DEATH BY SCRABBLE

CHARLIE FISH

Learning outcomes

1.

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

identify the characters, themes, symbols, irony and plot present in the story. discuss the authors use of literary elements in the story. apply critical literary analysis to the story. demonstrate understanding of literary elements through discussion sessions.

2.
3. 4.

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VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT
USE CONTEXTUAL CLUES TO LOCATE THE MEANINGS OF THESE WORDS WHICH APPEAR IN THE TEXT
1.
2. 3. 4.

smug - arrogant / self-satisfied jinxed - unlucky frayed - worn out ambiguous unclear / uncertain

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PRE DISCUSSION EXERCISE

Locate the answer and evidence for the following questions from DEATH BY SCRABBLE
1.

2.
3. 4.

5.

Does the husband want to play scrabble with his wife? Explain why you say so. List the words created by the characters during the game of scrabble. In your opinion, what do the words symbolize? Why does the husband want his wife dead? What happens to both characters in the end of the story?

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CHARACTERS
HUSBAND

WIFE

42 years of age Very competitive cheats to try to win the game Bored with his wife and his life Hates the wife Wants her dead Ends up dying instead of the wife- chokes on the scrabble tile

Smug nature Also seems bored Lazy- sleeps all the time Suspicious thinks that the husband cheated at the game

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THEME
FAILED RELATIONSHIP

REVENGE
WITH THE HELP OF SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION
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IRONY OF EVENTS
THE HUSBAND WISHES THAT HIS WIFE IS DEAD BUT HE ENDS UP DYING INSTEAD

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THE PLOT CAN BE TRACED THROUGH THE SEQUENCE OF THE SCRABBLE TILES
BEGIN JINXED WARMER SWEATIER HUMID FAN ZAPS READY CHEATING IGNORE SLEEP EXPLODES ZAP SIGN FLY CAUTION QUAKE DEATH

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EFFECT OF TILES TO THE CHARACTERS

THE TILES affect the relationship between the husband and wife in terms of
CHARACTERISTICS BEHAVIOUR

ACTION

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SCRABBLE TILES AS SYMBOLS

What do the SEQUENCE OF THE TILES symbolize?

REVENGE ? DEATH ? SUPERNATURAL ?

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Exercise - Discussion
If you were the author, how would you have ended the story?

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THE

END

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