Twisting Expectations: Horror Short Stories

Lesson 10
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ELA

Unit 16

8th Grade

Lesson 10 of 20

Objective


Analyze Ursula K. Le Guin's use of foreshadowing, perspective, and situational irony to create meaning in "The Wife's Story." 

Readings and Materials


  • Short Story: “The Wife's Story” by Ursula K. le Guin 

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What makes The Wife's Story an example of situational irony? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer and carefully explain your thinking.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


Key Questions

  • How does Le Guin foreshadow the climax of the story in the first few sentences of "The Wife's Tale"? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer.

  • How did the narrator's perspective of her husband change from when they first met to the time her daughter expressed fear of him? Provide specific examples from paragraphs 1 to 10 to support your answer.

  • How does the narrator's word choice reveal her perspective on human beings? Provide evidence from paragraphs 12–15 to support your answer.

  • What does the final paragraph reveal about the wife's perspective? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer.

Exit Ticket

Assess student understanding and monitor progress toward this lesson's objective with an Exit Ticket.

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

situational irony

n.

when the opposite of what is expected occurs. The effect can be humorous, tragic, or simply very surprising. 

Text-based

cower

v.

to crouch down in fear (The Wife's Story)

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Short Story: “Behind Colin's Eyes” by Shane Hawk  — paragraphs 1–72 (end after "Sergeant Rock is nearby. I know it.")

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Why is Colin awake in the house when everyone else is asleep?

  • What are Colin and his father doing in the woods? What is their goal?

  • What causes Colin and his father to run through the woods?

  • What is Colin's relationship like with his father?

  • What does Colin discover when he wakes up?

  • Who is Tiny?

  • Who is Sergeant Rock?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.3 — Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
  • RL.8.6 — Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.

Supporting Standards

L.8.6
RL.8.1
RL.8.2
RL.8.4
RL.8.10
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.1
W.8.1.a
W.8.1.b
W.8.4
W.8.9
W.8.9.a
W.8.10

Next

Explain how Shane Hawk develops suspense in "Behind Colin's Eyes."

Lesson 11
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