What theme does Milford convey through the characterization of Natalie?
In this lesson you will learn how to determine the theme of a text by tracking the development of the main character.
Let’s Review The Kairos Mechanisim by Kate Milford Natalie is a brave, strong character. Good readers think about what the growth or changes of a character represent.
Theme = message the author is trying Let’s Review to convey to readers through the text Topic: • loyalty • friendship What does theme • good vs. evil mean? • coming of age Themes: • when loyalty is challenged, people can get hurt • the challenges and treasures of friendship • good overcoming evil or vice versa • coming of age and the challenges of finding your true self
Core Lesson 1 Identify and reread scenes that are critical to the development of the main character. 2 Track the main character’s growth on a story timeline by asking “How does the main character change from scene to scene?” 3 Ask yourself, “How do these changes fit together to reveal a theme of the text?”
Identify and reread scenes that are Core Lesson critical to the development of the main character. Which scenes are Important scenes: really important to Natalie’s character? • Natalie meets Ben & Amory • Natalie fights with Alfred & Mike • Natalie disobeys Mr. Trigemine in the woods • Natalie defeats Mr. Trigemine with the kairos mechanism
How does this Core Lesson scene develop Natalie’s character? Words: • “ Where did you come from?” • “ Are you taking rooms there?” Actions: • “ peering ” Thoughts: • Bad mood • Won’t be disregarded
How does this scene develop Core Lesson Natalie’s character? Actions: • hauled back fist and threw it – Alfred • glared • threw it right to his side - Mike Thoughts: • unacceptable… could not be permitted • bad intentions Words: • none
Core Lesson How does this scene develop Natalie’s character? Corkscrewing fear ripped up and down the length of Natalie is her spine… Natalie put both hands to her thudding terrified and heart, which now felt as if it wanted out of her body threatened "Don't you move!" came Mr. Trigemine's hiss… so that it could flee on its own. "Don't move," Mr. Trigemine suggested from where A patch of smoke cleared yards and yards away, wisps of blue he leaned, unperturbed, as the din rose in volume parting to reveal, for just a moment, a man in a yellow-brown coat. and fury. "Stay right where you are, and you'll leave This man was in the act of raising his rifle to point it directly at She directly this place with a scratch and a healthy respect for Tom. what I can do, nothing more. Take one step further disobeys Mr. Don't you move. - Natalie ran. in any direction, and the Claffan boys will have to Trigemine to She flung herself at Tom, stumbling over roots and then over make do on their own." larger obstacles. Tripping, she put down a hand and touched wet save Tom "What?" cloth. She lurched back to her feet and forced herself not to look The noise that erupted next shredded the air and down. Somewhere behind her the sutler was cursing. shook the ground. It was so loud, so awful, and so sudden that only pure terror held Natalie still.
Core Lesson How does this scene develop Natalie’s character? The moment she did it, she could feel that she'd done... something… It was a howl of fury and a screech of fear, shock, and disbelief, all rolled into one. No, there was • something else. It felt to Natalie as if some underpinning of continues to the world itself had come unglued and been yanked out from disobey Mr. under them all. Trigemine The sutler's feet came right off the ground and he flew backward, bent in two at the waist as if he'd been lassoed • her actions have around the stomach and whoever held the other end of the a huge rope had just given it an unimaginably strong heave. He consequence clawed at the air, but his body bent further, further, and further still until he was folded nearly in half. Then, • defeats Mr. impossibly, he collapsed down even more, flattening until all Trigemine Natalie could see were his wildly scrambling hands reaching vainly for a grip on 1913. And then those, too, were gone.
2. Track the main character’s growth on Core Lesson a story timeline. Scenes Growth inquisitive, observant, strong Natalie meets Ben & Amory willed young girl tough, self confident, Natalie fights with Alfred hurt and awkward with boys & Mike brave, gains power, learns the Mr. Trigemine takes Natalie real danger she and her friends to the woods are in Natalie defeats Mr. Trigemine maintains power, becomes by learning to use comfortable with herself, changes, phantasmata and her powers
3. Ask yourself, “How do these changes Core Lesson fit together to reveal a theme of the text?” Growth Natalie is slowly progressing and becoming comfortable with who she inquisitive, observant, strong willed young girl is, what she can do, and how her life is changing as tough, self confident, she grows up. hurt and awkward with boys brave, gains power, learns the real danger she and her friends are in maintains power, becomes comfortable with herself, changes, Theme: and her powers difficulties of growing up and coming of age
What theme does Milford convey through the Core Lesson characterization of Natalie? Kate Milford uses Natalie’s character to develop the theme of “the difficulties of growing up and coming of age” in The Kairos Mechanism. The growth of Natalie shows a character that is confident, but struggling to find her place in a town filled with secrecy. Through several experiences, she has more and more opportunity to learn who she is to the town, what she can do, and how to handle all the changes and challenges in her life. Natalie’s character is inquisitive and observant during the exposition of the text. These traits show that she is confident and searching for a way to contribute to the town and show her value. After learning how to control her phantasmata and handle the changes in her life, she is much more in control and powerful, which gives her the ability to stand up to Mr. Trigemine. Through the process of learning about Mr. Trigemine and Mr. Coffret’s powers, how to control her own powers, and her ultimate defeat of Mr. Trigemine, Natalie becomes fully aware of who she is, how important she is to the town, and how her relationships with the boys have changed forever.
Core Lesson 1 Identify and reread scenes that are critical to the development of the main character. 2 Track the main character’s growth on a story timeline. 3 Ask yourself, “How do these changes fit together to reveal a theme of the text?”
In this lesson you have learned how to determine the theme of a text by tracking the development of the main character.
Recommend
More recommend
