical?
    The story can be considered magical because at a time when Jack and Mabel were unable to have a child of their own, they bonded by creating a snow girl that came to life. This occurrence makes the story very magical because it makes something happen that is impossible in everyday life. It presents the reader with a new situation and makes the story realistic while still adding a small dose of magical happenings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ellie Sklair and Jocelyn Brillian
    1.How does the title relate to the story told?
    The title relates to the story told, literally. After finding out she can't have any children, Mabel tries to commit suicide saddened my the news when all the sudden a young girl named Faina shows up and gives Jack and Mabel an opportunity to be parents. She has a magical side to her where she came from snow.
    2. Who is the main character in the novel?
    The main Character in the novel is Mabel, she is married to Jack and they're anxious to be parents. Unfortunately they cannot have kids. Devastated, that she cannot be a mother she tries to take her own life not succeeding she tries to turn her life around. As the story goes on she gets attached to Faina who shows up suddenly, taking her as her own.
    3. In what ways can the story be considered magical?
    The story could be considered magical by how Faina shows up. She somewhat evolves from snow, hence, magic and the title snow child.
    4. How does the author inform the readers about the landscape.
    The author informs the reader with her word choice showing imagery. For example, the scene where Mabel tries to jump off the cliff it is described so well she can describe so much in so little words.
    5. In what ways does Mabel fulfill the role of heroine?
    She becomes a hero by overcoming her dark thoughts, though she was devastated she became happy and reclaimed life and have new friendships.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dan’Nae Palmer
    Thalia Perez
    4/29/15
    Who is the main character?
    Mable is the main character. The book is based on Mable and her feeling and her down falls in Alaska.
    In what ways can this story be considered magical?
    We can say the story is magical because of the snow child. The snow child that was built was possible to come to life makes this story magical
    Why is it important that Mabel is an outsider in Alaska?
    Because she’s not adjusted to the rugged lifestyle in Alaska and she’s not physically able to do the work that is there for her to survive .Mabel came to Alaska with Jack to try something new and interesting but once she got there, she was very discombobulated.
    How does author exhibit empathy in her writing?
    -She shows Mabel’s emotions by relating what’s going on around her to Mabel’s feelings
    How does the author inform the readers about the landscape?
    The author informs the reader by showing imagery throughout the text.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Frank Cruz & Nasmere Johnson

    Who is the main character/ protagonist in the novel?
    Mabel is the main character or protagonist in the novel.

    Explore how Ivey’s writing is visual. In what ways is it cinematic?
    Ivey’s writing is very descriptive and very detailed and precise in every sentence that she is writing. She tells of all five senses when she is describing a scene or what is going on in the book, like the where in Alaska she is at the time.

    What do you think Ivey’s motivations were in writing this novel?
    What probably motivated her to write this book that she was from Alaska, and she wanted to share some of her childhood experience.

    In what ways can this story be considered magical?
    This story can be considered magical because they turn a snowman into a child, and it brings up the question of if it always was a child or did they turn into a child.

    How does the author inform the readers about the landscape?
    The author informs the reader about the landscape by using lots imagery and descriptive terminology. For example when Ivey describes the suicide scene , when Mabel wants to commit suicide.

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  6. sammy nad isiah
    1. How does the title set the tone for the book? How does it relate to the story told?
    The title sets the books tone by showing something deep and depressing. The main character had a baby that died as soon as it was born, so she was sad and hurt. She starts imagining a snow man child thinking its real when she wants it to be.
    2. In what ways can this story be considered magical?
    One way is how faina comes alive.

    3. How are personalities (and emotions) of the various characters revealed through small details?
    Mabel is depressed about losing her child and is amazed when she saw a snow childish.

    4. Who is the main character /protagonist of the novel?
    Mabel is the main character

    5. How might the fact that Mabel lost a child lead her to be more accepting of a snow child?
    Because her use of imagination seeing something that is not really there.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Emily Boorom, Alexis Jackson
    • Who is the main character/protagonist in the novel?
    Mabel is the main character in the novel. The novel focuses on her mind set and actions. We get a look inside Mabel’s mind, we know how she is feeling and we know things about her that we don’t know about other characters such as Jack, Faina, etc.
    • Why is it important that Mabel is an outsider in Alaska?
    It is important that Mabel is an outsider because it shows her adapting to this new, foreign place, which can also create a conflict between the character and herself as she is having trouble settling in to a new place, a place she is not used to.
    • What kinds of friendships are evident?
    A friendship between the Snow child and the red fox becomes evident throughout the book. They become close over the course of the novel and show evidence of a strong friendship and bond. The Fox’s actions effect the snow child and the snow child’s actions effect the fox.
    • How does the book differ from fairytales on which it was based?
    The Snow child differs from fairytales because this book shows a sense of realism throughout the novel. Fairytales are simply made up stories with made up creators, places, and no sense of realism present where as is The Snow Child this is not the case. The Snow Child is a fictions story but because it is set in Alaska and there a human which is realistic this novel has a sense of realism to it.
    • How do elements of magic realism function in the novel?
    Magic realism is present because the author uses fictions elements such as the snow child itself which is a figment of Mabel imagination but ends up coming to life and acts as the “daughter never had” throughout the novel. But there is a realistic element because they setting is realistic- Alaska- there is also conflict between wife, Mabel and husband, Jack, which is a common factor in the real world.

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  8. 1) How does the title set the tone for the book? How does it relate to the story told?
    The title Snow Child set the tone for the book because you want to know who the snow child is. Are they real, how can a child be made out of snow? It develops the mysterious tone of the book. The title relate to the story told because the story told is about a child made out of snow and all of the impossible things after the event. It also develops the mysterious story being told.

    2) Why is it important that Mabel is an outsider in Alaska?
    It’s important because it shows how Mabel is adapting to Alaska versus Pennsylvania. Alaska is also like a new beginning for Mabel so, it’s kind of like the perfect setting for them to build Faina.

    3) Who is the main character/protagonist in the novel?
    The main character/protagonist in the novel is Mabel because the story follows her emotions and thinking. It actually shows in the writing the emotions and the sympathy/ empathy towards Mabel.

    4) In what ways can this story be considered magical?
    This story can be considered magical because there is the aspect of a child made of snow coming to life. That’s magical because the impossible happened and was made possible. That’s magical to me in my mind.

    5) What portions or aspects of the writing did you find most artful and/or enjoyable to read?
    The portion I found enjoyable was when Jack and Mabel actually made Faina. I found it enjoyable because it was like a happy moment for them because they are stressed and discouraged because of the move and the death of their child. It was like their way of releasing their emotions and become closer in their marriage.

    ReplyDelete

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