Touching BottomTouching Bottom

Short Story by Kari StruttShort Story by Kari Strutt

Initial Opinions Initial Opinions

Put the following statements in the order you agree with them.

Number 1 is the one you most agree with.

Number 5 is the one you least agree with.

Order from 1 to 5:Order from 1 to 5:

a) The husband in this story was a negligent father a) The husband in this story was a negligent father and husband.and husband.

b) The husband in this story was a good father, just b) The husband in this story was a good father, just not a good husband.not a good husband.

c) The husband in this story was a good father and c) The husband in this story was a good father and a good husband, we just need to understand a good husband, we just need to understand “how it works” in LA.“how it works” in LA.

d) There is not enough information in the story to d) There is not enough information in the story to conclude whether the husband had any role in conclude whether the husband had any role in his wife and son’s incident in the water.his wife and son’s incident in the water.

e) It was the husband’s fault that the narrator and e) It was the husband’s fault that the narrator and Ian almost drowned.Ian almost drowned.

Significance of the TitleSignificance of the Title

Of course we can see the Of course we can see the significance of the title in the significance of the title in the incident in the water, when the incident in the water, when the narrator touches bottom, but can you narrator touches bottom, but can you link the title to any other event, link the title to any other event, character, or theme in the story?character, or theme in the story?

Story beginningStory beginning

The story begins with a retelling of The story begins with a retelling of some of the narrator’s memories. Is some of the narrator’s memories. Is this an effective opening for a short this an effective opening for a short story? Why or why not?story? Why or why not?

Passage…Passage…

Look for the passages appearing in Look for the passages appearing in italicsitalics. What is different about these . What is different about these passages, and what functions, and passages, and what functions, and what functions do they serve.what functions do they serve.

Inferring (Reading b/t the Inferring (Reading b/t the lines)lines)

There is some information in this There is some information in this story that lead me to believe that the story that lead me to believe that the narrator is much younger than her narrator is much younger than her husband. Can you find some of the husband. Can you find some of the lines in this story that have led me to lines in this story that have led me to this inference? Can you infer any this inference? Can you infer any other information?other information?

Conflict (Think/Pair/Share)Conflict (Think/Pair/Share)

What are all the conflicts present in What are all the conflicts present in this story? this story?

If you had to choose one of these as If you had to choose one of these as the main conflict, which would you the main conflict, which would you choose and why?choose and why?

Effectiveness…Effectiveness…

This story is told in first person. In This story is told in first person. In your opinion, would this story have your opinion, would this story have been as effective if it were told in been as effective if it were told in third-person narration? Explain.third-person narration? Explain.

Theme/MessageTheme/Message

Can you suggest a theme or Can you suggest a theme or message of this short story? message of this short story?

Why would the author wish to share Why would the author wish to share this story with readers?this story with readers?

Power of WordsPower of Words

. Why is this story included in a unit . Why is this story included in a unit on the power of words? Explain in on the power of words? Explain in your journal. your journal.

ExampleExample

The narrator is The narrator is innocentinnocent Quotes: ‘My Dad told me not to marry him. He Quotes: ‘My Dad told me not to marry him. He

said, “His mid-life crisis will pass soon enough said, “His mid-life crisis will pass soon enough and you’ll be stuck in California, like a fish out of and you’ll be stuck in California, like a fish out of water.”water.”

Or Or “He came to Canada on business, to “He came to Canada on business, to the art gallery where I worked, and swept the art gallery where I worked, and swept me away to Los Angeles on a blue wave of me away to Los Angeles on a blue wave of charm.”charm.”

Connecting to text…Connecting to text…

The narrator of this story has some The narrator of this story has some qualities (see lists from previous qualities (see lists from previous activity) which allow her to resolve activity) which allow her to resolve conflicts she encounters through out conflicts she encounters through out this story. In a brief piece of personal this story. In a brief piece of personal writing, tell about a time when you writing, tell about a time when you needed the same qualities yourself.needed the same qualities yourself.