Learning Intention: I will closely analyse Chapter 9

Close Success Criteria:

Analysis: • I can demonstrate my understanding of the moon and the

cellar as symbolism
Chapter 9 • I can demonstrate my understanding of characters and
plot, especially Constance
• I can write an analytical paragraph based on my
knowledge of Chapter 9
 APK: Plot Scramble

You will be given a series of key events across Chapter 9.

You are required to place these in the correct order.

You have 5 minutes to do this.

 NI: Symbolism or Foreshadowing?
In our study of Chapter 8, we
explored the symbolism of the
house and the moon.
We agreed that the moon
Symbolism = The use Foreshadowing = An represented an escape from reality.
of symbols (an object indication of
or place) to something that will
represent ideas. happen in the future
Today, we will explore the
symbolism of:
1) The moon
2) The cellar
Representations of “the Moon” in
‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’
• “I made a rule for myself: Never think • “Everything’s safe on the moon.” (p.44)
anything more than once, and I put my • “I am on the moon, I thought, please let me
hands quietly in my lap. I am living on the
be on the moon.” (p.106)
moon, I told myself, I have a little house all
by myself on the moon.” (p.14)
• “I liked my house on the moon, and I put a In your CN, answer the following question:
fireplace in it and a garden outside (what • Based on the excerpts provided above,
would flourish, growing on the moon? I must what does “the moon” represent for
ask Constance) and I was going to have lunch Merricat? How do we know this?
outside in my garden on the moon. Things
on the moon were very bright, and odd
colours; my little house would be blue.”
(p.14)
A
cellar/basement
With your elbow partner, develop a
description of a cellar:
• What is it?
• Where do we find them?
• What is in it?
• Is it easy to access?
• Can everyone access this?
• Is this a place we should be afraid
of?
Write this in your CN.
Representations of “The Cellar”
• “The entire cellar of our house was filled with • “All the Blackwood women had
food. All the Blackwood women had made
food and had taken pride in adding to the
taken the food that came from the
great supply of food in our cellar. There were ground and preserved it, and the
jars of jam made by our great-grandmothers, deeply colored rows of jellies and
with labels in thin pale writing, almost pickles and bottled vegetables and
unreadable by now, and pickles made by great-
aunts and vegetables put up by our fruit, maroon and amber and dark
grandmother, and even our mother had left rich green, stood side by side in our
behind her six jars of apple jelly. Constance had cellar and would stand there forever,
worked all her life at adding to the food in the a poem by the Blackwood women.”
cellar, and her rows and rows of jars were easily
the handsomest and shone amongst the (p.42)
others.” (p.42)
In your CN, answer the following question:
• Based on the excerpts provided above, what does “the cellar”
represent? How do we know this?
 Chapter 9 Passage Analysis
You will be given a passage from Chapter 9 on
either “The Moon” or “The Cellar”

With your elbow partner:

1) Read the excerpt
2) How is either “The Moon” or “The Cellar”
being represented in Chapter 9? How do we
know this? Provide evidence.

Share your answers with the rest of the class.

After listening to your peers share their thoughts, in your CN,
write a response to the following question: in what ways are
representations of “the moon” and “the cellar” different in this
chapter compared to previous chapters?
Characterisation: Constance in Chapter 9
Understanding the changes in Activity: Passage Analysis
Constance’s attitudes might help us
understand the symbolism of “the 1) You are to read all five passages provided. Each
cellar” and “the moon” as of these passages demonstrate a change in
foreshadowing these changes we see Constance.
in Constance by the end of the novel. 2) Identify two passages that you believe best
represents changes we see in Constance
3) In your CN, provide:
(i) a summary of each of the passages chosen.
(ii) an explanation detailing reasons why your
selected passages best reflects changes we see in
Constance in Chapter 9
Apply: Symbolism or Foreshadowing?
Merricat to Constance before the fire: Write an analytical paragraph to one of the following
questions:
“On the moon we have everything. 1) How are representations of “the moon” and “the
Lettuce, and pumpkin pie and Amanita cellar” different in Chapter 9 compared to previous
chapters?
phalloides. We have cat-furred plants and
horses dancing with their wings. All the 2) Constance has changed completely by the end of
Chapter 9. What changes do we see and what does
locks are solid and tight, and there are no this tell us about her?
ghosts. On the moon Uncle Julian would 3) Does Shirley Jackson use the symbolism of the
be well and the sun would be well and moon earlier in the novel to foreshadow the
the sun
Use the would shine every
next couple day.”
of slides to (p.75) destruction to come and the isolation both Merricat
and Constance becomes by the end of the novel?
assist you in writing your analytical
paragraph.
Body Paragraph Structure – Take note!
• WHAT: Topic sentence: an idea (theme) you are arguing that exists in the
text.
• WHERE: Evidence: Include “direct quotations” through your paragraph.
• HOW: Inference and Analysis: Discuss how language (words, punctuation,
literary devices, symbols, personification etc.) has been used to create the
ideas and deeper meaning. This can be a few sentences long.
• WHY: Author’s Intention: Why is the author writing about the theme? What
do they want the audience to do learn reading the text? Are they spreading a
message? A warning? Does the author want the reader to do something in
particular?
 LIST ONE
highlights discusses
Stem sentences: implies suggests
conveys describes
focuses comments
Topic sentence:
on on
A main idea/argument in response to the prompt, in relation to the text. reveals presents
Highlighting the importance of_______, the AUTHOR depicts the way that ____________, can lead to identifies introduces
_____ argues explores
Evidence, Analysis and Inference:
maintains emphasises
The writer employs [device] in the line, “ .” demonstrates
The use of [device] conveys/ suggests/ reveals/ connects……………………………….
Evidence Analysis , and Inference:
Furthermore, the author also uses a [device] when they states that, “………………………………….”.
In this line, the word ”…………”emphasises…………………..

Evidence Analysis , and Inference:

The author uses [device] when they states that, “………………………………….”, this line,
emphasises…………………..
Social context/Theme: The author is comments on the idea of [Theme/Context/Event] , in the line “
…………………..”, this conveys ……………..
 Learning Intention: I will closely analyse Chapter 9

Close Success Criteria:

Analysis: • I can demonstrate my understanding of the moon and the

cellar as symbolism
Chapter 9 • I can demonstrate my understanding of characters and
plot, especially Constance
• I can write an analytical paragraph based on my
knowledge of Chapter 9