The Shadow Thieves
Lessons 3-5
Instructions for Lesson Three
All work is due on the due date shown in the Home Page of the classroom.
1. Begin guided reading of The Shadow Thieves, by Anne Ursu, preferably reading in the following reading chunks:
Review "Bestiary" on pages 423-424 and read Chapters 1-3 (pages 1-47);
Chapters 4-6 (pages 48-84);
Chapters 7-9 (pages 85-134)
2. Vote your opinion in the Poll. CLICK on the Lesson Three POLL on the Home Page.
Feedback for Lesson Three
TO: Ethan Carey (aka Nahte Yerac)
RE: Lesson Three- The Shadow Thieves
Hi Ethan!
I hope you are enjoying our first novel, The Shadow Thieves. I’ve read the book a few times and each time I find something new to enjoy about it.
This week our poll was based on Charlotte’s view of the world. Specifically:
Early in the book, Charlotte mutters to herself, "Once upon a time there was a girl named Charlotte who suffered from a terrible curse. She didn't know how or why she'd been cursed, but she did know that nothing good ever, ever happened to her" (5). Do you ever feel, like Charlotte, that nothing good is ever going to happen to you?
You and I agreed that we do not feel this way. I’m glad you have an optimistic outlook!
Let’s look at your blog for the week:
Blog Assignment:
Pretend you are a reporter for one of the Mt. Olympus television stations and prepare your 150-300+ word newsreport about Philonecron’s failed attempt to overthrow Hades and his subsequent banishment to the Outerbanks. Be sure to include some quotes from those involved, and don't forget to answer every journalist's questions about who, what, where, when, and how. Please note: You may write more than the 300 word limit, but do NOT write less than 150 words!
Student Response:
The Olympus Television News
(Haley) “Hello folks, you're all listening to reporter Haley, and now for a report on the underworld. All was going well today down there on Peresphone and Hades' "anniversary day", all the shades were fine, all the people were happy, until Thanatos rushed into the dining room reporting that Philecron had blood! Here's a recording.”
(Hades) CRACKLE CRACKLE “Who's Philonecron?” CRACK
(Thanatos) “Assistant manager of the department of sanitation sir, A grandson of Poseidon” CRACKLE “He, he…….”
(Hades) “He what! Get on with it”
(Thanatos) “He's got blood!” CRRRAAAAKKKK
(Haley) “And there's the end of it. Even though the nitwit did have blood, he was not clever enough to sustain the ghosts a minute, much less a whole revolt! So soon he was escorted to the outer banks. The big question though, is will this happen again? And will the underworld be able to defeat it? Here's an interview from the leader of the underworld security department, Nahte Yerac.”
(Nahte Yerac) “I am happy at our ability to destroy the puny rebellion, but I was not at our speed to realize the danger.”
(Haley) “Thank you for telling me about your thoughts, and do you think that other attacks will rise?”
(Nahte Yerac) "I think that they may have doubt in our quickness to banish them or torture them, but if there doubt gets to strong, we will make them know that we will always be on the lookout."
(Haley) “Thank you for talking to me, goodbye. As you can see, people have mixed feelings about this, but all have their own idea about what should actually happen NOW. We now know that the “government” of Hades has been infiltrated and may be infiltrated again. Stay tuned for next week’s report of “Can The Erinyes Keep Making Up Tortures”, a very interesting topic, and by the way, thanks for listening.”
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, your reporting captured my attention and my imagination. You begin by orienting your reader to the situation and quickly move to the breaking news, “All was going well today down there on Peresphone and Hades' "anniversary day", all the shades were fine, all the people were happy, until Thanatos rushed into the dining room reporting that Philecron had blood!” Adding the recording, complete with technical glitches and static, gives the reader the feeling of being in the moment as the news breaks.
I enjoyed the way you pulled in experts for the follow-up interviews. Nahte Yerac seemed especially well informed ; ) ! There were a few lines that confused me a bit. Mr. Yerac says, “I was not at our speed to realize the danger.” Does he mean “up to speed to realize the danger”? The phrase “up to speed” means the person did not have all the information needed. I think this is what you mean. Mr. Yerac also says, “I think that they may have doubt in our quickness to banish them or torture them, but if there doubt gets to strong, we will make them know that we will always be on the lookout." I’m not sure to whom “they” and “them” refer. Philonecron was one person and he has been banished. Be sure you give the reader a proper noun, such as a specific name, before using pronouns. [These are called antecedents, by the way.] This will ensure that your reader is able to understand your ideas and to whom you refer.
Good work on the blog, Ethan. Keep Nahte Yerac close at hand. He seems like a really smart, intelligent, and generally charming guy!
Discussion Questions:
g. About Hades. After reading the description of Hades' management style in Chapter 9, do you think that delegating so many of his duties is a rightful exercise of his kingly prerogatives? Why or why not? Do you think that Hades has meaningful relationships with others? What can you infer from the statement about his relationship with his wife, “…on this particular night Hades wanted to spend some quality time with his wife, his queen, his bride, the love of his life, the answer to all his prayers, in the hopes that she might one day actually speak to him” (118)?
Student Response:
After reading the book, I think that Hades, by delegating his duties, which is his right, lost control over the underworld, and that is why Philenocron got so far with trying to overthrow Hades. I am not saying that Hades should not delegate, I am just stating that he is ONLY delegating, and taking no part in the procedures that are happening around him. I also think that his relationships with others are meaningful to him, but are not felt the same way by the other people. That is shown on page 113 of the book when Hades was sitting down with "his wife, his queen, his bride, the love of his life, the answer to all his prayers, in the hopes that she might one day actually speak to him." I really think he should step up to his duties and actually do something, not just sit around and wait.
Teacher Feedback:
Nahte, uh sorry, I mean Ethan, this is a well-developed response to the question. I agree with you that while it is Hades “right” to delegate some duties, he has completely checked out. As you write, he is “taking no part in the procedures that are happening around him.” Do you think he has become bored or burned out? Eternity IS a long time to do the same thing. Do you think, on the other hand, he is just consumed with winning Persephone’s love. The poor king just wants a little love reciprocated! I’m glad to see you included evidence from the text and then followed up with your own analysis and final idea. That’s the way to do it!
h. The best ruler for the Underworld. Philonecron believes that "The Underworld needed a strong ruler, a man with a vision, a man handy with a whip, a man who could live up to the promise of the domain, bring back the days when it meant something to be a Greek God" (126). Could Philonecron be right? Explain whom you think would be the best ruler for the Underworld and why.
Student Response:
Hi Emma,
I agree with you that Philenocron just wants to rule for power, nothing else. I also think how he's trying to get that power is hinting that he shouldn't be ruling the underworld. Overall, I agree with you that he should NOT be king of the underworld.
Teacher Feedback:
Thank you for responding to a classmate! I like the way you’ve started this comment by telling Emma the specific point on which you agree. You second sentence introduces an insightful point. That is, Philonecron’s means for gaining control of the Underworld are a warning about his personality and behavior. What details could you add to help your reader understand the connection between his behavior and your assertion “that he shouldn’t be ruling the underworld”? (You don’t have to rewrite. It’s just a pondering question.) As you add your own ideas, make sure you provide your reader with enough details and examples. This will help the reader to fully understand your excellent ideas!
On to Lesson Four! Here are some challenges for next week:
Use the text to provide evidence to support your ideas in your discussion posts.
Try using at least two literary terms in your discussions. The Literary Terms Study Sheet can be found on the class home page.
Lesson Four is due on Sunday, October 25 at midnight your time. I can’t wait to read your responses to this week’s reading! Keep up the great work!
Elisabeth Brantley
Please confirm that you and your parents have read the feedback by asking your parent to click on the “Add submission” button, type in the parent’s name and any comments in the “Online text” box, scroll down, and click on “Save Changes.” This parent acknowledgement lets me know that a parent has read the feedback for that lesson or unit. Thanks for your cooperation!
Instructions for Lesson Four
All work is due on the due date shown in the Home Page of the classroom.
1. Continue guided reading of The Shadow Thieves, preferably reading in the following reading chunks:
Chapters 10-12 (pages 135-175);
Chapters 13 & 14 (pages 177-210);
Chapters 15-18 (pages 211-261)
Feedback for Lesson Four
TO: Ethan Carey
RE: Lesson Four- The Shadow Thieves
γεια σας Ethan! (That’s Greek for hello!)
I hope you have had a great week!
This week, our poll asked us:
Based on what you know so far, do you think that Charlotte and Zee should trust Mr. Metos?
You opined that the kids should trust Mr. Metos. Was there something you read that convinced you he was trustworthy? I wish we could discuss these poll questions as a whole class!
Blog Assignment:
b. Note and List: Let's see if you can do a better job than Charlotte in preparing for a journey to the Underworld. [Note: This particular blog requires that you complete both 1) and 2), and the combined word count for assignments 1) and 2) together is 150-300+ words.]
Charlotte throws a few things into a backpack before they leave with the bird to travel to the Underworld. She knows where she is going, but not what she will need. If you were Charlotte with so little time to pack, what would you take with you on your journey to the Underworld? Write a description of the items that you would take in your backpack along with an explanation about why you think that item might be helpful.
Let's say you take a little more time to write a note to leave for your parents. What would your note tell them?
Student Response:
If I was in Charlotte's place when she figured out that she had to go to the underworld, (though I wouldn't wan't to be), I would have brought LOTS and LOTS of food for when I get hungry, extra clothes if mine get unusable, rope for if I need to do anything special, a sleeping bag, blankets for if I get cold, a strong LED flashlight, a helmet for good measure, a life jacket, a swimsuit to keep my clothes dry, money if I need to get information from Charon or if I need to cross the River Styx, firewood and a lighter to keep myself warm. If I knew a TON about Greek mythology, I would try to get blood and give it to the shades in return for information, in case i get lost. It would be pretty hard to carry all that, but it would be worth it.
If I wrote my letter to my parents, It would sound something like this,
Dear Mom and Dad
Sorry I'm not here, but I have to go to the underworld to save the world, (ask Mr. Metos if you don' believe me), and will probably be back in a day. Zee and I know what's causing the sickness and will stop it, please believe me with this. We are going to be all right and will come back quickly and will be safe.
Be back soon,
Ethan
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, you’ve made a thorough list of supplies to bring to the Underworld. You’ve thought of all the essentials, and most of your items would fit in a backpack. I especially like your plan to “get blood and give it to the [S]hades in return for information, in case [you] get lost.” You’ve got your bases covered. Your note to your parents is truthful: “I have to go to the underworld to save the world.” Nonetheless, I’m sure you’ll have some explaining to do when you get back! Good work on the blog!
Discussions Questions:
a. Mindless loyalty. In Chapter 12, Philonecron observes that “He never would have believed it before, but inbred, mindless loyalty does have its drawbacks” (164). What drawbacks are shown in the book? What other drawbacks to mindless loyalty can you imagine? What are the advantages of being served by those with mindless loyalty? Which would make the best employee or servant?
Student Response:
Ian, I agree with you that if something unusual happens, they won't know what to do. Another drawback I can think of would be that if he gets killed the footmen won't be able to do anything for him or someone, or ANYBODY else. Also, it is sometimes good to have mindless loyalty because they HAVE to obey you, because they don't have any motivation to do anything else.
By the way, I agree with you that it would be AWESOME to have an army of clones at your disposal, ( if they weren't programed to kill you on another person's order. )
Teacher Feedback:
You have a good point that if something unusual happens, the footmen “won’t know what to do.” They need to be told each little step and they could not handle a situation when the unexpected happens. This could slow down Philonecron’s plans. On the one hand, mindless loyalty means that the footmen would never question Philonecron’s orders. On the other hand, they can’t make the most minor decisions on their own. I agree that it would be “AWESOME to have an army of clones.” Do you think the footmen’s lack of skills will prove to be more of a problem for Philonecron? By the way, good job working in a literary term!
d. What about Charon? From what you read in Chapter 16, what do you think about Charon? Why does he keep insisting that he has a family to feed? Do you sympathize with Charon at all? Why or why not? What role does Charon seem to play in The Shadow Thieves? Who relies on him for information?
Student Response:
From what I read on Charon in the book, I think he is greedy, and can’t really tell right from wrong. I do not sympathize with Charon that much, because even though he does a lot of work every day, and with the info dealing too, wouldn’t that make him fairly rich? A word I would use to describe Charon is static, because you know what he’s going to do with information, and that he doesn’t care who he’s giving the information to, or what the information is. I think Charon’s role in The Shadow Thieves is to (1), mess up peoples days, (2), deal out information, then mess up peoples days, and (3), to ferry dead people across the River Styx, deal out information, then mess up peoples days. I think that everybody who would like to know information would rely on him for information, which is basically everybody. Last of all, I think he keeps on insisting that he has a family to feed to feed because he is greedy, and would like to have more money.
Teacher Feedback:
This is a comprehensive response to the question. I’m curious about what you mean when you say that Charon’s role is “to mess up people’s days.” How does he do this? What is his motivation? I like the way you’ve included the term static to describe Charon. I understand how you drew that conclusion through your explanation that “you know what he’s going to do with information, and that he doesn’t care who he’s givng the information to, or what the information is.” Unlike you, I sympathize with Charon a little bit. His life has changed since Hades brought Persephone down to the Underworld. Now, Charon uses his ordinary job to gather information that gives him power with others and a little extra money. Many famous spies in history have done exactly the same thing. They’ve blended in with the population by doing a common job or task and keeping their ears and eyes open. If you are ever in Washington, D.C., be sure to check out the International Spy Museum. You can learn more about some of those spies and their techniques. Another thing about spies is that they often start spying once they feel they’ve been betrayed in some way by their own country or leaders. I wonder if Charon feels betrayed by Hades?
Ethan, as you continue into Lesson Five, be sure that you are studying the literary terms for the quest at the end of the course. These terms can be found by opening the Literary Terms Study Guide on the Home Page of our class. There are also games to help you review the terms. Finally, see if you can use any of these terms in a discussion post next week!
Our next lesson is due Sunday, November 1 at midnight your time.
Elisabeth Brantley
Please confirm that you and your parents have read the feedback by asking your parent to click on the “Add submission” button, type in the parent’s name and any comments in the “Online text” box, scroll down, and click on “Save Changes.” This parent acknowledgement lets me know that a parent has read the feedback for that lesson or unit. Thanks for your cooperation!
All work is due on the due date shown in the Home Page of the classroom.
1. Finish reading The Shadow Thieves, preferably reading in the following reading chunks:
Chapters 19-21 (pages 263-314);
Chapters 22-24 (pages 315-363);
Chapters 25-Epilogue (pages 364-420)
TO: Ethan Carey
RE: Lesson Five- The Shadow Thieves
Hi Ethan!
Listed below is your assessment for Lesson Five. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Please confirm that you and your parents have read the feedback by asking your parent to click on the “Add submission” button, type in the parent’s name and any comments in the “Online text” box, scroll down, and click on “Save Changes.” This parent acknowledgement lets me know that a parent has read the feedback for that lesson or unit. Thanks for your cooperation!
This week, our poll asked:
“Was the Epilogue a complete surprise to you, or had you already guessed the secret?”
You and I both found ourselves feeling surprised by the ending! Anne Ursu is a talented author who delivers twist and turns up to the last page! In any event, I hoped you enjoyed The Shadow Thieves and that you are already pulled into The Lost Hero.
Blog Assignment:
b. Journal: Pretend you are Philonecron after you have been banished by Hades to live in the Upperworld in the 21st Century. Write a 1st person 150-300+ word journal entry in which you (as Philonecron) consider your surroundings, your situation, and your plans for the future. Where will you live and how will you support yourself? Is there anything about life in the Upperworld that you might learn to enjoy?
Student Response:
Hello, my name is Philonecron, half-demon, Grandson of Poseidon, and you are probably wondering how I got up here, so I'll tell you. Not too long ago, I was an assistant manager of the department of sanitation for Hades, and to tell you the truth, I was getting pretty bored of it. All the other people working for Hades were like "Oh, I'm so POWERFUL and WONDERFUL", whereas in reality, some of them had NO power at all! So anyways, I was getting bored of sitting around, doing NOTHING at all, so soon I came up with an idea, a wonderful one at that. I had collected GALLONS And GALLONS of blood, and was going to use them to awaken the shades so I could launch a revolt on Hades and become King Of The Underworld.
Of course, you have probably guessed what happened, since I wouldn't be here if I won. Soon I was captured and as a citizen of the underworld, not allowed to set foot in the underworld again, and banished to the outer banks (the other side of the River Styx ). But my days of scheming were not over. Soon, drifting in the upper world, I was attracted to a family mourning their dead, and soon I noticed something about the boy, I noticed that his shadow was loose! Soon I came up with an idea, I would collect an army of thousands of shadows, and launch the biggest revolt Hades has ever had, and command the boy to launch the attack! As for how I would get down there, I I would command my footmen to carry me! But, again, my devious, special, plan, did not work. Somehow, the boy had managed to escape from my footmen guards, and soon he had turned the shadows against me! Imagine that, all of your life's work, wrecked by a puny mortal boy! But that wasn't the worst part, Hades then banished me to the upper world, to never come down there again!
Now, you might be wondering where I am sleeping, and how I am earning money, but that's sort of simple. For food, demons don't need to eat much, and since I'm a son of Poseidon, I can sort of gain food through the sea, but no, I am not eating as much as I want to. For a job, I don't have one yet, but I've gained some money by swindling people with magic, and some other shady stuff. Where I sleep, is anywhere that is shady and as quiet as the underworld, which is in fact pretty hard to find. Overall though, I am not liking life up here, it's either too noisy, too bright, too dark, and too fast. One thing I might get used to is the noise of the waves, and at least they are steady like the underworld, not rushing like everything else around the waves.
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, it amuses me to think of Philonecron needing a sound machine that makes soothing noises, like the waves, to go to sleep. For all the chaos he creates, he requires his environment be “just so” for himself. In any event, this journal helps the reader to understand Philonecron’s back story in the Underworld and how he finds himself on the streets of the Upperworld. I’m not surprised he is back to his old trick of “swindling people with magic, and some other shady stuff.” It must be very disappointing to him to be stuck up here when he had such grand plans for ruling the Underworld. Great work on this blog!
Discussion Questions:
c. The bravest thing Charlotte's ever done. In Chapter 20, after successfully throwing the Footman who was trying to kill her into the River Styx, Charlotte felt more overwhelmed than elated. "She put her head in her hand and began to cry...for Mr. Metos, getting his liver pecked out...for her cousin...who thought he was saving her and was now in very great trouble...for all the children who had lost their shadows...most of all, she cried for herself and what she had already done and how much she still had left to do" (298). Wasn't that enough bravery for one day? She knew it wasn't, however, and then Charlotte "did the bravest thing she had ever done. She wiped her tears away and began to get up" (298). Why does the narrator say that getting up and wiping her tears away was the bravest thing that Charlotte had ever done? Do you agree?
Student Response:
I agree with you Ian, that when she showed her emotions, it helped Charlotte to overcome her cowardly side ( though I don't have much doubt in her bravery now). I also think that another motivational feeling was probably that if she didn't get to Hades in time, the world would be destroyed. Another helpful thought probably was a feeling that Zee would do something to help them get out out, and this is showed when she's thinking "For surely Zee had a plan, surely he did not mean just to give in, surely he had a way out of this." (Pg 294)
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, way to go using the evidence from the text to support your point! That’s the way to do it! This question is one of my favorites in the entire class. I had always looked at this question in terms of Charlotte “getting up and wiping her tears away.” You and Ian look at it a little differently, though. You write: “when [Charlotte] showed her emotions, it helped [her] to overcome her cowardly side.” Charlotte is used to covering up her feelings to keep from being hurt by others. This is a big change for her. When a character changes and grows over the course of events in a book, we call her a dynamic character. In any event, thank you for helping me to think about this question in a new way!
g. Should Mr. Metos be rescued first? After Zee escapes from the Footmen and hurries for the Palace, he remembers Mr. Metos. Why does Zee make the decision to rescue Mr. Metos first? Do you think he should have taken the time to rescue Mr. Metos before going to the Palace? Why or why not? Do you think that Charlotte would have made the same decision? Explain your reasoning.
Student Response:
From what the book says, I think Zee wanted someone to command the shadows besides him, so he rescued Metos, and he also made the logical decision that the more good people they had down in the underworld, the better. I support my first thought with the idea that he was sort of scared of the shadows, which is shown when he saw how quickly and efficiently they destroyed and ripped apart the footmen. I then support my second idea with the complex idea of logic, and with the idea that you are able to accomplish more when you have more people. Also, who wants to walk away from a guy getting his liver eaten.
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, you’ve explained how you reached your conclusions that “Zee wanted someone to command the shadows besides him, so he rescued Metos, and he also made the logical decision that the more good people they had down in the underworld, the better.” In the sentences that follow, you help your reader understand your thinking. That’s a good place to start. Additionally, Charlotte and Zee are kind and compassionate people who are loyal to their friends and family. It would be out of character for them to just leave Mr. Metos behind. Neither would want to leave Mr. Metos in suffering. Do you think they also feel obligated to save Mr. Metos since he sent them a message asking for help? Do you think they feel responsible for Mr. Metos being in this position because of what they told him?
By now, I’m sure you’ve already started The Lost Hero. As you work on your assignment for next week, continue to use your literary terms and evidence from the text. In addition, don’t forget to keep studying for the Quest in Lesson 10. The Literary Terms Study Guide can be found near the top of our class page. There are also links to games and activities to help you prepare.
Remember, Lesson Six is due on Sunday, November 8 at midnight your time!
Have a great week!
Elisabeth Brantley
Lessons 3-5
Instructions for Lesson Three
All work is due on the due date shown in the Home Page of the classroom.
1. Begin guided reading of The Shadow Thieves, by Anne Ursu, preferably reading in the following reading chunks:
Review "Bestiary" on pages 423-424 and read Chapters 1-3 (pages 1-47);
Chapters 4-6 (pages 48-84);
Chapters 7-9 (pages 85-134)
2. Vote your opinion in the Poll. CLICK on the Lesson Three POLL on the Home Page.
Feedback for Lesson Three
TO: Ethan Carey (aka Nahte Yerac)
RE: Lesson Three- The Shadow Thieves
Hi Ethan!
I hope you are enjoying our first novel, The Shadow Thieves. I’ve read the book a few times and each time I find something new to enjoy about it.
This week our poll was based on Charlotte’s view of the world. Specifically:
Early in the book, Charlotte mutters to herself, "Once upon a time there was a girl named Charlotte who suffered from a terrible curse. She didn't know how or why she'd been cursed, but she did know that nothing good ever, ever happened to her" (5). Do you ever feel, like Charlotte, that nothing good is ever going to happen to you?
You and I agreed that we do not feel this way. I’m glad you have an optimistic outlook!
Let’s look at your blog for the week:
Blog Assignment:
Pretend you are a reporter for one of the Mt. Olympus television stations and prepare your 150-300+ word newsreport about Philonecron’s failed attempt to overthrow Hades and his subsequent banishment to the Outerbanks. Be sure to include some quotes from those involved, and don't forget to answer every journalist's questions about who, what, where, when, and how. Please note: You may write more than the 300 word limit, but do NOT write less than 150 words!
Student Response:
The Olympus Television News
(Haley) “Hello folks, you're all listening to reporter Haley, and now for a report on the underworld. All was going well today down there on Peresphone and Hades' "anniversary day", all the shades were fine, all the people were happy, until Thanatos rushed into the dining room reporting that Philecron had blood! Here's a recording.”
(Hades) CRACKLE CRACKLE “Who's Philonecron?” CRACK
(Thanatos) “Assistant manager of the department of sanitation sir, A grandson of Poseidon” CRACKLE “He, he…….”
(Hades) “He what! Get on with it”
(Thanatos) “He's got blood!” CRRRAAAAKKKK
(Haley) “And there's the end of it. Even though the nitwit did have blood, he was not clever enough to sustain the ghosts a minute, much less a whole revolt! So soon he was escorted to the outer banks. The big question though, is will this happen again? And will the underworld be able to defeat it? Here's an interview from the leader of the underworld security department, Nahte Yerac.”
(Nahte Yerac) “I am happy at our ability to destroy the puny rebellion, but I was not at our speed to realize the danger.”
(Haley) “Thank you for telling me about your thoughts, and do you think that other attacks will rise?”
(Nahte Yerac) "I think that they may have doubt in our quickness to banish them or torture them, but if there doubt gets to strong, we will make them know that we will always be on the lookout."
(Haley) “Thank you for talking to me, goodbye. As you can see, people have mixed feelings about this, but all have their own idea about what should actually happen NOW. We now know that the “government” of Hades has been infiltrated and may be infiltrated again. Stay tuned for next week’s report of “Can The Erinyes Keep Making Up Tortures”, a very interesting topic, and by the way, thanks for listening.”
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, your reporting captured my attention and my imagination. You begin by orienting your reader to the situation and quickly move to the breaking news, “All was going well today down there on Peresphone and Hades' "anniversary day", all the shades were fine, all the people were happy, until Thanatos rushed into the dining room reporting that Philecron had blood!” Adding the recording, complete with technical glitches and static, gives the reader the feeling of being in the moment as the news breaks.
I enjoyed the way you pulled in experts for the follow-up interviews. Nahte Yerac seemed especially well informed ; ) ! There were a few lines that confused me a bit. Mr. Yerac says, “I was not at our speed to realize the danger.” Does he mean “up to speed to realize the danger”? The phrase “up to speed” means the person did not have all the information needed. I think this is what you mean. Mr. Yerac also says, “I think that they may have doubt in our quickness to banish them or torture them, but if there doubt gets to strong, we will make them know that we will always be on the lookout." I’m not sure to whom “they” and “them” refer. Philonecron was one person and he has been banished. Be sure you give the reader a proper noun, such as a specific name, before using pronouns. [These are called antecedents, by the way.] This will ensure that your reader is able to understand your ideas and to whom you refer.
Good work on the blog, Ethan. Keep Nahte Yerac close at hand. He seems like a really smart, intelligent, and generally charming guy!
Discussion Questions:
g. About Hades. After reading the description of Hades' management style in Chapter 9, do you think that delegating so many of his duties is a rightful exercise of his kingly prerogatives? Why or why not? Do you think that Hades has meaningful relationships with others? What can you infer from the statement about his relationship with his wife, “…on this particular night Hades wanted to spend some quality time with his wife, his queen, his bride, the love of his life, the answer to all his prayers, in the hopes that she might one day actually speak to him” (118)?
Student Response:
After reading the book, I think that Hades, by delegating his duties, which is his right, lost control over the underworld, and that is why Philenocron got so far with trying to overthrow Hades. I am not saying that Hades should not delegate, I am just stating that he is ONLY delegating, and taking no part in the procedures that are happening around him. I also think that his relationships with others are meaningful to him, but are not felt the same way by the other people. That is shown on page 113 of the book when Hades was sitting down with "his wife, his queen, his bride, the love of his life, the answer to all his prayers, in the hopes that she might one day actually speak to him." I really think he should step up to his duties and actually do something, not just sit around and wait.
Teacher Feedback:
Nahte, uh sorry, I mean Ethan, this is a well-developed response to the question. I agree with you that while it is Hades “right” to delegate some duties, he has completely checked out. As you write, he is “taking no part in the procedures that are happening around him.” Do you think he has become bored or burned out? Eternity IS a long time to do the same thing. Do you think, on the other hand, he is just consumed with winning Persephone’s love. The poor king just wants a little love reciprocated! I’m glad to see you included evidence from the text and then followed up with your own analysis and final idea. That’s the way to do it!
h. The best ruler for the Underworld. Philonecron believes that "The Underworld needed a strong ruler, a man with a vision, a man handy with a whip, a man who could live up to the promise of the domain, bring back the days when it meant something to be a Greek God" (126). Could Philonecron be right? Explain whom you think would be the best ruler for the Underworld and why.
Student Response:
Hi Emma,
I agree with you that Philenocron just wants to rule for power, nothing else. I also think how he's trying to get that power is hinting that he shouldn't be ruling the underworld. Overall, I agree with you that he should NOT be king of the underworld.
Teacher Feedback:
Thank you for responding to a classmate! I like the way you’ve started this comment by telling Emma the specific point on which you agree. You second sentence introduces an insightful point. That is, Philonecron’s means for gaining control of the Underworld are a warning about his personality and behavior. What details could you add to help your reader understand the connection between his behavior and your assertion “that he shouldn’t be ruling the underworld”? (You don’t have to rewrite. It’s just a pondering question.) As you add your own ideas, make sure you provide your reader with enough details and examples. This will help the reader to fully understand your excellent ideas!
On to Lesson Four! Here are some challenges for next week:
Use the text to provide evidence to support your ideas in your discussion posts.
Try using at least two literary terms in your discussions. The Literary Terms Study Sheet can be found on the class home page.
Lesson Four is due on Sunday, October 25 at midnight your time. I can’t wait to read your responses to this week’s reading! Keep up the great work!
Elisabeth Brantley
Please confirm that you and your parents have read the feedback by asking your parent to click on the “Add submission” button, type in the parent’s name and any comments in the “Online text” box, scroll down, and click on “Save Changes.” This parent acknowledgement lets me know that a parent has read the feedback for that lesson or unit. Thanks for your cooperation!
Instructions for Lesson Four
All work is due on the due date shown in the Home Page of the classroom.
1. Continue guided reading of The Shadow Thieves, preferably reading in the following reading chunks:
Chapters 10-12 (pages 135-175);
Chapters 13 & 14 (pages 177-210);
Chapters 15-18 (pages 211-261)
Feedback for Lesson Four
TO: Ethan Carey
RE: Lesson Four- The Shadow Thieves
γεια σας Ethan! (That’s Greek for hello!)
I hope you have had a great week!
This week, our poll asked us:
Based on what you know so far, do you think that Charlotte and Zee should trust Mr. Metos?
You opined that the kids should trust Mr. Metos. Was there something you read that convinced you he was trustworthy? I wish we could discuss these poll questions as a whole class!
Blog Assignment:
b. Note and List: Let's see if you can do a better job than Charlotte in preparing for a journey to the Underworld. [Note: This particular blog requires that you complete both 1) and 2), and the combined word count for assignments 1) and 2) together is 150-300+ words.]
Charlotte throws a few things into a backpack before they leave with the bird to travel to the Underworld. She knows where she is going, but not what she will need. If you were Charlotte with so little time to pack, what would you take with you on your journey to the Underworld? Write a description of the items that you would take in your backpack along with an explanation about why you think that item might be helpful.
Let's say you take a little more time to write a note to leave for your parents. What would your note tell them?
Student Response:
If I was in Charlotte's place when she figured out that she had to go to the underworld, (though I wouldn't wan't to be), I would have brought LOTS and LOTS of food for when I get hungry, extra clothes if mine get unusable, rope for if I need to do anything special, a sleeping bag, blankets for if I get cold, a strong LED flashlight, a helmet for good measure, a life jacket, a swimsuit to keep my clothes dry, money if I need to get information from Charon or if I need to cross the River Styx, firewood and a lighter to keep myself warm. If I knew a TON about Greek mythology, I would try to get blood and give it to the shades in return for information, in case i get lost. It would be pretty hard to carry all that, but it would be worth it.
If I wrote my letter to my parents, It would sound something like this,
Dear Mom and Dad
Sorry I'm not here, but I have to go to the underworld to save the world, (ask Mr. Metos if you don' believe me), and will probably be back in a day. Zee and I know what's causing the sickness and will stop it, please believe me with this. We are going to be all right and will come back quickly and will be safe.
Be back soon,
Ethan
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, you’ve made a thorough list of supplies to bring to the Underworld. You’ve thought of all the essentials, and most of your items would fit in a backpack. I especially like your plan to “get blood and give it to the [S]hades in return for information, in case [you] get lost.” You’ve got your bases covered. Your note to your parents is truthful: “I have to go to the underworld to save the world.” Nonetheless, I’m sure you’ll have some explaining to do when you get back! Good work on the blog!
Discussions Questions:
a. Mindless loyalty. In Chapter 12, Philonecron observes that “He never would have believed it before, but inbred, mindless loyalty does have its drawbacks” (164). What drawbacks are shown in the book? What other drawbacks to mindless loyalty can you imagine? What are the advantages of being served by those with mindless loyalty? Which would make the best employee or servant?
Student Response:
Ian, I agree with you that if something unusual happens, they won't know what to do. Another drawback I can think of would be that if he gets killed the footmen won't be able to do anything for him or someone, or ANYBODY else. Also, it is sometimes good to have mindless loyalty because they HAVE to obey you, because they don't have any motivation to do anything else.
By the way, I agree with you that it would be AWESOME to have an army of clones at your disposal, ( if they weren't programed to kill you on another person's order. )
Teacher Feedback:
You have a good point that if something unusual happens, the footmen “won’t know what to do.” They need to be told each little step and they could not handle a situation when the unexpected happens. This could slow down Philonecron’s plans. On the one hand, mindless loyalty means that the footmen would never question Philonecron’s orders. On the other hand, they can’t make the most minor decisions on their own. I agree that it would be “AWESOME to have an army of clones.” Do you think the footmen’s lack of skills will prove to be more of a problem for Philonecron? By the way, good job working in a literary term!
d. What about Charon? From what you read in Chapter 16, what do you think about Charon? Why does he keep insisting that he has a family to feed? Do you sympathize with Charon at all? Why or why not? What role does Charon seem to play in The Shadow Thieves? Who relies on him for information?
Student Response:
From what I read on Charon in the book, I think he is greedy, and can’t really tell right from wrong. I do not sympathize with Charon that much, because even though he does a lot of work every day, and with the info dealing too, wouldn’t that make him fairly rich? A word I would use to describe Charon is static, because you know what he’s going to do with information, and that he doesn’t care who he’s giving the information to, or what the information is. I think Charon’s role in The Shadow Thieves is to (1), mess up peoples days, (2), deal out information, then mess up peoples days, and (3), to ferry dead people across the River Styx, deal out information, then mess up peoples days. I think that everybody who would like to know information would rely on him for information, which is basically everybody. Last of all, I think he keeps on insisting that he has a family to feed to feed because he is greedy, and would like to have more money.
Teacher Feedback:
This is a comprehensive response to the question. I’m curious about what you mean when you say that Charon’s role is “to mess up people’s days.” How does he do this? What is his motivation? I like the way you’ve included the term static to describe Charon. I understand how you drew that conclusion through your explanation that “you know what he’s going to do with information, and that he doesn’t care who he’s givng the information to, or what the information is.” Unlike you, I sympathize with Charon a little bit. His life has changed since Hades brought Persephone down to the Underworld. Now, Charon uses his ordinary job to gather information that gives him power with others and a little extra money. Many famous spies in history have done exactly the same thing. They’ve blended in with the population by doing a common job or task and keeping their ears and eyes open. If you are ever in Washington, D.C., be sure to check out the International Spy Museum. You can learn more about some of those spies and their techniques. Another thing about spies is that they often start spying once they feel they’ve been betrayed in some way by their own country or leaders. I wonder if Charon feels betrayed by Hades?
Ethan, as you continue into Lesson Five, be sure that you are studying the literary terms for the quest at the end of the course. These terms can be found by opening the Literary Terms Study Guide on the Home Page of our class. There are also games to help you review the terms. Finally, see if you can use any of these terms in a discussion post next week!
Our next lesson is due Sunday, November 1 at midnight your time.
Elisabeth Brantley
Please confirm that you and your parents have read the feedback by asking your parent to click on the “Add submission” button, type in the parent’s name and any comments in the “Online text” box, scroll down, and click on “Save Changes.” This parent acknowledgement lets me know that a parent has read the feedback for that lesson or unit. Thanks for your cooperation!
All work is due on the due date shown in the Home Page of the classroom.
1. Finish reading The Shadow Thieves, preferably reading in the following reading chunks:
Chapters 19-21 (pages 263-314);
Chapters 22-24 (pages 315-363);
Chapters 25-Epilogue (pages 364-420)
TO: Ethan Carey
RE: Lesson Five- The Shadow Thieves
Hi Ethan!
Listed below is your assessment for Lesson Five. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Please confirm that you and your parents have read the feedback by asking your parent to click on the “Add submission” button, type in the parent’s name and any comments in the “Online text” box, scroll down, and click on “Save Changes.” This parent acknowledgement lets me know that a parent has read the feedback for that lesson or unit. Thanks for your cooperation!
This week, our poll asked:
“Was the Epilogue a complete surprise to you, or had you already guessed the secret?”
You and I both found ourselves feeling surprised by the ending! Anne Ursu is a talented author who delivers twist and turns up to the last page! In any event, I hoped you enjoyed The Shadow Thieves and that you are already pulled into The Lost Hero.
Blog Assignment:
b. Journal: Pretend you are Philonecron after you have been banished by Hades to live in the Upperworld in the 21st Century. Write a 1st person 150-300+ word journal entry in which you (as Philonecron) consider your surroundings, your situation, and your plans for the future. Where will you live and how will you support yourself? Is there anything about life in the Upperworld that you might learn to enjoy?
Student Response:
Hello, my name is Philonecron, half-demon, Grandson of Poseidon, and you are probably wondering how I got up here, so I'll tell you. Not too long ago, I was an assistant manager of the department of sanitation for Hades, and to tell you the truth, I was getting pretty bored of it. All the other people working for Hades were like "Oh, I'm so POWERFUL and WONDERFUL", whereas in reality, some of them had NO power at all! So anyways, I was getting bored of sitting around, doing NOTHING at all, so soon I came up with an idea, a wonderful one at that. I had collected GALLONS And GALLONS of blood, and was going to use them to awaken the shades so I could launch a revolt on Hades and become King Of The Underworld.
Of course, you have probably guessed what happened, since I wouldn't be here if I won. Soon I was captured and as a citizen of the underworld, not allowed to set foot in the underworld again, and banished to the outer banks (the other side of the River Styx ). But my days of scheming were not over. Soon, drifting in the upper world, I was attracted to a family mourning their dead, and soon I noticed something about the boy, I noticed that his shadow was loose! Soon I came up with an idea, I would collect an army of thousands of shadows, and launch the biggest revolt Hades has ever had, and command the boy to launch the attack! As for how I would get down there, I I would command my footmen to carry me! But, again, my devious, special, plan, did not work. Somehow, the boy had managed to escape from my footmen guards, and soon he had turned the shadows against me! Imagine that, all of your life's work, wrecked by a puny mortal boy! But that wasn't the worst part, Hades then banished me to the upper world, to never come down there again!
Now, you might be wondering where I am sleeping, and how I am earning money, but that's sort of simple. For food, demons don't need to eat much, and since I'm a son of Poseidon, I can sort of gain food through the sea, but no, I am not eating as much as I want to. For a job, I don't have one yet, but I've gained some money by swindling people with magic, and some other shady stuff. Where I sleep, is anywhere that is shady and as quiet as the underworld, which is in fact pretty hard to find. Overall though, I am not liking life up here, it's either too noisy, too bright, too dark, and too fast. One thing I might get used to is the noise of the waves, and at least they are steady like the underworld, not rushing like everything else around the waves.
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, it amuses me to think of Philonecron needing a sound machine that makes soothing noises, like the waves, to go to sleep. For all the chaos he creates, he requires his environment be “just so” for himself. In any event, this journal helps the reader to understand Philonecron’s back story in the Underworld and how he finds himself on the streets of the Upperworld. I’m not surprised he is back to his old trick of “swindling people with magic, and some other shady stuff.” It must be very disappointing to him to be stuck up here when he had such grand plans for ruling the Underworld. Great work on this blog!
Discussion Questions:
c. The bravest thing Charlotte's ever done. In Chapter 20, after successfully throwing the Footman who was trying to kill her into the River Styx, Charlotte felt more overwhelmed than elated. "She put her head in her hand and began to cry...for Mr. Metos, getting his liver pecked out...for her cousin...who thought he was saving her and was now in very great trouble...for all the children who had lost their shadows...most of all, she cried for herself and what she had already done and how much she still had left to do" (298). Wasn't that enough bravery for one day? She knew it wasn't, however, and then Charlotte "did the bravest thing she had ever done. She wiped her tears away and began to get up" (298). Why does the narrator say that getting up and wiping her tears away was the bravest thing that Charlotte had ever done? Do you agree?
Student Response:
I agree with you Ian, that when she showed her emotions, it helped Charlotte to overcome her cowardly side ( though I don't have much doubt in her bravery now). I also think that another motivational feeling was probably that if she didn't get to Hades in time, the world would be destroyed. Another helpful thought probably was a feeling that Zee would do something to help them get out out, and this is showed when she's thinking "For surely Zee had a plan, surely he did not mean just to give in, surely he had a way out of this." (Pg 294)
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, way to go using the evidence from the text to support your point! That’s the way to do it! This question is one of my favorites in the entire class. I had always looked at this question in terms of Charlotte “getting up and wiping her tears away.” You and Ian look at it a little differently, though. You write: “when [Charlotte] showed her emotions, it helped [her] to overcome her cowardly side.” Charlotte is used to covering up her feelings to keep from being hurt by others. This is a big change for her. When a character changes and grows over the course of events in a book, we call her a dynamic character. In any event, thank you for helping me to think about this question in a new way!
g. Should Mr. Metos be rescued first? After Zee escapes from the Footmen and hurries for the Palace, he remembers Mr. Metos. Why does Zee make the decision to rescue Mr. Metos first? Do you think he should have taken the time to rescue Mr. Metos before going to the Palace? Why or why not? Do you think that Charlotte would have made the same decision? Explain your reasoning.
Student Response:
From what the book says, I think Zee wanted someone to command the shadows besides him, so he rescued Metos, and he also made the logical decision that the more good people they had down in the underworld, the better. I support my first thought with the idea that he was sort of scared of the shadows, which is shown when he saw how quickly and efficiently they destroyed and ripped apart the footmen. I then support my second idea with the complex idea of logic, and with the idea that you are able to accomplish more when you have more people. Also, who wants to walk away from a guy getting his liver eaten.
Teacher Feedback:
Ethan, you’ve explained how you reached your conclusions that “Zee wanted someone to command the shadows besides him, so he rescued Metos, and he also made the logical decision that the more good people they had down in the underworld, the better.” In the sentences that follow, you help your reader understand your thinking. That’s a good place to start. Additionally, Charlotte and Zee are kind and compassionate people who are loyal to their friends and family. It would be out of character for them to just leave Mr. Metos behind. Neither would want to leave Mr. Metos in suffering. Do you think they also feel obligated to save Mr. Metos since he sent them a message asking for help? Do you think they feel responsible for Mr. Metos being in this position because of what they told him?
By now, I’m sure you’ve already started The Lost Hero. As you work on your assignment for next week, continue to use your literary terms and evidence from the text. In addition, don’t forget to keep studying for the Quest in Lesson 10. The Literary Terms Study Guide can be found near the top of our class page. There are also links to games and activities to help you prepare.
Remember, Lesson Six is due on Sunday, November 8 at midnight your time!
Have a great week!
Elisabeth Brantley