Rattlesnakes By: John Muir
Pre-Reading:
Why might a human find a wild animal threatening?
A human might find an animal threatening because of their size or if it is poisonous. Ex: lion, snake
Why might a wild animal find a human threatening?
A wild animal might find a human threatening because depending on the animal, humans can be bigger and stronger. Ex: dog
What do you know about rattlesnakes?
I know that rattlesnake are venomous.
Given what you know, how would you react if you encountered a rattlesnake in the wild?
I would be very scared if I encountered a rattlesnake in the wild.
What do you know about John Muir?
John Muir was born on April 1838. He died on December 1914. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has wrote five books. He is an author.
Why might a human find a wild animal threatening?
A human might find an animal threatening because of their size or if it is poisonous. Ex: lion, snake
Why might a wild animal find a human threatening?
A wild animal might find a human threatening because depending on the animal, humans can be bigger and stronger. Ex: dog
What do you know about rattlesnakes?
I know that rattlesnake are venomous.
Given what you know, how would you react if you encountered a rattlesnake in the wild?
I would be very scared if I encountered a rattlesnake in the wild.
What do you know about John Muir?
John Muir was born on April 1838. He died on December 1914. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has wrote five books. He is an author.
Interpretive Questions:
1.) Why does Muir learn to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two?
Muir learns to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two because he realized that the rattlesnakes are scared of people like how people are scared of rattlesnakes. "It was not only fear that he showed, but a good deal of downright bashfulness and embarrassment."(p.177)
2.) Why does Muir say that at one time he “imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found”? (p. 175)
Muir says that one time he "imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found"(p.175) because he was trampled by one, and he didn't have any weapons when there was one near him.
3.) Why, after killing the first snake, does Muir say he feels “degraded by the killing business”? (p. 176)
After killing the first snake Muir felt "degraded by the killing business"(p.176) because he was not protected in anyway while killing the first one, he had no weapons while killing the first one.
4.) Why does Muir feel “sore and guilty” about killing the snake he finds in his cabin? (p. 176)
Muir feels "sore and guilty"(p.176) about killing the snake he finds in his cabin because he could tell that the snake was scared, but he killed it anyway.
5.) Why does Muir explain his decision to encamp on a boulder rather than on the patch of flood-sand where he finds two snakes?
Muir explains his decision to encamp on a boulder rather than on the patch of flood-sand where he finds two snakes because he did not want to kill the snakes. "I found two snakes in the possession of the ground."(p.178)
6.) Why does Muir use human characteristics and feelings to describe snakes?
Muir uses human characteristics and feelings to describe snakes because the snakes looked like how a person would look like. "It was not only fear that he showed, but a good deal of downright bashfulness
and embarrassment."(p.177)
7.) Why does Muir describe snakes as “fair and charitable”? (p. 176)
Muir describes snakes as "fair and charitable"(p.176) because snakes don't kill people as often as people kill snakes, which makes snakes act fair.
8.) Why does Muir see the second rattlesnake as “desperately embarrassed”? (p. 176)
Muir sees the second rattlesnake as "deeply embarrassed"(p.176) because the snake was hiding in the cabin, and it knows it's is not supposed to be in there.
9.) Why does Muir say, “I have looked into the eyes of so many wild animals that I feel sure I did not mistake the feelings of this unfortunate snake”? (p. 177)
Muir says, "I have looked into the eyes of so many wild animals that I feel sure I did not mistake the feelings of this unfortunate snake"(p.177) because he saw in the snake's face that it was embarrassed and had nowhere to go.
10.) Why does Muir describe the snake he accidentally threw his bundle of bread on as having a “come-in-if-you-dare expression”? (p. 178)
Muir describes the snake he accidentally threw his bundle of bread on as having a "come-in-if-you-dare expression"(p.178) because he thought that the snake was mad at him for accidentally throwing the bread at him.
1.) Why does Muir learn to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two?
Muir learns to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two because he realized that the rattlesnakes are scared of people like how people are scared of rattlesnakes. "It was not only fear that he showed, but a good deal of downright bashfulness and embarrassment."(p.177)
2.) Why does Muir say that at one time he “imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found”? (p. 175)
Muir says that one time he "imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found"(p.175) because he was trampled by one, and he didn't have any weapons when there was one near him.
3.) Why, after killing the first snake, does Muir say he feels “degraded by the killing business”? (p. 176)
After killing the first snake Muir felt "degraded by the killing business"(p.176) because he was not protected in anyway while killing the first one, he had no weapons while killing the first one.
4.) Why does Muir feel “sore and guilty” about killing the snake he finds in his cabin? (p. 176)
Muir feels "sore and guilty"(p.176) about killing the snake he finds in his cabin because he could tell that the snake was scared, but he killed it anyway.
5.) Why does Muir explain his decision to encamp on a boulder rather than on the patch of flood-sand where he finds two snakes?
Muir explains his decision to encamp on a boulder rather than on the patch of flood-sand where he finds two snakes because he did not want to kill the snakes. "I found two snakes in the possession of the ground."(p.178)
6.) Why does Muir use human characteristics and feelings to describe snakes?
Muir uses human characteristics and feelings to describe snakes because the snakes looked like how a person would look like. "It was not only fear that he showed, but a good deal of downright bashfulness
and embarrassment."(p.177)
7.) Why does Muir describe snakes as “fair and charitable”? (p. 176)
Muir describes snakes as "fair and charitable"(p.176) because snakes don't kill people as often as people kill snakes, which makes snakes act fair.
8.) Why does Muir see the second rattlesnake as “desperately embarrassed”? (p. 176)
Muir sees the second rattlesnake as "deeply embarrassed"(p.176) because the snake was hiding in the cabin, and it knows it's is not supposed to be in there.
9.) Why does Muir say, “I have looked into the eyes of so many wild animals that I feel sure I did not mistake the feelings of this unfortunate snake”? (p. 177)
Muir says, "I have looked into the eyes of so many wild animals that I feel sure I did not mistake the feelings of this unfortunate snake"(p.177) because he saw in the snake's face that it was embarrassed and had nowhere to go.
10.) Why does Muir describe the snake he accidentally threw his bundle of bread on as having a “come-in-if-you-dare expression”? (p. 178)
Muir describes the snake he accidentally threw his bundle of bread on as having a "come-in-if-you-dare expression"(p.178) because he thought that the snake was mad at him for accidentally throwing the bread at him.
Vocabulary:
1.) Venomous (p. 175)
Quote: ""Only the rattlesnake is venomous, and he carefully keeps his venom to himself as far as man is concerned, unless his life his threatened." (p.175)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): poisonous
Synonym:poisonous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am scared of venomous animals.
2.) Persecuted (p. 176)
Quote: "Persecuted, tormented, again and again he tried to get away...." (p.176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words):tormented
Synonym: tormented
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher persecuted all the bad students.
3.) Degraded (p. 176)
Quote: "I felt degraded by the killing business....." (p.176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disrespect
Synonym: disrespect
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): People should not degrade the poor.
4.) Intentionally (p. 177)
Quote: "but I have intentionally disturbed them."(p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): purposely
Synonym: purposely
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Some teachers intentionally give us a lot of homework.
5.) Provocation (p. 177)
Quote: "and he was ready for me, but even with this provocation..."(p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something annoying
Synonym: annoying
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My sister is provocating me.
6.) Righteous indignation (p. 178)
Quote: "and with an air of righteous indignation seemed to be asking why I had thrown that stuff on him."(p.178)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): anger
Synonym: anger
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): With the righteous indignation that my sister had, she was very hard to talk to.
1.) Venomous (p. 175)
Quote: ""Only the rattlesnake is venomous, and he carefully keeps his venom to himself as far as man is concerned, unless his life his threatened." (p.175)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): poisonous
Synonym:poisonous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am scared of venomous animals.
2.) Persecuted (p. 176)
Quote: "Persecuted, tormented, again and again he tried to get away...." (p.176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words):tormented
Synonym: tormented
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher persecuted all the bad students.
3.) Degraded (p. 176)
Quote: "I felt degraded by the killing business....." (p.176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): disrespect
Synonym: disrespect
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): People should not degrade the poor.
4.) Intentionally (p. 177)
Quote: "but I have intentionally disturbed them."(p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): purposely
Synonym: purposely
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Some teachers intentionally give us a lot of homework.
5.) Provocation (p. 177)
Quote: "and he was ready for me, but even with this provocation..."(p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): something annoying
Synonym: annoying
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My sister is provocating me.
6.) Righteous indignation (p. 178)
Quote: "and with an air of righteous indignation seemed to be asking why I had thrown that stuff on him."(p.178)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): anger
Synonym: anger
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): With the righteous indignation that my sister had, she was very hard to talk to.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when the narrator feels certain about something and when the narrator feels uncertain about something. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Use textual evidence to show examples of when the narrator feels certain about something and when the narrator feels uncertain about something. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Convinced
~I feel convinced when the narrator kills the first snake because he got scared and I would have too. (p.175) ~ I feel convinced when the narrator says he feels guilty for killing the second snake, because he shouldn't have. (p.176) ~ I feel convinced when the narrator feels that snakes should not be killed anymore, because snakes are just like people, and they have never done anything to us.(p.177) ~ I feel convinced when the narrator felt angry that he accidentally threw the bread to the snake because I would too. (p.278) ~ I feel convinced with the narrator when he slept on the bolder instead of the flood-sand because I would never sleep where snakes are, even though the reasons aren't the same.(p.178) |
Unconvinced
~ I feel unconvinced when the narrator decides to kill the second snake because the snake needed a place to leave. (p.177) ~I feel unconvinced with the narrator when the author felt persecuted with the snake, because snakes are smaller than people, so I don't get how they can disrespect people.(p.176) ~ I am unconvinced with the narrator when he is trying to tell the snake he just wanted his bread, when the snake can't talk. (p.178) ~ I am unconvinced with the author when he threatens the snake to go away, when he can just go around it.(p.179) ~ I am unconvinced with the narrator when he feels provocated with the snake when the snake gets one foot within him because he is larger than the snake, he can just hop over it or run.(p.177) |