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Transcript

Laurie Halse Anderson

The Major Theme

The Author's Lens

Life-threatening circumstances allow an individual to develop courage, and understand sacrifice for the sake of loved ones, ultimately leading to a coming of age.

An individual will provide unconditional support and faith for his or her loved ones once coming of age occurs.

When an individual must transition sharply into a situation that determines life or death, courage will prevail.

Selfless Display of Courage

Protection of Loved Ones

Loved Ones Considered Burden

Assistance with Expected Reward

"The tall man jumped on Grandfather and punched him in the face. I kicked at the tall man until he hit me with the back of his hand...I struggled to my feet...'Let go of him!' I shouted" (Anderson 145).

  • Matilda performs courageous feats
  • Neither expects reward nor requires assistance
  • Absolute coming of age.

"My stomach flipped. What should I do? If I screamed, Grandfather might wake, and they could attack us both...Why were they here, standing in front of my room, stealing the hard work of my family" (Anderson 139)?

  • While in danger: imperative to protect family
  • Sole thoughts regard safety of loved ones
  • Absolute coming of age

"I had just saved her precious quilt from disaster, but would she appreciate it? Of course not" (Anderson 3).

  • Not yet come of age
  • Provides minimal assistance to mother
  • Expected praise

"Life was a battle, and Mother a tired and bitter captain. The captain I had to obey" (Anderson 17).

  • Matilda does not appreciate family value
  • Family seen as a burden
  • Not yet come of age

Courage with Reliance on Others

Recognition of Family Bonds

"Fish! But how to catch one with neither line nor hooks? Where was Nathaniel Benson and his fishing pole when I needed him" (Anderson 90)?

  • Matilda is searching for food
  • Survival had never been potent until then
  • Still accustomed to reliance on others
  • Partial coming of age

"To my right lay a figure covered with a sheet. A corpse. Who was dead and who was alive? Was it Grandfather? Was it Mother?...My eyes filled with tears" (Anderson 98).

  • Connection to her family members
  • Concerned about their safety prior to her own
  • Recognizes value of family; doesn't act upon it
  • Partial coming of age
  • Laurie Halse Anderson: Demonstrates struggles of adolescent females in modern society through portrayal of Matilda in Philly, 1793
  • Modern female writer who captures coming of age as a female teen
  • Clothing, illnesses, treatments, and daily life are described in detail (Atkins)
  • Years of research to develop accurate display of Mattie's societal role
  • States how "historical fiction allows [her] to create fictional characters who participate in real-world situations...[she must find] the balance point between the needs of the story and the reality of the past...[she] must find a way to position [the] characters so that they can accurately reflect history" (Anderson).
  • Examples of historic culture enhance value and relevance of common issues to contemporary society

Yellow fever no longer an issue, but other circumstances today cause individuals to display courage, perseverance, and unity

The Text

The Addition of the Text into English 9 GT

  • Matilda Cook is faced with yellow fever in the midst of her routine life
  • Endures survival challenges
  • Bring her closer to the people in her life
  • Mattie begins as a stubborn adolescent who follows shortcuts to abstain from working
  • Tragic illness decimates the population of Philadelphia
  • Matilda is forced to flee
  • Mattie must care for her sickly grandfather while she is simultaneously in search of her missing mother
  • Family relationships and courage prevail through tragedy
  • Intended audience: middle or high schoolers
  • Overarching theme of coming of age throughout the text
  • Embedded themes of courage and need for human contact
  • "Anderson smoothly incorporates extensive research into her story, using dialogue, narration, and Mattie's own witness to depict folk remedies, debates over treatment...the breakdown of Philadelphia society, and countless tales of sufferers and survivors" (Burkam).
  • Applicable to Philadelphia in 1793 and a modern society where communities must work together during hardships
  • Contemporary example: after hurricanes communities bond over suffering and surviving
  • In "Fever 1793" society is unified through illness and hardship
  • Important for a 9th Grade English class: members could relate to current news events
  • Despite benefits, it is poor in vocab and challenging passages
  • Besides disadvantage, effectively captures coming of age: enhancing Coming of Age unit

Historical Context

  • Yellow fever is a highly deadly disease that decimated the population of Philadelphia in 1793
  • Very little treatment options were available for yellow fever
  • Remedies included teas, herbs, and bleeding, where blood was extracted: thought to remove the disease (Burkam)
  • Realistic scenarios through the use of historical figures such as Doctor Benjamin Rush, as well as General George Washington, who served as a symbol of stability and hope (Publishers Weekly)
  • Many situations of love, loss, and overcoming obstacles relate to circumstances in our contemporary society

Conclusion

Works Cited

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever, 1793. New York: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 2000. Print.

Atkins, Holly. "FEVER 1793 BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON." St. Petersburg Times [St. Petersburg, FL] 22 Nov. 2004: 6E. Student Resources in Context. Web. 9 June 2015.

BURKAM, ANITA L. "Fever 1793." The Horn Book Magazine Sept. 2000: 562. Student Resources in Context. Web. 9 June 2015.

"FEVER 1793." Publishers Weekly 31 July 2000: 96. Student Resources in Context. Web. 9 June 2015.

SYRUP!

Works Consulted

"Fever 1793." Novels for Students. Ed. Sara Constantakis. Vol. 35. Detroit: Gale, 2011. 59-87. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 June 2015.

The 9th Grade English Curriculum should incorporate Laurie Halse Anderson's "Fever 1793" into its Coming of Age unit due to its remarkable use of historical context, symbolism, broad spectrum of themes, and relevance to the present time.

Fever 1793

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