The Possibility of Evil
About the Author:
5 facts about the author and how their life personally relates to the story, include image
• Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916.
• She spent her childhood in Burlingame, California.
• As a teenager she began writing poetry and short stories
• She and her family moved East when she was seventeen
• Her work mirrored the fear of the Cold War at the time
Prereading Reflection:
How do you define "evil"?
Immoral and wicked; not any good at all
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
I think that if you are aware that someone is going to do something evil, your responsibly is to attempt to stop it or to seek assistance for a force capable of stopping him/her from doing such a work of evil.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People will say bad things about another personal make them feel better about themselves or to exact revenge.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
The best way to respond to someone talking behind your back is to ignore the person, but if it were me I would get back at them.
Vocabulary in Contex:
Define each term as it is used in the context of the story and include quotes
Infatuated: inspired with intense admiration"Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap,and the lace-edged carriage cover (page 29)."
Indulgently: deeply; excessively
"Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap,and the lace-edged carriage cover (page 29)."
Negotiable: open to discussion or negotiation
"Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff of suspicion (page 32)."
Degraded: lowly; in a lowered state
"The town where she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded...(page 33)."
Proverbial: well known or known enough to be a stereotype
"...Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town...(page 34)."
Unduly: town unwanted degree; inordinately
"She did not feel any of them staring at her unduly or longing to laugh at her...(page 35)."
Potential: having the capacity to develop into something in the future
"She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service in wiping out his potential badness (page 36)."
Contrasting Ideas:
Provide at least 5 examples from the story to support each idea
5 facts about the author and how their life personally relates to the story, include image
• Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916.
• She spent her childhood in Burlingame, California.
• As a teenager she began writing poetry and short stories
• She and her family moved East when she was seventeen
• Her work mirrored the fear of the Cold War at the time
Prereading Reflection:
How do you define "evil"?
Immoral and wicked; not any good at all
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
I think that if you are aware that someone is going to do something evil, your responsibly is to attempt to stop it or to seek assistance for a force capable of stopping him/her from doing such a work of evil.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People will say bad things about another personal make them feel better about themselves or to exact revenge.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
The best way to respond to someone talking behind your back is to ignore the person, but if it were me I would get back at them.
Vocabulary in Contex:
Define each term as it is used in the context of the story and include quotes
Infatuated: inspired with intense admiration"Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap,and the lace-edged carriage cover (page 29)."
Indulgently: deeply; excessively
"Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap,and the lace-edged carriage cover (page 29)."
Negotiable: open to discussion or negotiation
"Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff of suspicion (page 32)."
Degraded: lowly; in a lowered state
"The town where she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded...(page 33)."
Proverbial: well known or known enough to be a stereotype
"...Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town...(page 34)."
Unduly: town unwanted degree; inordinately
"She did not feel any of them staring at her unduly or longing to laugh at her...(page 35)."
Potential: having the capacity to develop into something in the future
"She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service in wiping out his potential badness (page 36)."
Contrasting Ideas:
Provide at least 5 examples from the story to support each idea
Evil vs. Not Evil
Miss Strangeworth Seems Evil
- She believes that the towns belongs to her - She never gave away any roses, even those that did not grow on her property - Miss Strangworth made the Crane family feel ashamed of their baby - Miss Strangeworth said to herself that some children are stupid and said some people just shouldn't have children - She wrote mean letters on a weekly or monthly basis - She woke up happy to know that three people would read the mean letters |
Miss Strangeworth Doesn't Seem Evil
- She brags to tourists that their town is the best, and that brings in more people - She worried that Ms. Harper wasn't taking good care of herself - She was worried about the baby not sitting up or moving - Miss Strangeworth worried about Mr.Lewis' health - She greeted people on the street and asked how they were doing |