from The Thousand and One Nights, �“The Second Voyage of Sindbad, the Sailor”

Pause & Reflects

Student Copy

DO NOT WRITE ON THIS BOOKLET.

TURN THIS BOOKLET BACK IN ON THE DAY OF THE TEST.

Standards/Objectives

• [SWBA] To understand and appreciate a folk tale.
• [SWBA] To know the elements of plot in fiction.
• [SWBA] To analyze problems and solutions in a story.

Standard/Objective 1a: Literary Analysis�Understanding and Appreciating a Folk Tale

• As you learned in Unit 1, a folk tale is a story passed on from one generation to the next generation as a part of a civilization’s cultural heritage.
• FOLK TALE: a story that is handed down, usually by word of mouth, from generation to generation.
• The story you are about to read is a classic Middle Eastern folk tale that has survived for many generations, “The Second Voyage of Sindbad, the Sailor.”
• In fact, the character of Sindbad has leaked into our culture and he’s been the protagonist of many television shows and movies. Furthermore, the tale’s spirit of high adventure and action has been the inspiration for many of our own most beloved characters. For instance, in the Indiana Jones series, Indiana is constantly thrown into seemingly impossible and perilous adventures, which he always finds ways to get out of.

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Standard/Objective 1b: Literary Analysis�Understanding and Appreciating a Folk Tale

• The tale of “The Second Voyage Sindbad, the Sailor” is actually a part of a larger narrative called The Thousand and One Nights (or the Arabian Nights).
• The Thousand and One Nights has many stories about Sindbad; each is another adventure. In this way, The Thousand and One Nights is like a comic book series with some volumes specifically devoted to a particular character. A larger story that joins the many stories within it together is called a frame story.
• FRAME STORY: a story that exists within a long narrative setting or frame, creating a story within a story.

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Standard/Objective 2a: Literary Analysis�Knowing the Elements of Plot in Fiction

• Because the tale of Sindbad is an action-adventure story, it has a fast and complex plot line.
• PLOT LINE: a graph line that shows the sequence of events in a narrative.
• The normal plot line of a story is triangular in form. With many years of studying literature under your belt, you may recognize this familiar form. What you may not remember, however, are the elements that form a story’s plot (and its plot line).
• PLOT: the chain of related events that take place in the story.

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Standard/Objective 2b: Literary Analysis�Knowing the Elements of Plot in Fiction

• The following is a graphic that illustrates the typical plot of a story:

EXPOSITION: provides the groundwork for the plot. Characters are introduced, the setting is described, and conflicts are identified.

RISING ACTION: As the story progresses, complications usually arise, causing difficulties for the main characters.

CLIMAX: The turning point of the story, the moment when interest and intensity reach their peak. Usually, an important discovery or decision is made.

FALLING ACTION: Consists of events that occur after the climax. Often, the conflict is resolved soon after.

DENOUEMENT (OR RESOLUTION): the outcome or resolution of a doubtful series of occurrences.

COMPLICATION: something or some event that introduces, usually unexpectedly, some difficulty, problem, or change in a narrative.

Standard/Objective 2c: Literary Analysis�Knowing the Elements of Plot in Fiction

• A story’s plot is often represented as points on a line, such as in the graph line below.

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• However, plot points don’t really do a good job describing the actual essence of a plot. Rather than a plot being described as a chain of events strung together on a time line, it would better to imagine a plot as a river rushing forward. In other words, a plot has movement; it’s dynamic.

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EVENT 1

EVENT 2

EVENT 3

EVENT 4

EVENT 5

EVENT 6

EVENT 7

EVENT 8

Standard/Objective 2d: Literary Analysis�Knowing the Elements of Plot in Fiction

• While a plot is like a river rushing forward, the river has a shape. This shape is gained from a story’s plot elements, particularly, the story’s conflict and it’s complications. Look at the diagram below, and see if you can see this quality of a story’s plot.
• COMPLICATION: something or some event that introduces, usually unexpectedly, some difficulty, problem, or change in a narrative.

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E1

E2

E3

Standard/Objective 2e: Literary Analysis�Knowing the Elements of Plot in Fiction

• But, what gives the plot its movement? This is achieved through the cause-and-effect relationships of the story’s events. Study the diagram below with this new detail presented.

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eeE

C1

E1/C2

E2/C3

Standard/Objective 3: Active Reading�Analyzing Problems and Solutions in Story

• Earlier, it was mentioned that what gives a plot its shape are the complications in the story’s progression. Moreover, these complications move the story forward. For example, what would have happened if Romeo wouldn’t have gone to the Capulet party, where he first saw Juliette? More likely, there would have been no play and the story would have ended there. However, Romeo does attend (secretly, of course), and he falls in love. The cause of Romeo’s falling in love with Juliette was meeting Juliette.
• The story could have also ended there as well, but the story doesn’t because there’s a complication, mainly the fact that the Capulets and Montagues hate each other. So, the story continues.
• As you read “The Second Voyage of Sindbad,” identify the complications that pop up throughout the story that keep the story moving forward. Be sure to notice how the cause-and-effect relationships between events contribute to the story’s progression.
• You should be aware of how Sindbad handles each problem that he confronts. Study his method of solving each problem (or complication) that comes up.

Pause & Reflect 1: Literary Analysis�Plot

• Re-read the last paragraph on the left-hand column on p.584, which also spills onto the top of the right-hand column. Identify the conflict in this paragraph.

Pause & Reflect 2: Reading Skills and Strategies�Analogies

• Re-read the quote in the first full paragraph in the right-hand column on p.584 that begins with “Now your end has come, Sindbad . . .” Sindbad quotes a proverb, which is a short, pithy saying that expresses a basic truth or piece of practical wisdom. Like many proverbs, this one is based on an analogy, a comparison that uses a known or familiar thing to explain something else. Identify what two things are being compared and what Sindbad means when he quotes the proverb.

Pause & Reflect 3: Active Reading�Analyzing Problems and Solutions

• Re-read the last full paragraph in the right-hand column on p.584 that begins with “At length, resigning myself to my doom . . .” Identify the steps Sindbad takes to solve his problem in this paragraph.

Pause & Reflect 4: Literary Analysis�Plot

• Re-read the top of the left-hand column on p.585. Then, identify the complication described in this paragraph.

Pause & Reflect 5: Reading Skills and Strategies�Clarifying

• Re-read the last statement in parentheses at the end of first full paragraph on the left-hand column on p.585. To whom does this sentence refer to? [HINT: Think about what you learned about Middle Eastern cultures during our study of the cultural and historical background of these civilizations.]

Pause & Reflect 6: Active Reading�Analyzing Problems and Solutions

• Re-read the first, full paragraph in the left-hand column on p.586 that begins with “Scarcely had I advanced a few steps . . .” Why doesn’t Sindbad roll back the stone and leave the cave before daybreak?

Pause & Reflect 7: Active Reading�Analyzing Problem and Solutions

• Re-read the last three paragraphs on p.586. What kinds of problems might Sindbad have with the man? How does Sindbad prevent these problems from occurring?

Pause & Reflect 8: Literary Analysis�Plot

• Where on p.586 do you think the moment of greatest suspense comes—the moment you felt the most curious to see how a particular conflict would be resolved?

Pause & Reflect 9: Literary Analysis�Plot

• What major complications in the plot of this story are described on p.588?

Pause & Reflect 10: Literary Analysis�Frame Story

• Compare the last three paragraphs of the selection with the first sentence on p.584, and then, answer the following question about the frame story:
• Based on the what these passages reveal about Sindbad, what do you think might be one reason he goes on his third adventure?

Pause & Reflect 11: Reading Skills and Strategies�Connecting

• Re-read Merchants and Traders on p.569 and answer the following question:
• What aspects of Sindbad’s life might have seemed familiar or plausible to readers living during this historical period?