Narrators
Who plants Lima Beans in the Vacant Lot?
“The garden was like a magnet pulling strangers together.” What is this an example of?
Simile: The garden is a magnet.
Write an example of Direct Characterization.
Mr. Dugan is amazing.
Mr. Wu is funny.
The students are smart.
What is a central idea from Chapter 1 about Kim?
People should remember and honor family members.
People should do their best to remember their family.
"The next moment, she disappeared like a rabbit."
Which character "disappeared like a rabbit."
Is this a simile or a metaphor
Simile
Why does Kim plant Lima beans?
She plants lima beans to make her deceased father proud.
Who plants Goldenrod tea in the garden?
Leona
What do Kim’s Lima bean seeds symbolize?
Hope, Connection to her father, memories of her father
What are some of Leona's Character Traits?
Brave, Confident, Smart,
What lesson does Wendell learn? (Central Idea)
(Remember to answer with, people should...)
Wendell learns that people should:
Take action to make a difference.
try to do what they can.
make an effort to change.
Leona describes her Grandma as:
“She had a head like a rock.”
What does this simile compare?
Leona's Grandma to a rock.
What problem does Leona notice about the vacant lot?
The vacant lot is full of trash.
The vacant lot is dirty and dangerous.
What happens to Wendell's Family?
(Must tell me what happened to BOTH family members)
Wendell's wife was in a car crash.
Wendell's son was shot in the streets.
“ There’s plenty about my life I can’t change. Can’t bring the dead back to life on this earth. Can’t change myself into a millionaire. But a patch of ground in this trashy lot-I can change that. Can change it big. Better to put my time into that than moaning about the other all day. That little grammar-school girl showed me that. That Monday I brought a shovel home from work. ” (p.9)
What is the symbol of the text? What does it symbolize?
The symbol of the text is a shovel. It symbolizes change.
Which of the following is an example of indirect characterization from Chapters 1–5 of Seedfolks?
A. Kim says she planted the beans to feel closer to her father, who died before she was born.
B. Ana explains that Kim is a Vietnamese girl who planted something in the vacant lot.
C. Wendell notices the beans Kim planted and starts watering them, feeling a sense of hope.
D. Gonzalo says that his uncle used to be a teacher but now just sits at home watching TV.
Answer C: indirect characterization because Wendell's actions and feelings
What is the central idea of Chapter 5 (Leona).
Think about the story and what people should learn/do.
The central idea of Chapter 5 is that:
people should do what they believe in.
people should do what they can do to help others
people should ... _________________.
“I realized that I didn’t know anything about growing food and that he knew everything. I stared at his busy fingers, then his eyes. They were focused, not faraway or confused. He’d changed from a baby back into a man.” (p.13)
Is this a Simile or a metaphor? Where in the text is the simile or metaphor? Write it down.
He'd changed back from a baby back into a man.
What helps Tio Juan change from a baby back into a man?
He plants something in the garden. (The garden)
Who helps Tio Juan speak English in the vacant lot? Why does the narrator help Tio Juan?
Gonzalo. He helps Tio Juan because Tio Juan does not know/speak English.
How does the garden begin to symbolize community?
People come together and begin to garden.
People from different cultures and different backgrounds come together to plant and fight for the Garden.
“ I do love to sit and look out the window. Why do I need TV when I have forty-eight apartment windows to watch across the vacant lot, and a sliver of Lake Erie? I’ve seen history out this window. So much.” (p.4)
Is this Indirect or direct characterization of Ana? What does this characterization help readers understand?
This is indirect characterization because the author describes Ana’s actions. This shows the reader that Ana is curious.
What central idea is shown through Gonzalo and his uncle?
People should help and support each other.
People should make an effort to do what they love.
In Seedfolks, Gonzalo says:
"The older you are, the younger you get when you move to the United States."
Is this a metaphor or a simile, and what does it mean?
A metaphor.
It means older people are like children because they cannot speak English. They smile more and nod or shake their heads.
Why does Ana call Wendell to help?
They are the only white people in the building.
Why does the story have many different narrators?
It helps you understand each character and their views.
First-person writing about what each person feels.
What does the vacant lot symbolize in the BEGINNING of Seedfolks? (Think about adjectives of the vacant lot and how it looked)
Danger, Neglect, Bad things of the city, or loss of potential.
“She hadn’t seen me behind the refrigerator. She looked afraid for her life. Maybe she thought I’d jump up and grab her. I gave her a smile and showed her that I was just giving her plants some water. This made her eyes go even bigger. I stood up slowly and backed away. I smiled again. She watched me leave. We never spoke one word.” (p.9)
Is this direct or indirect characterization of Wendell? (Traits or Actions) What does this characterization help readers understand?
This is indirect characterization of Wendell because it describes his actions. Readers learn that Wendell is kind and helpful.
What Lesson does Ana learn from Chapter 2?
(Hint: What does Ana do? What central idea do we understand from Ana? Remember, people should...)
People should not judge others before they know them.
People should try to help other people.
Explain the simile that Wendell writes :
“The world was like a blizzard, with things blowing around and me trying to dig out.”
The world and a blizzard.
Wendell feels trapped. There are too many things happening around him as he tries to work out his life.
What does Leona do to change the garden?
Include First, Next, Then, Finally in your answer.
First, Leona notices the garden is dirty. Next, she calls City Hall. Then, they don't respond to her, so she goes to meet them in person. Finally, she opens up a smelly garbage bag inside City Hall.