Feminism and Self-Respect in Sula

Lesson 9
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ELA

Unit 8

10th Grade

Lesson 9 of 21

Objective


Analyze how the author establishes setting, conflict, and characterization in the beginning of Sula.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Sula by Toni Morrison  pp. 3 – 6 — Part 1

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does Morrison establish setting, conflict, and characterization in the beginning of Sula? (Students should choose two of the three to discuss in their response.)

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Annotation Focus

What lines, words, and phrases help to establish the setting, conflict and characterization?

Scaffolding Questions

How does Morrison characterize the present day Bottom? How does Morrison characterize the Bottom of the past? What is the impact of this change on the community? 

What does the description of the changes in the Bottom suggest about the narrator’s attitude? What does the description of the changes in the Bottom suggest about the people who once lived there? 

Discourse Questions

How does Morrison establish the setting, conflict, and characterization in the opening? 

What relationship does Morrison create between the setting of the Bottom and the conflict introduced in the first few lines?

In what ways is the Bottom a character in the text? 

Homework


  • Read and annotate Part 2 of Sula, pages 88-174.
    • Annotation Focus: 
      • How does Sula and Nel’s relationship evolve? 
      • What are your first impressions of Sula’s relationship with the community of the Bottom? 

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Standards


  • LO 1.3B — Analyze how the writer's use of stylistic elements contributes to a work of literature's effects and meaning.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

Supporting Standards

LO 1.3A
LO 2.3A
LO 2.3B
LO 2.3C
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
SL.9-10.1
W.9-10.2

Next

Analyze the techniques Morrison uses to reveal Helene’s character.

Lesson 10
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