You will be completing one writing assignment each day. You may do them in any order. Unless you are instructed otherwise, write in present tense only.

1. Pride is an important motive for the decisions of Mr. Small, Pluto, Mayhew, and Thomas. Write a paragraph in which you describe one important decision of each that is motivated by pride. Conclude your paragraph by telling what these decisions have in common.
2. Old vs. New is a conflict central to Dies Drear. Write a paragraph in which you show this is true by discussing 3 of the following specific ways in which the reader can see this conflict:

Mayhew vs. Pluto

Thomas's life in North Carolina vs. his life in Ohio

Thomas vs. his father

Darrow vs. Pluto

The past vs. the present as shown in clothes, furniture, transportation

You must conclude by answering this question: What is the book telling you about the relationship between Old and New? You must understand the last 2 chapters to be able to write this conclusion.

3. Reality vs. Dream is a conflict central to Dies Drear. Write a paragraph in which you explore the dream and the reality of at least 3 separate incidents or plot details in the book. I have given you 2 ideas below:

Thomas's dream vs. the reality of Pluto

The tunnel sound vs. the reality

In your conclusion, explain how the author uses this conflict to make the "illusion" of the climax Work - what dream is Mayhew counting on the Darrows to have?

 

1. Secrets play an important part in the plot of Dies Drear. Write a paragraph in which you discuss 3-4 important secrets. Tell what the secret is, who keeps it, why it is kept, and how or why the truth is revealed in the novel. The most important secret should come last.