Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The Author: Walter Dean myers Research the author: Dot and jot 10 - 15 points ExtRas: Pages 11-21
The Format That Monster is an unusual novel is obvious from the start. Myers builds the plot around a screenplay that Steve is writing during his trial for murder. Thus, most of the novel is told in dialogue, with characters' names in typewritten boldface followed by their remarks in regular type. Interspersed among the scenes of the screenplay are handwritten notes by Steve, in which he tells of his terror in prison and conveys his thoughts about events. Some handwriting is in boldface, indicating the main points he wishes to make. All this may be disquieting to some readers, but the experimental construction of Monster provides a way to look at Steve through his own eyes; since much of the novel emphasizes Steve's struggle with the moral aspects of his conduct, the screenplay format offers a good way to look at how Steve sees himself and at the question of whether he has become a monster. The Changing Narrative Perspective Screenplay: third-person objective Journal: first-person major (involved)
Point of View Create a foldable and label the doors as follows: Left door - Journal Right door - Screenplay On the inside, clearly explain each point of view and include examples from the text.
The Facts Date of the Crime: Monday, December 22 Location: Grocery store in Harlem Crime: felony murder (death as a direct result of a robbery) What was stolen: 5 cartons of cigarettes and some money from the cash register Murder Victim: Alguinardo Nesbitt - 55 year old store owner Four Charged: 1. Richard "Bobo" Evans (age 22) - makes a deal with the District Attorney and testifies against James King and Steve Harmon 2. James King (age 23, but looks older) - on trial for felony murder 3. Osvaldo Cruz (age 14) - makes a deal with the District Attorney and testifies against James King and Steve Harmon 4. Steve Harmon (age 16) - on trial for felony murder Length of Trial: Monday, July 6 until Friday, July 17
THE Lawyers Prosecutor: Sandra Petrocelli, her purpose is to convince the jury that James King and Steve Harmon are GUILTY of felony murder Defense lawyer for Steve Harmon: Kathy O'Brien, her purpose is to convince the jury that Steve Harmon is INNOCENT of felony murder Defense lawyer for James King: Asa Briggs, his purpose is to convince the jury that James King is INNOCENT of felony murder
The Harmon Family Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Two sons: Steve (16) and Jerry (11)
The Time-Frame December to December December 22 (date of the crime) Monday, July 6th (trial begins) Tuesday, July 7th Wednesday, July 8 Thursday, July 9 Friday, July 10th Saturday, July 11th Sunday, July 12th Monday, July 13th Tuesday, July 14th Friday, July 17th December (5 months later)
Minds On ... Describe, in detail, the image you see in your head when you read the word ... MONSTER
The Preamble Journal pages 1 - 5
Monday, July 6th Monster! Pages 7-43
Manhattan House of Detention: Why is it called the Tombs? LINK PAGE 11
A Short Tour of Rikers Island Prison Page 33
DRAW AND LABEL the courtroom: Judge Witness Stand Jury Court Clerk and Stenographer Crown Prosecutor: Sandra Petrocelli Defence Attorney: Kathy O'Brien for Steve Harmon Defence Attorney: Asa Briggs for James King Observers PAGE 15
THE COURTROOM PLAYERS The Judge : 60-year-old man (page 17) Sandra Petrocelli: Assistant District Attorney for the State of New York for the Prosecution Summarize her Opening Remarks (pages 20 - 25) Kathy O'Brien: Defense Attorney for Steve Harmon Summarize her Opening Remarks (pages 25 - 27) Asa Briggs: Defense Attorney for James King Summarize his Opening Remarks (pages 27 - 28)
Witnesses at the Trial First Witness: Jose Delgado (page 28) Second Witness: Salvatore Zinzi (page 32) Third Witness: Wendell Bolden (page 47) Fourth Witness: Detective Karyl (page 67) Fifth Witness: Osvaldo Cruz (page 82) Sixth Witness: Allen Forbes (page 131) Seventh Witness: Detective Williams (page 132) Eighth Witness: Doctor James Moody (page 135) Ninth Witness: Lorelle Henry (page 161) Tenth Witness: Richard “Bobo” Evans (page 172) Eleventh Witness: Dorothy Moore (page 206) Twelfth Witness: George Nipping (page 211) Thirteenth Witness: Steve Harmon (page 223) Fourteenth Witness: George Sawicki (page 234)
A Few Good Men Movie Trailer and Courtroom Scene
Tuesday, July 7th Notes: I hate, hate, hate this place! Pages 45 - 58
Flashbacks A flashback (or analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story's primary sequence of events to fill in crucial backstory and add context. The purpose of the flashback is simple: it is a technique that bridges time, place and action to reveal information about the character, or move the story forward. Look at the flashback as a tool that could be used to reveal information about the character or story that you can't reveal any other way. It can reveal emotional as well as physical information; it can reveal thoughts, memories or dreams, like what happened in Berlin that Jason Bourne is trying to remember. FOUR SQUARES (page numbers are in brackets) Film Workshop (18) Neighbourhood Park (41) 141st Street (49) Steve’s home (58) Fill in each square answering the following three questions: 1. What triggers the flashback? 2. What triggers the return to the present? 3. What information is revealed about Steve through the flashbacks? Be specific. Include adjectives.
Wednesday, July 8th Pages 59 - 88
Summary Pyramid Summarize this journal entry using some key words and phrases (59-64). Row 1: One word naming the main character Row 2: Two words describing the charge Row 3: Three words describing the consequences Row 4: Four words describing his fears in court Row 5: Five words describing his fears in prison
Thursday, July 9th Who was Steve Harmon? Pages 89 - 126
OSVALDO CRUZ Pages 80 - 109 Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization. Create a t-chart describing Cruz in his neighbourhood in Harlem versus his behaviour on the witness stand. Who is the real Osvaldo Cruz and what affect does his testimony have on the case against Steve Harmen? Neighbourhood Witness Stand WRITE A COMPLETE CHARACTER PROFILE FOR OSVALDO CRUZ
Friday, July 10th Pages 127 - 136 I can see me at that moment ...
Four-way Split-Screen Montage (Page 131)
Page 131
Store owner killed with his own gun Answer the following: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Take your answers and write a GIST of the CRIME - like a LEAD to a news article.
DRAW your visual interpretation of the crime scene based on information from the text (explicit and implicit) See pages 68 - 70, 132-134
Saturday, July 11th Pages 137 - 151 What did I do? I walked into a drugstore ...
The Journal Before she left, Miss O'Brien warned me not to write anything in my notebook that I did not want the prosecutor to see (137). 1. Does this advice come too late? (refer to Notes on pages 115 - 116.) 2. What does Steve reveal in today's journal (Sat. July 11) 3. How could this impact the verdict if the journal was admitted into evidence?
Being a Diarist Journaling, is a practice that teaches us better than any other the elusive art of solitude — how to be present with our own selves, bear witness to our experience, and fully inhabit our inner lives. On her 13th birthday, Anne Frank receives a diary as a gift from her parents. At first she finds it a little odd to be writing in a diary. She can’t imagine that anyone would ever be interested in the musings of a 13-year-old girl. What Anne appears to need is to vent her feelings: “I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support.” TASK: Write a diary entry for Steve’s mother. (Page 144-148)
Sunday, July 12th Pages 153 - 159 Jerry
Quotation Analysis 1. State the speaker of the quotation and what is occurring at the time of the conversation. 2. Explain the importance of the quotation to the development of plot, character, and/or theme. a. "The guy behind the steam table put a lot of food on my plate and gave me a smile. In here you don't smile back at people who smile at you, so I just walked away" (153). b. "I was looking for Jerry. They didn't allow kids in the visiting area, which was funny. It was funny because if I wasn't locked up, I wouldn't be allowed to come into the visiting room" (156).
Monday, July 13th Pages 161 - 200
richard "bobo" evans Pages 174 - 199 Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization. A. Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is. (The naughty boy) B. Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of indirect characterization (S.T.E.A.L.): Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts Self-Revelation - internal dialogue, asides, soliloquies. What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect Reflected Revelation - What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel, speak, or behave in reaction to the character? Actions What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress? WRITE A COMPLETE CHARACTER PROFILE FOR "Bobo" Evans
Tuesday, July 14th Pages 201 - 267 We lie to ourselves here. Maybe we are here because we lie to ourselves.
VENN DIAGRAM 1. Read Steve’s journal entry for Saturday, July 11 (pages 137-148) 2. Read Steve’s courtroom testimony (pages 223-234) Complete a VENN diagram comparing and contrasting the two.
The Closing Arguments 1. INSIDE THE SCREENPLAY (third-person knowledge) AS A JUROR When you hear Briggs’ final argument (defense: James King), O’Brien’s final argument (defense: Steve Harmon), and then Petrocelli’s final argument (prosecution) – both sides of Steve’s case becomes clear. Do you find Steve “Guilty” or “Innocent” of felony murder based on the testimony of the witnesses? EXPLAIN your answer. 2. OUTSIDE THE SCREENPLAY (first-person knowledge) AS A READER As a reader, you have access to Steve’s journals. Knowing this information do you find Steve “Guilty” or “Innocent” of the crime of felony murder? EXPLAIN your answer.
Friday, July 17th Pages 269 - 277 There is nothing more to do. A Steve Harmon Film
Decisions "Steve Harmon made a moral decision," Ms. Petrocelli said. "I think about December of last year. What was the decision I made? To walk down the streets? To get up in the morning? To talk to King? What decisions did I make? What decisions didn't I make? (Page 270). TASK: Answer the questions Steve poses to himself in his journal.
INSIDE THE MIND OF … STEVE HARMON Referring to the exemplar, create a mind map of Steve. Include symbols, words, colours, quotations, and graphics. Be sure to reread the following before completing the Mind Map and include the information you have gathered: Page 115 Page 128 Page 137 Pages 140-143 Page 203 Pages 220-221 Pages 223-234
December, 5 months later Pages 279 - 281
How has the year's events affected the Harmon household? Steven? Mr. Harmon? Mrs. Harmon? Jerry?
Where are they now? 1. James King? 2. Osvaldo Cruz? 3. Bobo Evans? What did Miss O'Brien see?
Analyzing Fiction What is the type of text? (the Genre) Who would read this novel? (the Audience) Why was it written (the Purpose) Style and Language (How it looks and How it is written) Describe the format of this novel. How is it different from your typical novel? Describe the language of this book. How does the language help reveal the different characters in the novel (Examples: the lawyers, the witnesses, Steve). Rap song: Plot, character, conflict, theme...setting Rap song: Point of View
THE PLOT: FOLDABLE ADD DETAILS UNDER EACH SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Exposition: Events before December 22 Rising action: December 22 (inciting incident) Arrest and trial Climax: July 17 Falling Action: After the trial Resolution: December 5
SETTING Answer the following for each of the 4 settings: JAIL COURT ROOM HOME NEIGHBOURHOOD a. HOW does he act? b. Provide an EXAMPLE from the book (include the page number) c. WHY does he act this way?
CONFLICT Conflict is defined as the struggle between opposing forces. There are TWO types of conflicts: 1. Internal 2. External External conflicts can be broken down even more: a. character versus character b. character versus society c. character versus nature
CREATE A MIND MAP OF THE CONFLICTS IN MONSTER
EXTRAS After the Resolution of the Story (back of the text) Page 8 Question 9 "Why did you decide to acquit Steve? Did you consider an ending where Steve was imprisoned? How do you think that would have changed readers’ perspectives on Steve’s story?" 1. Reflect on the author’s answer. How do you feel a “Guilty” verdict would have changed the story? Page 10 Question 12 "What would you like your readers to take away from their reading of Monster?" 1. What does he want the reader to take away? 2. What is your opinion on Steve’s decisions and the consequences of those decisions? Page 15 "Why Write for Young Adults?" 1. What is the author’s purpose? State three of his reasons. 2. Do you believe he achieves those reasons? Explain your opinion clearly.