The Poisonwood Bible: Understanding Author Technique

This Smart file has fifteen slides that ask students to take a close look at two passages from “Genesis”. The first one is a quote that develops the character of Rachel. Students will do a close read and decide on Kingsolver’s purpose. Then, I provide them with a rough draft paragraph that analyzes the passage, and ask them to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. Next, they will look at a second draft, which is much better, but could use some improvements. Students will discuss this as well, and then evaluate the final copy.

In the next section, students will do a close read of a paragraph about Nathan’s demonstration garden. They will then do a timed writing about Kingsolver’s word choice in the passage.

Finally, they will look at Adah’s allusions to the Williams and Dickinson poems in “Revelation”. A series of slides walks them through the process of trying to understand Kingsolver’s purpose in using these allusions, and then ends with an assignment that asks them to write about it. I purposefully do not “give” them an answer for this, as I want them to use their own personal response to come to an answer, rather than repeating what I have to say.

Help your students keep track of character and theme as they study this complex text with Foldables for Poisonwood Bible.