Ode to Family Photographs
What is an Ode?
A poem that expresses praise or enthusiastic emotion
What is a parable?
A type of story that teaches a lesson
Who is announced to be the sultan’s new wife? What do the villagers predict?
Scheherazade is announced, villagers think that the marriage might last because she is clever
What does Sinbad find in the narrow valley?
Snakes and diamonds.
Define fin
a thin, flat body part that a fish or other animal uses for swimming
What is the main theme of the ode/poem?
Even a flawed family can be a loving family
What is the main problem that occurs in the story?
Conner is unhappy because he got a low grade in school, even though he studied hard
How does the new Queen feel about the marriage? What does she do to keep him interested?
She is worried that the sultan is bored with her, and tells him bedtime stories
What can we infer about Mr. Bailey?
He is encouraging and caring
Define longingly
in a way that shows a strong desire or need
What does the photographer mostly take pictures of?
The photographer mostly takes pictures of her family.
How does Mr. Bailey know that Conner is not happy?
Sitting on the oak tree with a contemplative look on his face (not vocal about his problems)
How does Sinbad use the roc to get off the island? Where does he end up in?
Straps himself on the roc’s leg using his turban. Sinbad ends up in a deep, narrow valley.
What happens to the boy in the village? What could have stopped it from happening?
One day, the boy drowns. The fish cannot save him because he doesn’t have fins, but could have saved him if the fish didn’t wish for legs and stayed in the water. The boy ends up dying.
Define Sultan
a ruler of an Islamic country
Who is the photographer? And what is used to compare the photographer’s skills and angles of the photographs?
The photographer is the author's mother/ mama.
A merry-go-round, because her pictures are blurry.
When the fairy offers to grant him a wish, what does the fish ask for? Why?
The fish asks for legs because it is lonely and wants to play with the boy in the village
Why does meat begin to fall from the sky? How does Sinbad use this to get out of the valley?
Merchants want the diamonds on the valley floor, drops meat so that it sticks to the diamonds and the eagle carries it back to its nest. Sinbad straps himself to a chunk of meat and waits for the eagle to bring it back, where he meets the merchants that came to collect the diamonds.
What is the sultan’s reaction when Scheherazade does not finish the story?
He wants to hear more and begs her to finish the story
Define contemplative
involving thinking deeply, or being deep in thought
Where were most of the pictures taken? List at least 5 different examples.
What does this tell you about the author's family?
Giraffe, car, statues, trash cans, rock, bird
The family spends a lot of time together outdoors
What is the lesson (or moral) that Mr. Bailey wants to teach Conner through this legend?
Do not focus on things that you do not have
Do not compare yourself to others
What does Sinbad first observe after realizing he is stuck on the island? Describe it.
"Sinbad saw a dazzling object in the distance. As he neared it, he saw that it was smooth, and around 50 paces around with no opening"
It was a Roc egg
A) Romantic and honorable
B) Violent but cowardly
C) Inconsiderate and unpredictable
D) Impatient but selfish
C) Inconsiderate and unpredictable
Define dazzling
extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful