'The Flowers' by Alice Walker

1. 'The Flowers' by Alice Walker Analysis and Evaluation Unit

2. We are going to: • Learn about turning point, mood and symbolism • Explain how these are created in a story. • Skills we will be developing: • Discussion • Negotiation • Active listening • Analysis • Evaluation • Critical reading.

3. Plot and Theme • Once we have read the story as a class, discuss in pairs what you think the story was about – the plot and theme. .

4. Literary Terms to Know COPY THESE DOWN AND FAMILIARISE YOURSELVES WITH THEM. • imagery –the use of vivid language to create images in the reader’s mind. • symbol –something that stands for itself and something else. • setting –the time and place in which a story occurs. • narrative pace ‐the speed at which an author tells a story; the movement from one point or section to another. • diction ‐the choice of words used in a literary work. • style ‐A writer’s way of saying things, or a philosophy that influences the author’s viewpoint. • theme ‐an abstract idea that emerges from a literary work’s treatment of its subject‐matter, or a topic recurring in a number of literary works.. Themes include love, war, revenge, betrayal, fate, etc. • epiphany ‐an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure

5. Turning Point • A turning point in a story is the point when there is a significant change in the way a character is thinking or behaving, in the mood or atmosphere of the story, in the tension and so on. • Decide where in the turning point occurs in ‘The Flowers’. Be prepared to explain your reasoning to the class.

6. Turning Point and Mood • In your pairs, one will look at the first part of the story, and one will look at the second half – the separation will be the turning point. • We are going to look at how the author creates mood. • How does the turning point influence the mood of the story?

7. Turning Point and Mood For your section of the story, highlight the following: • references to light and colour • references to setting • references to Myop’s actions. In pairs, discuss how these references create mood.

8. Symbolism In the story, flowers could be said to be symbolic, i.e. they are used to represent an idea. • For your half of the story, find all the references to flowers. • In your pairs, take turns to read out the references to flowers. • Think about what’s happening at the point in the story when flowers are mentioned, and discuss what the flowers might represent.

9. In pairs, work through all the references to flowers in the story, and complete a table like this one. • You should quote the reference, describe what is happening in the story at that time, and then comment on what the flowers could represent/symbolise.

10. Group Analysis • In your groups, discuss and make notes on the following: How does Walker create mood, use a turning point and use symbolism in her story? • You should discuss and note down as much as you can, using quotations, analysis and evaluation. • Group with the most detailed A3 sheet gets a pony.

11. Self-evaluation • Answers these questions on the post-it note, and be honest: • How well do I understand mood, turning point and symbolism in this story? • How well do I think I understand these terms in general? • How well did I work in pairs/groups?

12. The Flowers Learning Intentions: • Improve our understanding of the context of the story. • Develop critical reading skills with textual analysis questions. Skills: • Understanding • Analysis • Evaluation • Critical reading

13. Textual Analysis 1 • Look up the following words in bold and answer the questions that go with them. • Referring to the first three paragraphs of the story, explain what the setting of the story is and what words in the story give you that idea. • Myop's family is a family of sharecroppers.  What does this tell you about the time they are living in?  What other things does this tell you about what Myop's family is like? • Describe Myop.  Use quotes from the story to explain why you think she looks like she does.  (Write 3 or more sentences.) • Describe the mood (the emotional atmosphere the story creates for you) of the first four paragraphs of the story.  Explain why you think that is the mood of those paragraphs using quotes from the story.

14. Textual Analysis 2 • Describe the mood starting with the fifth paragraph of the story (to the end).  Explain why you think that is the mood of those paragraphs using quotes from the story. • Considering the time period and what you know of Myop and her family, what do you think happened to the the man Myop finds disintegrating in the woods?  Explain why you think that is what happened. • What connection(s) does the origin of Myop’s name have with her in the story (other than the first four letters match!)?  Explain these connections. • An epiphany is a sudden realization or understanding about something. Myop has an epiphany in this story which is why she lays down her flowers at the end of the story.  What is it that Myop suddenly understands about her world?  Explain your answer based on information from the story. • The last line of the story is figurative, not literal.  What deeper meaning do you think that line has in this story?  Explain why you think so based on information from the story.

15. Task Discuss this question in pairs and develop a detailed essay plan. • In a well‐organized essay discuss how Alice Walker conveys the meaning of "The Flowers" and how she prepares the reader for the ending of this short story. Consider at least two elements of the writer's craft such as imagery, symbol, setting, narrative pace, diction, and style.