"A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse where she once lived, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
A groundbreaking work as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out"
-The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Before reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane, answer the introductory questions provided in the document below. These questions are designed to get you thinking about some of the perspectives, themes, and topics addressed in this novel before you begin reading it.
The author, Neil Gaiman, talking about this novel and his writing process:
Some of you may be more familiar with another novel of his called Coraline. Many stylistic comparisons can be made between Coraline and The Ocean at the End of the Lane. If you liked Coraline, then you will probably enjoy this novel as well. Below is the trailer to its film adaptation:
The Ocean at the End of the Lane reading assignment day 1:
You will be responsible for reading the prologue, chapter 1, and chapter 2.
You will then complete a double entry journal for this reading. Part 1 of this assignment asks you to pick out 3 quotes from the reading. Part 2 of this assignment asks you to craft a one-paragraph response for each quote.
These responses can include:
Any questions this passage might raise for you, or anything that you don't understand
An explanation of a text-to-self, text-to-text, or text-to-world connection
How this passage makes you feel and why
Why this passage seems important to you. Why did you choose this quote?
Does this passage tell you something new or important about a character?
Does this passage foreshadow what might happen further along in the text? What predictions might you make?
This assignment is meant to get you thinking more critically about the text and how it speaks to you. A double entry journal template is provided below:
These double entry journals will be graded in regards to their completeness.
You will never be forced to share your responses with the class; however, in the event that your journal contains any explicit content or behavior that requires intervention, your journals will not be kept confidential as I am obligated to get you the help you need.
This novel does deal with mature themes such as death and child abuse. If for any reason you are uncomfortable with discussing a particular night's reading, come to me beforehand and we can discuss an alternate activity for you to complete.
If you or anyone you know is being abused, contact a guidance counselor immediately. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Emmaus' Anonymous Tip Line at 610-966-8400.
Alignment With Common Core Standards:
CC.1.3: Reading Literature: Students read and respond to works of literature - with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with focus on textual evidence.
CC.1.4: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
A groundbreaking work as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out"
-The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Before reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane, answer the introductory questions provided in the document below. These questions are designed to get you thinking about some of the perspectives, themes, and topics addressed in this novel before you begin reading it.
For further introductory information on The Ocean at the End of the Lane, browse the following link and video:
NY Times Book Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
The author, Neil Gaiman, talking about this novel and his writing process:
Some of you may be more familiar with another novel of his called Coraline. Many stylistic comparisons can be made between Coraline and The Ocean at the End of the Lane. If you liked Coraline, then you will probably enjoy this novel as well. Below is the trailer to its film adaptation:
The Ocean at the End of the Lane reading assignment day 1:
You will be responsible for reading the prologue, chapter 1, and chapter 2.
You will then complete a double entry journal for this reading. Part 1 of this assignment asks you to pick out 3 quotes from the reading. Part 2 of this assignment asks you to craft a one-paragraph response for each quote.
These responses can include:
This assignment is meant to get you thinking more critically about the text and how it speaks to you. A double entry journal template is provided below:
These double entry journals will be graded in regards to their completeness.
You will never be forced to share your responses with the class; however, in the event that your journal contains any explicit content or behavior that requires intervention, your journals will not be kept confidential as I am obligated to get you the help you need.
This novel does deal with mature themes such as death and child abuse. If for any reason you are uncomfortable with discussing a particular night's reading, come to me beforehand and we can discuss an alternate activity for you to complete.
If you or anyone you know is being abused, contact a guidance counselor immediately. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Emmaus' Anonymous Tip Line at 610-966-8400.
Alignment With Common Core Standards:
CC.1.3: Reading Literature: Students read and respond to works of literature - with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with focus on textual evidence.
CC.1.4: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.