Vocabulary
Which word means: Incapable of compromise or making concessions
a. desolate
b. exceptional
c. explicitly
d. petition
e. rigid
What is: e. Rigid?
This person is the "end all be all" in the small town mentioned in this story
Who is the tax collector or Who is the colonel?
Finish the line: But what is even further from out town than the frontier, if such distances can be compared at all-it's like saying that a man of ___ ___ ____ __ is older than one of ___ _________.
What are: three hundred years old and two hundred
On which date was Raines founded?
When is January 25, 1965?
What is the impact of setting on characters and plot?
Possible responses: Because the small town is far away from the capital, they are at liberty to govern as they please. The events of this story are only possible because of the distance of the small town from the capital. People in this small town appear to be complacent and stuck in tradition, while the capital has experienced many changes in government.
Which word means: A formal request to a government or superior power, usually signed by many people in support
a. rigid
b. exceptional
c. petition
d. desolate
e. explicitly
Though it was not explicitly stated, which group appeared to be content with the way things were in the small town?
Who are the "older inhabitants", the "old people" or the "older people"?
Where in the small town does "The Refusal" take place?
What is the veranda?
Of which middle school was William Marion Raines a principal?
What is Matthew Gilbert middle school?
What is the narrative point of view and how does it shape what we know in terms of character development and plot?
The pov is that of a young man who does not see the importance of carrying on the tradition of the refusal. Because the story is told from his perspective, we only see one side. If Kafka had at least provided dialogue between the narrator and an older citizen, we might have a bit of insight as to why they are so eager to follow this custom.
Which word means directly stated?
a. petition
b. explicitly
c. exceptional
d. rigid
e. desolate
What is b. explicitly?
Give your best description of the colonel.
Answers will vary but students should mention the following:
He was a tax-collector, he was different from the ordinary citizen, he commands the town, the "wall of the world", his grandchildren were isolated from other kids)
“The Refusal” contains descriptions of the capital and the small town in which the story is set. Explain what you can infer about how the setting might affect the characters.
•The setting in this story might affect how the characters view hierarchy. For example, the text states that, “In the capital great rulers have superseded each other- indeed, even dynasties have been deposed or annihilated, and new ones have started; in the past century even the capital itself was destroyed, a new one was founded far away from it, later on this too was destroyed and the old one was rebuilt, yet none of this had any influence on our little town.” This evidence suggests that although the capital has experienced many changes in leadership and even in their physical makeup, it has not affected the standing or leadership that exists in the small town. Due to their size and isolation, they are left to govern in whichever manner that best suits them. The capital has experienced constant change and turmoil, while the small town has had a more peaceful experience with consistent leadership.
What are the school colors?
Cardinal red and silver gray
What are some possible themes in this story?
Answers will vary
Which word means: describing a place that is deserted, empty, and bleak?
a. desolate
b. explicitly
c. exceptional
d. petition
e. rigid
What is a. desolate?
Describe the soldiers.
Answers will vary, but students should mention:
The soldiers: spoke a dialect utterly incomprehensible, were unapproachable, silent, serios and rigid, didn't do anything evil, yet were almost unbearable)
What role does the ceremony play in life in the small town? How do most townspeople feel about this custom?
The ceremony represents tradition. The people in the town feel that without this custom, they would not feel complete. The text states, "In all important matters, however, the citizens can always count on a refusal. And now the strange fact is that without this refusal one simply cannot get along, yet at the same time these official occasions designed to receive the refusal are by no means a formality." This explains that the townspeople feel that the ceremony is a necessary occurrence that cannot be passed on.
What is the school's motto?
What is "Ichiban, Number 1?"
What are the 4 layers of meaning?
• literal level: what the text explicitly says
• mood: emotional atmosphere of the text created by word choice, imagery, etc.
• Tone: the narrator’s/author’s/speaker’s attitude toward events and other characters created by word choice.
• Author’s purpose: the reason the author wrote the text can be inferred by analyzing thoughts and actions of characters and conflicts in the plot.
Which word means: unusually or abnormally good?
a. rigid
b. desolate
c. explicitly
d. rigid
e. exceptional
What is e. exceptional?
What was the narrator's father's occupation and what does his title permit him to do?
What is a blacksmith?
His title allows him to be a member of the delegation.
What are the main differences between the "little town" that the narrator inhabits and the "far away capital" that he/she references throughout the story?
"In the capital great rulers have superseded each other—indeed, even dynasties have been deposed or annihilated, and new ones have started; in the past century even the capital itself was destroyed, a new one was founded far away from it, later on this too was destroyed and the old one rebuilt, yet none of this had any influence on our little town. Our officials have always remained at their posts; the highest officials came from the capital, the less high from other towns, and the lowest from among ourselves—that is how it has always been and it has suited us."
Who is the first Raines graduate to serve as the principal?
Who is Mr. Vincent Hall?
What is the difference between connotation and denotation?
Connotation: an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Denotation: strictly literal meaning