Teacher resource: The Negro Motorist Book

Film: “The Negro Motorist Green Book”

The scales of justice were difficult to find in 1960 when Ruby Bridges was chosen to integrate William Frantz Public School. In spite of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling under Brown v. The Board of Education, change was not welcomed in the South. Instead, longstanding Black Codes, Jim Crow Laws, and distorted images of Blacks were pervasive in the South. They were much easier to see than the signs of justice. What impact do you think these contorted images and laws had on how black children and white children viewed themselves and others?

Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist and title character in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, is appropriately dubbed a reluctant hero. However, in chapter after chapter, whether it’s slaying spiders or duping goblins, it appears to be Bilbo who manages to resolve the situations that threaten him, the dwarves, and even Gandalf, at times.

Locate an event that threatens the adventurers in one of the chapters in the novel. Analyze how the dwarves’ attitude toward Bilbo and his own perception of himself as the right “burglar” for the job evolve. In other words, what does the challenging episode reveal to Bilbo, the other characters, and the reader about Mr. Baggins? How does it advancce his journey toward becoming a hero? Provide some evidence from the text and cite the page numbers, please.

Common Core Standards
Reading: ELACC7RI1, 2, 9 Writing: ELACC7W7, 8, 9

Reread (close read) “Poetry in The Hobbit,” by Stella Quinn. Using facts only from the article, not your opinion, write a rhetorical précis for the article. You may review the guidelines for how to write a rhetorical précis and review student exemplars here.

Reading: ELACC7RI1, 2, 9
Writing: ELACC7W7, 8, 9

If you could possess any magical power, what would it be and how would you use it? How does Gandalf use his powers?

Literary connection: In her picture book The Very Best of Friends (1989), Margaret Wild suggest friendships can be fragile. Wild supports this suggestion when her character Jesse, a widow, and her late husband’s cat, William find themselves alone and trying to cope with James’ unexpected death. Wild’s purpose is to show that people and animals, in order to cope with loss, have to find a way to move on with life and living instead of abusing each other. In a tone that is at times whimsical and other times serious, Wild appeals to readers young and old who value friends and family.

What does what we say and how we say it tell people about us? In other words, what might people assume about us based upon how we talk? Why is this important in literature and in life?

Literary connection: Lois Lowry’s The Giver

Simply stated, technology refers to the tools that we use to make our lives easier. Is is possible, however, that many of our technological innovations are having a negative impact? How might people and nature be at risk because of some of today’s technology?

Bilbo Baggins, J. R. R. Tolkien’s protagonist in The Hobbit (1937) is portrayed as a reluctant hero. This characterization is framed throughout the tale by Bilbo’s ambivalence regarding his adventure with the Wizard Gandalf and the dwarves. However, it is also solidified by Joseph Campbell’s suggestion, in his widely reviewed work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), that a hero’s journey can be articulated by a pattern of events that are somewhat universal and timeless, connected by myths and mores. In many ways it may appear that our contemporary society is just as fascinated with historical, literary and cinematic heroes as previous eras. If that is the case what might we infer from today’s news headlines which seem to suggest a rejection of education, family, values and self? Are we reluctant heroes and heroines or just reluctant people?

ELACC7W1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
a. Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
b. Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

I have added the standards above and I am suggesting we revist Campbell’s work and reframe the question.
Modified 10/1/2012 @ 7:43 PM