Charles by Shirley Jackson

1. Charlesby Shirley Jackson Ms. Adame 8th Grade Language Arts

2. Look at this picture of the little boy. Based on the picture, predict what the story is going to be about.

3. Getting Away With Murder • Have you ever gotten away with something because someone else was blamed for it (or you blamed someone else)? • In a paragraph, write about a time when you were able to avoid getting in trouble because someone else took the blame.

4. Charles Vocabulary • renounced: gave up • Because he wanted to marry the peasant girl, the king renounced his thrown.

5. Charles Vocabulary • insolently: boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior • The boy was sent to bed without dinner for answering his parents insolently.

6. Charles Vocabulary • Simultaneously: at the same time • Simultaneously, the two girls jumped into the pool.

7. Charles Vocabulary • Incredulously: with doubt or disbelief • The students looked at the teacher incredulously when she said they would not have homework for the rest of the year.

8. Charles Vocabulary • swaggering: strutting; walking with a bold step • The teacher was annoyed by the boy’s swaggering when she asked him to sit in his seat.

9. Charles Vocabulary • raucous: harsh, rough-sounding • The children created a raucous when they entered the room.

10. Charles Vocabulary • cynically: with disbelief as to the sincerity of people’s intentions or actions • People who look at the world cynically have trouble trusting other people.

11. Homework • Vocabulary Sketches…ALL new vocabulary words.

12. Charles • Please open your textbook to page

13. Charles Post-Reading quiz Who really does all the things that Laurie blames on Charles? (a) Laurie’s teacher (b) a boy in his class (c) a girl in his class (d) Laurie (e) his mom Answer: (d)

14. When Laurie’s mom asks him who the name of the boy was, why did Laurie pause? (a) he forgot his name (b) he didn’t know him (c) he was making up a name (d) he wasn’t sure if his name was really Charles Answer: (c)

15. Which of these was a bad behavior the story mentions Laurie had at home? (a) hitting the dog (b) playing in the pool at 9:00 (c) telling his mom to shut up (d) walking into the house screaming “isn’t anybody home!” Answer: (d)

16. Which of these words describes Charles? (a) rude (b) sweet (c) mean (d) kind Answer: (a) AND (c)

17. Why didn’t Laurie’s mom realize that Laurie was really Charles? (a) She thought she had a good little boy (b) She didn’t want to believe it (C) She knew Charles Answer: (b)

18. When did Laurie’s mom realize that Laurie was the real Charles? (a) she read a letter written by Laurie (b) Laurie confessed (c) her husband saw Laurie do the bad things (d) at the PTA meeting Answer: (d)

19. What did the teacher mean when she said Laurie had “occasional lapses?” (a) occasionally, he was bad like at the beginning of the school year (b) he was never good (c) he had transformed into a new person Answer: (a)

20. Documenting charles/laurie’s misdeeds • Re-read the story. • In chronological order, document the things that Charles and Laurie during the first weeks of school. • Before you work as a group, you must complete YOUR task

21. Group Task • A/B: you are looking for Charles’ misdeeds • C:you are looking for the Teacher’s reactions to Charles • D: you are looking for Laurie’s misdeeds

22. Vocabulary Review