Match the names of the characters in the list A with the description in the list B

Film 2

The Book

“Bridge to Tirabithia” by Katherine Paterson

The novel Bridge to Tirabithia was first published in 1977 and has been engaging and inspiring readers as a poignant story of friendship, courage, and growing up ever since. It was honored with the 1978 Newbery Medal for being the year’s most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Pre-reading

1. This story is about two friends. Brainstorm a list of qualities that make someone a good friend. Is having friends important? Explain.

2. The main characters in Bridge to Terabithia have a secret place they go to. Do you have a secret place—a place where you can go to be by yourself? Can your secret place be imag­inary? Explain.

3. Look at the cover of the book. What do you think it tells you about the story? What emotions does the cover make you feel? What questions do you have about the cover? What do you think the title means? What is a bridge? How can a bridge be a metaphor? What can a bridge symbolize?

While-reading

1. Describe Jess. What does he look like? What is important to him? What does he think of himself? How do you know? Would you be friends with Jess? Why or why not?

2. Why do you think Jess tells himself that he and Miss Edmunds are "alike"?

3. What is Lark Creek Elementary School like? Who has social power there? How is this similar to and different from your school?

4. When Jess thinks about Miss Edmunds and his drawings, he considers himself "rich, very rich." What do you think he means? Is he rich? What role does wealth play in this story?

5. Who is Leslie Burke? What does she look like? What is important to her? What makes her different from Jess and other students?

6. What does Leslie mean when she says, "My parents are reassessing their value structure"? What does Jess mean when he responds, "But you're the one that's gotta pay"?

7. Discuss the roles of boys and girls, men and women in this story. Why do you think the gender roles are the way they are in this community? Do these roles apply today?

8. What is Terabithia? What does it mean to Jess? To Leslie? Why?

9. Why doesn't Jess stand up to Janice Avery on the bus? What does Leslie mean later when she says, "It's the, principle of the thing, Jess. That's what you've got to understand, You have to stop people like that. Otherwise they turn into tyrants and dictators." Do you agree? What do you think about what Jess and Leslie did to Janice after she took May Belle's Twinkies? Did they have other choices? Explain. Leslie says that Janice deserves everything she gets, Do you agree? Why or why not?

10. Compare and contrast Jess's and Leslie's families, in what ways are their families similar to and different from yours?

11. How does Jess feel about his sister May Belle? Why? Why do you think Jess decided that "somehow this year May Belle needed something special" for Christmas?

12. Why doesn't the magic of Terabithia work for Jess when he is alone?

13. The words stupid and smart appear throughout the story. For example, "A11 the Burkes were smart. Not smart, maybe, about fixing things or growing things, but smart in a way Jess had never known real live people to be." What do you think smart means? Are there different ways of being smart?

14. The Aarons family goes to church once a year, on Easter, Leslie's family has never gone to church before. How do Jess and Leslie expand each other's ideas about God and religion? How can you learn from people who have different beliefs from yours and your family's?

15. What made Jess's day in Washington so special? What is ironic about the title of chapter ten? What was your reaction to the news of Leslie's death? Have you known someone who died? What were your feelings and experiences about this death? What helped you during that time?

16. Does Jess eventually come to terms with Leslie's death? Explain your answer. Ellie says that "boys ain't supposed to cry at times like this." What do you think about this statement?

17. Is Jess the same person at the end of the book as he was at the beginning? Use examples from the book to support your ideas.

18. Review the notes about the cover and title from before you read the book. Now what do you think the title means? What do you think is happening in the cover picture? Talk about the meaning and importance of bridges in this story, both real and symbolic.

Post-reading

1. The major themes of this story include friendship, courage, death, and growing up.

a) In what ways do these themes appear in the novel?

b) What do you think the story says about each theme?

c) Which of them is most mean­ingful to you personally?

2. Terabithia, the imaginary kingdom that Jess and Leslie create, is based on another well-known imaginary kingdom. You may have read some of the Narnia books by English author C. S. Lewis, starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and continuing for seven books to The Last Battle. In this popular saga, Lewis relates several children's adventures in a magical world called Narnia, where they meet kings and queens, witches, lions, and unicorns and other fantastic creatures. If you have read any of the Narnia books, look for similarities between Narnia and the kingdom of Terabithia in this novel. What other magical kingdoms have you read about?

3. Personal Response.

A real-life tragedy led Katherine Paterson to write Bridge to Terabithia. Her son David's best friend, Lisa Hill, was struck by lightning and killed. How does knowing about this tragedy add to your understanding and appreciation of the book?

4. Writing about the Novel.

Terabithia is a place where Jess and Leslie can escape from everyday cares and pressures and indulge in the life of the imagination. Write about the importance of the imagination as a means of escape from the problems and stresses of everyday life. Can dreaming and imagining be productive activities, or are they just a waste of time? Think about Leslie and Jess's experiences as you write.

“The Golden Compass”

Pre-stage

Дата добавления: 2017-01-13