Elements of literature
It is the person, animal or figure that takes part in a story.
Character
Which are the main parts of a sentence?
Subject and predicate
True or false: The man tried to look for a trap door.
True.
What is the role of both characters in the story?
Bebe is the protagonist; Mama Lil the antagonist.
How do we call the problem that needs to be solved in a story?
Conflict
Identify the subject and predicate in this sentence:
"Forgiveness and honesty help people rebuild their friendships."
Subject = “Forgiveness and honesty”; Predicate = “help people rebuild their friendships”
"Soon, he had chipped out four inches of mortar."
What does the phrase "chipped out" mean in this sentence?
"Chipped out" means to take out small pieces. "The man is taking out small pieces of mortar."
"Mama Lil and I had been butting heads ever since I could remember."
What does the phrase "butting heads" mean?
It means that they disagree all the time.
What's the definition of plot and what determines it?
The plot is the sequence of events in a story, and it's determined by the character's actions or choices.
Which are the main parts of paragraph structure?
Topic sentence, supporting details, and concluding sentence.
How did the man's belief about himself affect his ability to escape?
He believed himself so clever that he thought he would find a clever solution to get out, while the only way out was the most ovbious one: open the door.
What does Mama Lil's dialect reveal about herself?
Her dialect sounds like AAVE, which shows she is an African American person.
Describe the setting of "The Experiment."
It's a small, locked cell made out of concrete with a single light bulb on the ceiling and a door made out of steel. The man in the story is trapped there with limited tools and only a certain amount of time to escape.
A good topic sentence should do two things: grab the reader's attention and ______.
State the main idea/what the paragraph will be about.
Describe the plot of the story in 5 events:
1. The man volunteers for an experiment.
2. The man goes into a locked cell.
3. The man discovers the prongs on the shield.
4. The man tries to dig out the mortar, but all the prongs break.
5. Time runs out, and the door opens.
"I leaned back in my kitchen chair... The chair's vinyl stuck to my skin... It was as if, as Mama Lil, the chair wanted to hold me in its clutches."
What does this dialog of Bebe reveal about what she thinks of Mama Lil?
It shows that Bebe feels trapped under Mama Lil's control. Mama Lil doesn't want to let her live her life.
In "Building Bridges", explain how the setting influences the main character's actions (plot).
The story takes place in Brooklyn, New York; a big city known for its great infrastructure and the opportunities it offers. Bebe gets inspired by these oportunities and whishes to be part of the constructions happening (the Brooklyn Bridge) by becoming an engineer. This dream will guide her actions in the story.
This paragraph is missing the topic sentence. Write what you think is the best alternative.
"Many people carry lucky charms, like a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover. Some avoid walking under ladders because they believe it will bring bad luck. Others think breaking a mirror means seven years of misfortune. These beliefs continue even though there is no scientific proof behind them."
Possible: "People still believe in superstitions even if they are not true."
Act out the ending of the story. Make sure you accurately portray the man's feelings!
"At that instant the third prong snapped in his hand. He stared at the useless pieces. Then in a blind rage he slammed his fist against the wall. Behind him the door of the cell opened slowly. His time had run out."
Imagine you are Mama Lil and you are at the salon with your friends talking about Bebe's dream of building the bridge. Act out the conversation they would have had.
"They'd conviced her that I was headed down the wrong path. "Ain't no black woman doing no engine-ing", she'd say.