FACING OUR INNER DRAGONS: DIGGING DEEPER INTO CONFLICT A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY MRS. DAVIS FOR CLASS 5-301.

FACING OUR INNER FACING OUR INNER DRAGONS: DIGGING DRAGONS: DIGGING

DEEPER INTO DEEPER INTO CONFLICTCONFLICT

A SPECIAL PRESENTATION A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY MRS. DAVIS FOR CLASS BY MRS. DAVIS FOR CLASS

5-3015-301

INTRODUCTION: INNER INTRODUCTION: INNER DRAGONSDRAGONS

• We have started to We have started to think deeply about think deeply about conflicts in texts conflicts in texts and especially in and especially in the fantasies we the fantasies we have been reading have been reading but now we will but now we will dig deeper with dig deeper with inner struggles inner struggles characters face.characters face.

INTRO: INNER INTRO: INNER DRAGONSDRAGONS

• Sometimes these Sometimes these inner struggles inner struggles appear as symbolic appear as symbolic objects or creatures. objects or creatures. We are also going to We are also going to think about what think about what our stories are really our stories are really about and important about and important life lessons as we go life lessons as we go deeper on our deeper on our “fantastic” journeys. “fantastic” journeys.

SOMETHING TO THINK SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ( WE WILL COME ABOUT ( WE WILL COME

BACK TO IT):BACK TO IT):• ““PERHAPS ALL THE PERHAPS ALL THE

DRAGONS IN OUR DRAGONS IN OUR LIVES ARE LIVES ARE PRINCESSES WHO ARE PRINCESSES WHO ARE ONLY WAITING TO SEE ONLY WAITING TO SEE US ACT, JUST ONCE US ACT, JUST ONCE WITH BEAUTY AND WITH BEAUTY AND COURAGE. PERHAPS COURAGE. PERHAPS EVERYTHING THAT EVERYTHING THAT FRIGHTENS US IS, IN FRIGHTENS US IS, IN ITS DEEPEST ESSENCE, ITS DEEPEST ESSENCE, SOMETHING HELPLESS SOMETHING HELPLESS THAT WANTS OUR THAT WANTS OUR LOVE.LOVE. (FACING DOWN (FACING DOWN THE DRAGON).THE DRAGON).

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS• Back in the olden days when Back in the olden days when

English mapmakers were English mapmakers were creating their literal creating their literal understanding of the world, understanding of the world, they thought it was they thought it was dangerous. “Here be dangerous. “Here be Dragons” symbolized the Dragons” symbolized the host of unknown dangers host of unknown dangers that travelers might that travelers might encounter. encounter. Here be Here be dragonsdragons" is a phrase used to denote " is a phrase used to denote dangerous or unexplored dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of territories, in imitation of the medieval practice of the medieval practice of putting putting sea serpentssea serpents and and other mythological creatures other mythological creatures in blank areas of maps. in blank areas of maps.

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS• According to According to Brewer's Brewer's

Dictionary of Phrase and Dictionary of Phrase and FableFable, "The animal called a , "The animal called a dragon is a winged crocodile dragon is a winged crocodile with a serpent's tail; whence with a serpent's tail; whence the words serpent and the words serpent and dragon are sometimes dragon are sometimes interchangeable."  interchangeable."  Furthermore, says Brewer, Furthermore, says Brewer, the word "dragon" was used the word "dragon" was used "by ecclesiastics of the "by ecclesiastics of the Middle Ages as the symbol Middle Ages as the symbol of sin in general. most of sin in general. most medieval maps have medieval maps have serpents in southern Africa serpents in southern Africa (i.e. southernmost part of (i.e. southernmost part of habitable world).habitable world).

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

• Several Map historians Several Map historians mentioned that mentioned that numerous terrifying and numerous terrifying and amazing beasts amazing beasts appeared on the sorts of appeared on the sorts of map in question.  These map in question.  These included many which are included many which are not considered mythical not considered mythical today (e.g. elephants, today (e.g. elephants, walruses, lions), but walruses, lions), but would have been just as would have been just as fantastic as a dragon to fantastic as a dragon to contemporaries.contemporaries.

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

• The only place that The only place that you can find it is on you can find it is on the Hunt-Lenox the Hunt-Lenox globe – a small globe – a small bronze globe bronze globe created in the 16th created in the 16th century.*  The century.*  The magical words magical words appear off the appear off the eastern coast of eastern coast of China.China.

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS• Here by dragons Here by dragons

symbolized the host of symbolized the host of unknown dangers that unknown dangers that travelers might travelers might encounter. Some of the encounter. Some of the dragons that characters dragons that characters face are metaphoric face are metaphoric dragons. One way readers dragons. One way readers explore these dragons is explore these dragons is to consider the inner to consider the inner struggles that characters struggles that characters face. These are the face. These are the conflicts inside a conflicts inside a character’s soul that character’s soul that haunt that character. haunt that character. Powerful readers learn to Powerful readers learn to think metaphorically think metaphorically about these dragons. about these dragons.

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

• So today, let’s So today, let’s think about the think about the dragons, inner dragons, inner demons or inner demons or inner struggles facing struggles facing the characters in the characters in our stories. our stories.

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS• Think about the inner Think about the inner

dragons facing your main dragons facing your main characters. characters.

1.1. What is haunting the main What is haunting the main character? (IN TERMS OF character? (IN TERMS OF INNER FEARS AND SELF-INNER FEARS AND SELF-CONFLICT).CONFLICT).

2.2. What does he or she have to What does he or she have to do in order to overcome the do in order to overcome the inner dragon? Apply this to inner dragon? Apply this to what you are reading what you are reading independently as well as for independently as well as for your book club books. your book club books.

3.3. You may also jot down other You may also jot down other “life lessons” that are “life lessons” that are emerging (and make sure emerging (and make sure you cite textual evidence).you cite textual evidence).

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

NOW GO BACK TO NOW GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING THE BEGINNING QUOTE AND QUOTE AND REFLECT AND REFLECT AND RESPOND:RESPOND:

HOW DOES IT HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THE RELATE TO THE BOOK YOUR BOOK YOUR READING READING INDEPENDENTLY INDEPENDENTLY OR YOUR BOOK OR YOUR BOOK CLUB BOOK?CLUB BOOK?

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

• HOW HAS IT HOW HAS IT APPLIED TO APPLIED TO ANOTHER STORY ANOTHER STORY YOU HAVE YOU HAVE ALREADY READ? ALREADY READ? SHARE AND SHARE AND DISCUSS WITH DISCUSS WITH YOUR “TURN AND YOUR “TURN AND TALK” PARTNERS.TALK” PARTNERS.

INNER DRAGONS:INNER DRAGONS:• FOR HOMEWORK: REFLECT FOR HOMEWORK: REFLECT

AND RESPOND TO AND RESPOND TO "Facing "Facing Down the Dragon ~poem~" Down the Dragon ~poem~" by Deborah Soukup.by Deborah Soukup.

• WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS? PROVIDE MEANS? PROVIDE TEXTUAL EVIDENCE TO TEXTUAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR INSIGHT.SUPPORT YOUR INSIGHT.

• HOW DOES IT CONNECT TO HOW DOES IT CONNECT TO ANOTHER TEXT? EXPLAIN ANOTHER TEXT? EXPLAIN THE CONNECTION.THE CONNECTION.

• PREPARE AT LEAST TWO PREPARE AT LEAST TWO OF YOUR OWN HIGH LEVEL OF YOUR OWN HIGH LEVEL THINKING QUESTIONS TO THINKING QUESTIONS TO ACCOMPANY THE POEM. ACCOMPANY THE POEM. BE PREPARED TO SHARE BE PREPARED TO SHARE YOUR INSIGHT. WE WILL YOUR INSIGHT. WE WILL DISCUSS “SOCRATIC DISCUSS “SOCRATIC SEMINAR” STYLE!SEMINAR” STYLE!

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

• "Facing Down the Dragon ~poem~" by "Facing Down the Dragon ~poem~" by Deborah SoukupDeborah Soukup

• The dragon circles within,The dragon circles within,• Its eyes glintingIts eyes glinting• With the guile of velvet nightWith the guile of velvet night• But I cringe away from the knowledgeBut I cringe away from the knowledge• It holdsIt holds• And bathe in darkness and fearAnd bathe in darkness and fear• As I know once the dragonAs I know once the dragon• Breaks through my wallsBreaks through my walls• Only then will I beOnly then will I be• CompleteComplete

INNER DRAGONS:INNER DRAGONS:• But I hesitate and stumbleBut I hesitate and stumble• In the haze of indecision and In the haze of indecision and

fearfear• Then on impulse Then on impulse • I reach and brush my fingersI reach and brush my fingers• Across its shimmering scalesAcross its shimmering scales• A cold fear washes over meA cold fear washes over me• But still I stagger onBut still I stagger on• With tears of bloodWith tears of blood• And wounds of oldAnd wounds of old• I embrace this golden foeI embrace this golden foe• And let the warmth that comesAnd let the warmth that comes• With trustWith trust• Bring forth strengthBring forth strength• Until I am wholeUntil I am whole•   •   

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS

• WRITE YOUR RESPONSE TO WRITE YOUR RESPONSE TO TODAY’S LESSON.TODAY’S LESSON.

• HOW HAS IT HELPED OR HOW HAS IT HELPED OR CHANGED YOUR WAY OF CHANGED YOUR WAY OF THINKING ABOUT CONFLICTS THINKING ABOUT CONFLICTS AND CHARACTERS IN STORY?AND CHARACTERS IN STORY?

• SHARE AND DISCUSS WITH YOUR SHARE AND DISCUSS WITH YOUR PARTNERS!!!PARTNERS!!!

INNER DRAGONSINNER DRAGONS