DIRECTIONS: As you read, 2. At the opening the the reading of this text. does the second you will be asked to note statement appears, Look at the following as paragraph on page 68 specific details within each “There is a silence that you read and make notes reveal about Naomi’s section. While you can mother? continue to make marginal cannot speak. There is related to these questions. notes as you normally a silences that will not You will have an would, you must look at speak.” As you read opportunity in class to Chapter 11: what I am asking to notice these opening chapters figure them out: 3. Analyze the scene with about those chapters and be make note of how this the chicks and the white prepared to discuss/write hen: what do the hen about those things. Before idea appears. Also Chapter 9: and the chicks seem to you read each section, you think about: 1. Aunt Emily’s words reveal represent? How is this should look at this  How what that the act of opening scene of Chapter bookmark for a focus for happened to the remembering is actually your notes. Then as you 11 related to Naomi’s family is related to a process of “re- subsequent dream of read, make notes marginally membering”: “You are related to those areas. the silence torture and mutilation  How the silence your history. If you cut (73), again illustrating the relates to the any of it off you’re an fragmented body (74)? mystery of the amputee” (60). This How are both of these novel leads Naomi to exclaim, scenes related to the final Chapter 1-8 “All right, Aunt Emily, all scene in the chapter Thursday 3/21 right!” (60) Examine both involving Mr. Gower (74- 1. The opening section of the ritual of the bath Chapter 9-13 77)? In all three cases, the novel helps the found early in the chapter what is Kogawa saying Monday, 3/25 reader develop a sense and the discussion of the about the nature of of the characters There are several key, but house that follows this power and the victims of Obasan and Aunt often confusing sections in excerpt. What is the power? Try to isolate all significance of the Emily. As you read, this part of the reading. of the thematic The use of flashbacks and photograph, the bath and similarities in the three note the techniques the house? that the author uses to fragmented memories are scenes and explain their techniques that Kogawa significance. establish their Chapter 10: characterization. Note: uses in order to establish her characters, the plot 2. What is the significance Chapter 12:  Their words and various conflicts. She of the “Momotaro” story 4. Many of the fears that  Their thoughts told to Naomi by her also uses symbolism and Naomi experiences as a  Their actions mother? What do “old child seem to come metaphors to pack the old man and the old old  Naomi’s thoughts reading with meaning. together in chapter 12. and response to woman of the Momotaro Remember that the Discuss the opening page each woman story” reveal about of this chapter (78) in confusion itself may Naomi’s “shadowy contextual relation to the also have a function in ancestry” (66)? What epigraph and opening the diary. Why is this dairy Slocan camp both before 4. Try to figure out page of the book. How is an important technique to and after Uncle’s return. the symbolism of the “stillness of waiting” use? What is Kogawa the dream in which “time solidifies” communicating to the 5. Note the purpose (78) related to the reader? of the dream in opening passages of the the novel novel? Chapter 15-21 Tuesday, 4/2 Chapter 22-26 Chapter 15 begins another Chapter 13: Thursday, 4/4 series of flashbacks told by Chapter 27-33 5. Examine the entire In chapter 22, Kogawa Monday, 4/8 chapter. Think about the Naomi, revealing the presents the reader with This section of the novel opening line “Riddles are conditions of life in the Naomi’s surrealistic hard to understand” (85). relocation camp in Slocan begins in the present, in dream. As you read, How is this phrase in the interior of British Obasan’s house in examine the dream in significant to the entire Columbia. These chapters Granton, and returns to chapter 22 and then take scene? How is Naomi’s present an opportunity to the past, to the family’s some time to go back and physical view under the examine Kogawa’s style arrival in Lethbridge. bed important to the look at and make notes on more thoroughly. Note the There are more frequent meaning of the text? the other dreams: following: flips from past to present 1. chapter 6 page 33 in these chapters as a Some questions from: 2. chapter 11 page 73 http://www.umass.edu/complit/aclanet/K 1. Connect the opening picture of hardships the ogawa.html of this chapter again to 3. chapter 11 page 77 family had to endure the mood reflected in the 4. chapter 20 page 168 mounts. As Naomi beginning of the novel. 5. chapter 24 page 198 remembers, she mourns Chapter 14 the changes wrought in Monday, 3/25 (will 2. Identify the uses of Identify and explain each her family, both physical review 3/27) figurative language in of the following for each and spiritual. This chapter chronicles this section (i.e. dream: events and actions that metaphor, imagery, 1. Identify the Think about and go Emily discusses, as well as personification, etc). Try stimulus for the through this and other to explain how they help her emotions that led to dream chapters to note the other the separation of Naomi’s communicate meaning in 2. Note the relation to the text as a settings and the effect of family. While you read, participants in the the setting on the whole. dream note Aunt Emily’s characters. 3. Figure out the emotional responses. 1. Granto 3. Note how Kogawa action (the Think about how Aunt n uses the technique of content) of the Emily’s characterization is contrast through the dream 2. Vancou created through the use of Nakane house in the ver 3. Slocan relationship of the ending 4. Barker to the opening. farm near Granton Examine chapter 38 as if it were an AP Lit. Prompt: Analyze how the author Chapter 34-39 characterize Naomi’s Wednesday, 4/10 attitude toward her The end of Obasan reveals mother. the answer to the mystery of the novel. The end returns the reader to the thoughts about silence that are presented at the beginning of the novel. Take a moment and reread the preface. Then as you read this final section, note the