Lesson Plan Title : Identifying Mood

Age Range: Grade 6 through grade 8 (Middle School)

Objective: The learner will:

- Learn new vocabulary words.

- Answer questions to help guide comprehension.

- Identify mood in a short story.

Resources:

Key Vocabulary: Accost, destined, fetter, implore, impunity, preclude, repose, subside, and termination.

"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan

Introduction:

Have students copy the above vocabulary words and place a check mark next to the words they know. With a partner, have them practice pronouncing the words. You may guide them the first time and practice the pronunciation as a class. (10 min.)

Activities:

- Have students read their AR book silently for 20 minutes and then give them five minutes to respond in their journals. You may have one of the students set the timer for both activities. (25 min.)

- Have students respond to the following prompt: Think about a time that you felt wronged or unfairly treated. In the heat of the moment, did you feel like getting even? How did you eventually react? Discuss the incident with a partner for two minutes and then write about it. (10 min.)

- Before reading "The Cask of Amontillado" have students fold a sheet of paper into six sections and write one question per section:

1.Who is Fortunato?

2. Who is the narrator?

3. Why does the narrator intend revenge?

4. How does the narrator feel about Fortunato?

5. How does the narrator act towards Fortunato.

6. What happened to Fortunato at the end? (5 min)

- During Reading: As students read the story, they may stop and record their answers on the piece of paper.

Wrap Up:

When they are done reading and completing their questions, they are to do the following assignment on the back of the questions. (20 min.)

1. Define mood.

2. Find two or three examples that help create the mood of the story.

3. Identify what kind of mood is being created, and explain how mood is developed.