Rattlesnakes (from Our National Parks)
John Muir
Pre-Reading:
Why might a human find a wild animal threatening? They could be bigger and fast and stronger
Why might a wild animal find a human threatening? Because a human could try to be mean and have a gun.
What do you know about rattlesnakes? That they are Venomous
Given what you know, how would you react if you encountered a rattlesnake in the wild? I would run by it very fast
What do you know about John Muir? He likes rattlesnakes and likes books
Include an image/caption of John Muir. Include an image/caption of a rattlesnake.
Interpretive Questions:
1.) Why does Muir learn to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two? He learns to respect snakes because they will not heat him if he dose not heat them he realized that the they are scared of people like how we 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) he said that because it was that one time “imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found” (p.175)
3.) Why, after killing the first snake, does Muir say he feels “degraded by the killing business”? (p. 176) he says that because he is degraded “degraded by the killing business” (p.176)
4.) Why does Muir feel “sore and guilty” about killing the snake he finds in his cabin? (p. 176) he said that Because he is “sore and guilty” (p.176)
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? he 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? He knows how a lot of snakes feel.
"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) He says that because snakes do not kill people
8.) Why does Muir see the second rattlesnake as “desperately embarrassed”? (p. 176) He sees the other snake as “desperately embarrassed” (p.176)
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)
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)
Vocabulary:
1.) Venomous (p. 175)
Quote: “ Only the rattlesnakes are Venomous” (p.175)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): poisonous
Synonym: not good for you
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am not Venomous.
2.) Persecuted (p. 176)
Quote: Persecuted tormented again and again
Definition (based on context/in your own words): killing
Synonym: murder
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I will never Persecuted someone.
3.) Degraded (p. 176)
Quote: “ I felt Degraded by killing business” (p.176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): bad
Synonym: yourself
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am Degraded.
4.) Intentionally (p. 177)
Quote: “ I have never Intentionally disturbed them.” (p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): on purpose
Synonym: to do something
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I did not hit her Intentionally.
5.) Provocation (p. 177)
Quote: “ but even with Provocation (p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): tempt
Synonym: temptation
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It is very Propositioning to do that
6.) Righteous indignation (p. 178)
Quote: “ with an air of Righteous indignation. (p.178)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): insisting
Synonym: what it now
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): am Righteous indignation on going there.
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.
You are CONVINCED by what the author says V. You ARE NOT CONVINCED by what the author says
Pre-Reading:
Why might a human find a wild animal threatening? They could be bigger and fast and stronger
Why might a wild animal find a human threatening? Because a human could try to be mean and have a gun.
What do you know about rattlesnakes? That they are Venomous
Given what you know, how would you react if you encountered a rattlesnake in the wild? I would run by it very fast
What do you know about John Muir? He likes rattlesnakes and likes books
Include an image/caption of John Muir. Include an image/caption of a rattlesnake.
Interpretive Questions:
1.) Why does Muir learn to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two? He learns to respect snakes because they will not heat him if he dose not heat them he realized that the they are scared of people like how we 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) he said that because it was that one time “imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found” (p.175)
3.) Why, after killing the first snake, does Muir say he feels “degraded by the killing business”? (p. 176) he says that because he is degraded “degraded by the killing business” (p.176)
4.) Why does Muir feel “sore and guilty” about killing the snake he finds in his cabin? (p. 176) he said that Because he is “sore and guilty” (p.176)
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? he 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? He knows how a lot of snakes feel.
"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) He says that because snakes do not kill people
8.) Why does Muir see the second rattlesnake as “desperately embarrassed”? (p. 176) He sees the other snake as “desperately embarrassed” (p.176)
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)
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)
Vocabulary:
1.) Venomous (p. 175)
Quote: “ Only the rattlesnakes are Venomous” (p.175)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): poisonous
Synonym: not good for you
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am not Venomous.
2.) Persecuted (p. 176)
Quote: Persecuted tormented again and again
Definition (based on context/in your own words): killing
Synonym: murder
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I will never Persecuted someone.
3.) Degraded (p. 176)
Quote: “ I felt Degraded by killing business” (p.176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): bad
Synonym: yourself
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am Degraded.
4.) Intentionally (p. 177)
Quote: “ I have never Intentionally disturbed them.” (p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): on purpose
Synonym: to do something
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I did not hit her Intentionally.
5.) Provocation (p. 177)
Quote: “ but even with Provocation (p.177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): tempt
Synonym: temptation
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): It is very Propositioning to do that
6.) Righteous indignation (p. 178)
Quote: “ with an air of Righteous indignation. (p.178)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): insisting
Synonym: what it now
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): am Righteous indignation on going there.
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.
You are CONVINCED by what the author says V. You ARE NOT CONVINCED by what the author says