Style & Structure

Close Reading

Do Now – Freda Take the poem “The Rose

Through the Concrete” from my desk and read it carefully. In your notebook, consider the following and answer in complete sentences: What specific words jump

out at you? What are the connotations of

those words? What type of punctuation (or

lack thereof) do you notice? How does the punctuation

affect your understanding?

ObjectiveStudents will

examine how author choice concerning the style and structure of a text create such effects as drama, tension, or surprise.

Do NowNote-Taking: Style

and Structure Close reading Lens

Practice: “The Poison Tree” by William Blake

Exit

9/17/15

Agenda

StructureStructure is the author’s organizational choice.Each genre has a different

structure.Non-FictionPoemsNovelsShort Stories

What do the structures of these genre’s look like?

Reading for StructureSTEP 1: Look for the author’s techniques:

DescriptionsDialogueFlashbacksComparisons/ContradictionsInner ThinkingRepetitionPatterns

Reading for Structure

STEP 2: Describe the purpose of that organization/technique:To set the stageTo revealTo create suspenseTo foreshadow

STEP 3: Find patternsHow are the parts similar? How are the parts different?

What purpose do the parts serve?

Reading for Structure

STEP 4: Use the patterns to develop a new understanding of the text.Look at patterns to think about:

A character’s:Development

A whole text’s:ThemesCentral IdeasAuthor’s purpose

Reading for Structure

Organization of Text – Narrative Structure (Freytag’s Pyramid)

Writing StyleWriting style is the manner in which the

author chooses to write to his audience.Each author has a unique style.

The style of the author depends on the genre:Non-FictionPoemsNovelsShort Stories

Reading for Writing StyleSTEP 1: Look for the author’s techniques:

Sentence fluency (run-on or concise)Sentence TypeWord choice (concise or descriptive)Voice (impersonal, chatty, authoritative, objective,

or serious)Punctuation

STEP 2: Describe the purpose of that style/technique:To set the stageTo revealTo create suspenseTo foreshadow

Let’s PracticeStructure & Style Lens

“A Poison Tree” by William BlakeI was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end.I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.  And I waterd it in fears,Night & morning with my tears: And I sunned it with smiles,And with soft deceitful wiles.  

And it grew both day and night. Till it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine,And he knew that it was mine.  And into my garden stole, When the night had veild the pole; In the morning glad I see; My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

Take a look at structure:Why do poets split their poems into multiple

stanzas if the whole poem is focused on one topic?

What is a stanza?Now let’s look at the poem’s

organization/structure and how it influences its meaning.

I was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end.I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.

“A Poison Tree” by William BlakeStanza One

• What is this stanza about?

• What are the structure and style techniques you have noticed?The author states that he is

extremely angry with his friend. Once, he told the friend he was angry, his anger disappeared. Then he was angry with an enemy but did not tell him and he became enraged.Techniques: inner-thinking, repetition, flashback, voice, and word choice.

And I watered it in fears,Night & morning with my tears: And I sunned it with smiles,And with soft deceitful wiles.

“A Poison Tree” by William BlakeStanza Two

• What is this stanza about?

• What are the structure and style techniques you have noticed?The author talks about his

growing anger from his “fears” and “tears.” Then his mischievous thoughts grow with “smiles” and “wiles.”

Techniques: inner-thinking, figurative language, metaphor, rhyme, and word choice.

How does this stanza connect with the previous? Think in terms of structure and style.

And it grew both day and night. Till it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine,And he knew that it was mine.

“A Poison Tree” by William BlakeStanza Three – Turn & Talk

• What is this stanza about?

• What are the structure and style techniques you have noticed?As his anger grew, it

produces a bright and shiny apple. The enemy finds the apple and realizes that it is the speakers.Techniques: inner-thinking, figurative language, voice, rhyme, and word choice.

How does this stanza connect with the previous? Think in terms of structure and style.

And into my garden stole, When the night had veild the pole; In the morning glad I see; My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

“A Poison Tree” by William BlakeStanza Four – Turn & Talk

• What is this stanza about?

• What are the structure and style techniques you have noticed?The enemy tries to steal the

speaker’s apple, which makes him a thief. This happens at night with the “pole” as the starts are covered. He ate the apple and died.Techniques: inner-thinking, figurative language, personification, voice, rhyme, and word choice.

How does this stanza connect with the previous? Think in terms of structure and style.

Exit: Now that we looked at the poem…We read the poem stanza by stanza close

reading for structure and style to make meaning.

Answer the following questions on a piece of paper:Why would the author choose to structure the

poem this way?Why would the author use these stylistic

techniques?How does reading for Style & Structure impact

the reader’s understanding of the text?

HINT: Refer to Steps 2, 3, and 4 answer these questions.

Now you!

Independently, read through Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son” and answer the questions that follow.

MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER EACH QUESTION WITH 2-3 COMPLETE SENTENCES. Don’t forget about your participation rubrics.

Practice Part II