True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle



True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Language Arts: Introduction to the author, Avi

Fans of novelist Avi know that his goal was to create stories that are exciting and fun as well as thoughtful and well written. He has attracted a loyal audience of young readers, teachers, and critics and has earned numerous awards and honors. The thirty books Avi has written include tales of mystery, history, adventure, comedy, and fantasy.

He says, "I take a great deal of satisfaction in using popular forms—the adventure, the mystery, the thriller—so as to hold my reader with the sheer pleasure of a good story."

Avi Wortis was born in New York City, on December 23, 1937, and he grew up in the borough of Brooklyn. His father was a psychiatrist and his mother was a social worker. His parents held strong political views and fought actively against racism and for women’s rights. Avi remembers that his home was always filled with lively discussions.

Despite the author’s love of reading and learning, school was a constant struggle for him. Later in his life, he realized that he had a learning disorder that affected his ability to spell and form letters. Because at that time people did not understand learning disorders, Avi was criticized at school and told that he would never be a good student or a writer. Avi, however, would not be discouraged. With the encouragement of his family and a helpful tutor, and because of his love of books and his own stubbornness, he kept writing.

While still in high school, he decided that he wanted to have a career as a writer. Avi based the experiences of many of his later fictional characters on his own experience of feeling like an outsider. After high school, Avi studied at the University of Wisconsin and earned two degrees. He then moved back to New York City and took a job with the New York Public Library. He worked as a librarian for the next twenty-five years, and he continued to write.

Avi became interested in children’s literature after the birth of his own children. His first published book, Things That Sometimes Happen (1970), was a collection of stories based on tales Avi told his two sons. After he published his first novel, No More Magic, in 1975, he realized that writing novels for preteens and teens was what he wanted to do most.

Before his death in 1994, Avi wrote full time and traveled around the country to give talks in schools. He liked to share his story of success with students, particularly students with learning disorders. Avi believed that being in touch with his readers helped him keep his stories realistic.

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Language Arts: Exposition

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, published in 1990, is an adventure novel set in

1832. When the novel begins, Charlotte Doyle is a sheltered schoolgirl who knows

only the wealthy world of her family. She is about to embark on a journey that will take

her from her school in England to her family’s home in Providence, Rhode Island.

From the moment she steps aboard the Seahawk, Charlotte Doyle has unsettling experiences. In the earliest days of her voyage, these experiences strengthen Charlotte’s feeling that she should not be traveling across the Atlantic Ocean by herself on a ship full of strangers. The voyage cannot end soon enough for her. Charlotte has no idea that her time aboard the Seahawk will change her life forever.

Originally, Avi did not plan to focus this novel on one character. When he began to

write, he was planning to create a mystery novel. He even titled his work-in-progress “The

Seahawk.” However, in working on the book, Avi found that he was drawn to the character of Charlotte. He began to care about how events might affect her. The element of mystery then became secondary to the story of Charlotte.

Of his writing style, Avi says, “I try to write about complex issues—young people in an

adult world . . . in a narrative style that relies heavily on suspense with a texture rich in emotion and imagery.” This style can be seen in his characterization of Charlotte, his images of the ship and the sea, and his development of the story’s events. Charlotte, like other characters in Avi’s writing, struggles to find her true self in a world that is not always flexible or kind. Suspense, vivid details, the believable characterization of Charlotte and others, and the emotional impact of its ending have earned this novel much critical praise and several awards. One reviewer described the book as a “sensuous novel evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of the ship and the sea; the moods of captain and crew; . . . and the nature of friendship and loyalty.”

Most of the action in The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle takes place in 1832 on an old two-masted sailing ship, called a brig. The brig is traveling from England to the United States to transport cargo. Another setting, used later in the novel, is the wealthy, orderly home of Charlotte’s parents in Providence.

Early in the novel, Charlotte tells readers that her father “engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods” and had been working at an American business located in England. At the time in which the novel is set, the manufacture of cotton cloth was an important and profitable industry in both England and the northeastern United States. In the 1800s, some people were reaping the benefits of what is called the Industrial Revolution—the period during which machines replaced skilled workers and their hand tools. The Industrial Revolution made nations wealthier, but this wealth was not shared by all the people. In many countries, the gap between the rich and the poor widened, and distinct social classes became more noticeable. It was difficult, if not impossible, for factory workers to lift themselves out of poverty and climb to a higher social level.

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Language Arts: Introduction to Literary Focus

Literary Focus

While we read the novel, we will identify and interpret the author's use of characterization. Use your Holt Literature book pages 106-107 to take notes on the following questions.

What is direct characterization?

What is indirect characterization?

What four questions should a reader ask in order to better understand a character?

1.

2.

3.

4.

What are 5 ways an author can indirectly "show" instead of "tell" about a character?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Defining Characterization

Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is.

Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. Memorizing the acronym "STEAL" can help! There are five different methods of indirect characterization:

|Speech | |

| |What does the character say and how does he/she say it? |

|Thoughts | |

| |What is revealed through the character's private thoughts/feelings? |

| | |

|Effect on others |What is the character's effect on the other characters? How do others respond to or feel or |

| |behave in response to him/her? |

| | |

|Actions |What does the character do? How does he/she behave? And, what do the gestures, expressions, and |

| |movement show about the character? |

|Looks | |

| |What does the character look like? How does he/she dress? |

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Prologue: answer in complete sentences.

1. Who is the narrator of the story?

2. What is a flashback? Why does the author choose to use it?

3. What shocking news does Charlotte share with the reader in the prologue?

4. What warning does Charlotte give to the reader?

5. How would you describe the manner in which Charlotte speaks to the reader?

6. What does Charlotte's SPEECH say about her?

7. Can you make any inferences about her personality?

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 1: Indirect characterization of Charlotte

SPEECH: What does Charlotte say and how does she say it?

THOUGHTS: What are Charlotte's private thoughts and feelings?

EFFECT: How do other characters respond to Charlotte? How do they feel and behave as an

effect of Charlotte's words and actions?

ACTIONS: What do Charlotte's gestures, expressions, and movement say about her? What does

she do?

LOOKS: What does Charlotte look like? How old is she? How does she dress?

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 1: Exposition

After reviewing your indirect characterization notes on Charlotte, create a list of 10 adjectives describing her appearance, personality, and effect on others.

Describe the Seahawk including the figure head.

Describe Charlotte's internal conflict.

Avi used several instances of FORESHADOWING. List two examples.

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 2: Indirect characterization of Zachariah

SPEECH: What does Zachariah say and how does he say it?

THOUGHTS: What are Charlotte's private thoughts and feelings about Zachariah?

EFFECT: How does Charlotte respond to Zachariah? What effects do Zachariah's actions

have on Charlotte at this point of the novel?

ACTIONS: What do Zachariah's gestures, expressions, and movement say about him? What does

he do?

LOOKS: What does Zachariah look like? How old is he? How does he dress?

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 2: Exposition

1. What does Barlow relate to Charlotte?

2. What do Barlow's words and actions show about him?

3. What are Charlotte's thoughts about her room?

4. How does Charlotte respond to Zachariah's offer of friendship? Why

does she respond this way?

5. What does Zachariah give Charlotte? Why?

6. What is revealed by Keetch's words at the end of the chapter? To whom

might he be speaking? To whom might he be referring to at "them"?

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 3: Indirect characterization of Captain Jaggery

SPEECH: What does Captain Jaggery say? How does he say it?

THOUGHTS: What are Charlotte's private thoughts and feelings about the captain?

EFFECT: How does the crew respond to Captain Jaggery? What effects do Jaggery's actions

have on Charlotte at this point of the novel?

ACTIONS: What do Captain Jaggery's gestures, expressions, and movement say about him?

What deliberate actions does he take in this chapter? Why?

LOOKS: What does Captain Jaggery look like? How old is he? How does he dress?

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 3: Exposition

1. Choose an exact quote to describe the crew.

2. What warning does Captain Jaggery give the crew?

3. How does Charlotte feel about the captain? Why?

4. What do you notice about the first interaction between Charlotte

and the captain?

5. What influence does the captain say that Charlotte will have on

the crew?

6. Describe an incident in which the author may be using

foreshadowing in this chapter.

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapter 4-5: Exposition

Literary Focus: Similes and Metaphors

Authors use a variety of tools, just like artists, to make their writing unique and come to life. Similes and metaphors allow readers to make a connection with an image that the author creates by careful word choice and comparison.

Simile: A comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as"

“Her sails looked like leaves on a new fallen snow (12).

“I was struck by the notion that this figure looked more like an angry, avenging angel than a docile bird” (13).

“But gradually—like a telescope being focused—I began to realize that I was looking at something clinging to one of the mooring rope’s on a ship’s stern” (13).

“Like a massive tree rising out of the floor and up through the ceiling was the main mast” (18).

“Alas! He had gone, and shut the door behind him like a spring to a trap” (19).

Metaphor: A comparison of two unlike things without using "like" or "as"

“His eyes might have been those of a dead fish” (7).

"I might have been a bale of cotton" (17).

'"I had been placed in a coffin. My coffin" (21).

"If there has to be only one, she's the trump" (26).

"Indeed. I was a baby" (34).

Assignment:

In your composition notebook, create a list of 15 or more similes and/or metaphors. Copy the sentence exactly making sure that both items of comparison are included. You will also be graded on your proper use of quotation marks, capitalization, and parenthetical citation. Notice the end mark goes outside of the end parenthesis, and only the page number is included inside the parenthesis. Do not include the abbreviation or word “page” inside the parenthesis. Page numbers must be included! Be precise! If you are interested in receiving extra points, continue your list and find as many similes and metaphors as possible!

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Chapters 5-6: Quick Write

This is a 30 minute homework assignment!

View the Sample Character Traits handout. Highlight words that you believe represent Charlotte's personality. Then, on this page, brainstorm facts from the story that represent evidence of those traits. Write your one page essay in your composition notebook. Remember to begin your essay with a quick summary statement, author's name, and title of the book (underlined). Include this thesis:

"Charlotte Doyle is a well-developed character who possesses several interesting personality traits."

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

Life Lessons

• Misleading others leads to bad results.

• Do your best in everything you do.

• See the potential good in everything. Keep a positive outlook.

• Find friends that share your values.

• Things in life are privileges. No one owes you anything.

• Be confident in yourself.

• Don’t be afraid to try new things.

• Make your own decisions. Don’t give in to pressure from others.

• Learn from your mistakes.

• Exercise good judgment.

• Successful people aren’t people without problems. They are people who have learned to solve their problems.

• “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Einstein

• The harder one works, the better the results will be.

• Life won’t go exactly as you want.

• Never judge others.

• Take responsibility for your actions.

• Lead wisely and others will follow.

• Never allow race or religion to affect your relationship or your opinion of a person.

• Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional.

• Sacrifices are not easy, but they are worth it in the end.

• Have the courage to think for yourself.

• Never get angry at someone when they offer help or advice and you don’t think you need the help or advice.

Never believe others are inferior because they don’t know something that you know or they don’t have something you have.

What Is a Response to Literature Essay?

It is exactly that! Students will give their response to a prompt, or question, after reading a selected work of literature. It is critical that students realize that this is not a review or summary. Instead, students must develop a clear thesis and provide support for it in the form of story examples, quotations, and commentary. This requires that students read with a focus of understanding the main character's conflict and growth as well as the author's purpose and relevance to readers' lives.

Generally, a 5 paragraph essay format is used as this shows adequate support and development for the thesis:

Introduction

Body Point #1

Body Point #2

Body Point # 3

Conclusion

It is, however, possible to write a shorter or longer response upon teacher request. All that is required is to alter the number of body paragraphs!

Introduction:

a) Author's name and title

b) Summary statement (Somebody wanted but so): include general information

about main characters, setting, and conflict

c) Thesis (Clear statement answering prompt.)

Body:

a) Clear topic sentence linking back to thesis

b) Two to three supportive examples

c) Quotation(s) of proof

d) Commentary on quotation and link back to thesis

Conclusion:

a) Restate thesis

b) Restate points

c) Author's purpose and insight… “The author wants the reader to understand…”

Common Recurring Themes

What is the purpose of literature? People may argue that literature serves many purposes. One important purpose of fiction is to learn from the characters’ experiences. Literature that endures and lasts through centuries tends to focus on discoveries of the big topics in everyone’s lives. Even though readers may live very different lives than those of the characters, there are universal truths. No matter when, where, how, or who, there are certain life lessons that are true no matter the gender, age, ethnicity or time period.

A theme is a truth about life revealed in a work of fiction. Some other expressions for theme are: life lessons, morals of the story, free advice, truths, revelation about life, and golden nuggets of wisdom. There are many common recurring themes. Themes recur over and over again in the stories we tell because some truths about the human experience are universal.

According to , insight is “the ability to discern the true nature of a situation” or “grasping the hidden or inner nature of things or of perceiving in an intuitive manner”. A good reader must be able to infer a work’s themes and provide insight as to how the author’s message is relevant to readers’ lives.

So, how does a reader develop his or her insight and identify a work’s themes? By tracing the plot and watching a character resolve the conflict, a reader has made a good start. Making inferences about a character’s speech, thoughts, effects, actions, and looks is helpful too. But, an even better strategy to use “Most Important Word”. What word can you give as a most important word for the selection? Remember, your word needs to be an abstract noun that cannot be perceived by the senses! Here are some common recurring themes:

acceptance justice Mission: As we begin part two of the

adversity leadership novel, begin to record one quotation

change loyalty a day to offer proof for changes in

choices obedience Charlotte and lessons she is learning.

citizenship perception Be ambitious! Your quotation should

commitment perseverance be a discovery or truth or a revelation

confidence pride for Charlotte! Properly list the page

determination respect numbers using parenthetical citation!

discrimination responsibility

empathy revenge

failure risk

forgiveness sacrifice

freedom satisfaction

gratitude self-worth

grief survival

guilt betrayal

honesty fairness

hope trust

independence bravery

individuality fear

integrity nature

judgment

Sample Character Traits

active

adventurous

affectionate

afraid

alert

ambitious

angry

annoyed

anxious

apologetic

arrogant

attentive

average

bad

blue

bold

bored

bossy

brainy

brave

bright

brilliant

busy

calm

careful

careless

cautious

charming

cheerful

childish

clever

clumsy

coarse

concerned

confident

confused

considerate

cooperative

courageous

cowardly

cross

cruel

curious

dangerous

daring

dark

decisive

demanding

dependable

depressed

determined

discouraged

dishonest

disrespectful

doubtful

dull

dutiful

eager

easygoing

efficient

embarrassed

encouraging

energetic

evil

excited

expert

fair

faithful

fearless

fierce

foolish

fortunate

foul

fresh

friendly

frustrated

funny

gentle

giving

glamorous

gloomy

good

graceful

grateful

greedy

grouchy

grumpy

guilty

happy

harsh

hateful

healthy

helpful

honest

hopeful

hopeless

humorous

ignorant

imaginative

impatient

impolite

inconsiderate

independent

industrious

innocent

intelligent

jealous

kindly

lazy

leader

lively

lonely

loving

loyal

lucky

mature

mean

messy

miserable

mysterious

naughty

nervous

nice

noisy

obedient

obnoxious

old

peaceful

picky

pleasant

polite

poor

popular

positive

precise

proper

proud

quick

quiet

rational

reliable

religious

responsible

restless

rich

rough

rowdy

sad

safe

satisfied

scared

secretive

selfish

serious

sharp

short

shy

silly

skillful

sly

smart

sneaky

sorry

spoiled

stingy

strange

strict

stubborn

sweet

talented

tall

thankful

thoughtful

thoughtless

tired

tolerant

touchy

trusting

trustworthy

unfriendly

unhappy

upset

useful

warm

weak

wicked

wise

worried

wrong

young

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