Analyzing "The Two Brothers" Story - 8th Grade Literature Trimester 1
The "The Two Brothers" story explores the concept of happiness through the choices of two brothers facing challenges that test their outlooks on life. One embraces risks for potential happiness, while the other focuses on the dangers, reflecting cautiousness and fear. Through close reading and analysis, students delve into themes of optimism, caution, and differing attitudes towards life's challenges.
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Prof. Rush 8thGrade Literature Colegio Real: Trimester 1 Colegio Real: Trimester 1
The Two Brothers Happiness What is happiness? Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happy mental states may also reflect judgements by a person about their over all well-being. What does happiness mean to you? Write down words that relate to happiness.
The Two Brothers Answer these questions in your notebook: If you could spend one year in perfect happiness, but afterward would remember nothing of the experience, would you do so? To achieve happiness, do we have to take risks?
The Two Brothers Analyze the Story In this story, two brothers respond to a challenge by making very different choices. As you read, use the clues in the story to help you understand what the writer is saying about their choices. 1. Close Read: The title of this story suggests that the two brothers are central to the theme. As you read, think about the differences in the brothers outlooks on life.
The Two Brothers 2. Close Read: Challenge (lines 1-10) What challenge do the brothers face? The brothers find a stone that tells them they can find happiness if they overcome several challenges, including going into a forest, swimming across a river, seizing cubs from a she-bear, and running up to the top of a mountain. Predict how they might respond to the challenge. The brothers will be excited and intrigued by this challenge and the prospect of finding happiness. Or the brothers will be wary of the dangers posed by the challenges. Who placed the rock next to the brothers and why? Who wrote on the rock and why?
The Two Brothers 3. Close Read: Setting Elder Brother (Lines 11-28) Read the boxed text. The setting the forest, the river, the bears, and the mountain all represent danger to the elder brother. What does his reaction to the setting s challenges tell you about him? The elder brother responds to the challenges by focusing on the dangers and refusing to go ahead. His reaction shows that he is practical, cautious, and fearful. He tends to focus on the negative rather than the positive.
The Two Brothers 4. Close Read: Attitude (Lines 29-39) In lines 16 39, how are the brothers attitudes different? Describe each brother s outlook on life. The elder brother s outlook on life could be summarized as If it seems too good to be true, it s probably not true. He does not believe in magical solutions to the problems of life. The younger brother s outlook is more adventurous. He believes that amazing things can happen if a person has faith and is willing to take risks.
The Two Brothers Analysis Support: Character Characters often give clues to a story s theme. Use web diagrams to analyze the two brothers approaches to life. The phrases in the first place , in the second place , and so on indicate each brother s arguments for or against following the stone s instructions. Summarize each argument on a spoke.
The Two Brothers Character Analysis: Elder Brother Continue to work on your web diagrams, now focusing on the younger brother.
The Two Brothers 5. Close Read: Conflict Resolution (Lines 40-46) How do the brothers resolve their conflict? Each one follows his own instincts: the younger brother goes off to the forest and the elder one stays behind (line 46).
The Two Brothers Comprehension Support: Proverbs (Lines 40-46) The elder brother s proverbs (lines 40 42) mean the same thing. Use the literal meaning of the first to infer the metaphorical meaning of the second. In seeking great happiness small pleasures may be lost. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. It is better to be satisfied with something you have than to risk losing it by trying to get something better you may not succeed in getting.
The Two Brothers Comprehension Support: Proverbs (Lines 40-46) Rephrase the proverbs in lines 43 45 as lessons about human life. He who is afraid of the leaves must not go into the forest. A person who fears small things cannot tackle large ch allenges. Beneath a stone no water flows. A person must take action to make things happen.
The Two Brothers 6. Close Read: Attitude (Lines 47-66) In lines 61 66, how does each brother feel about the choice he made? Explain whether the brothers attitudes have changed. Each brother is happy with the choice he made. Neither brother has experienced a change in attitude.
The Two Brothers 7. Close Read: Theme (lines 47-66) Consider what the writer might be saying about the choices people make. (Hint: Is there always a right or wrong choice?) The writer is probably saying that people make choices based on what they are comfortable with, and as long as they are happy, all is well. Different strokes for different folks is one way to express this theme. Write a statement that expresses the theme of the story. There are no absolutely right or wrong choices in life. Individuals must decide what is right for them and what makes them happy. People make choices that suit their personalities.
