Math Curse
Written by Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by Lane Smith
used with permission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Math_Curse#mediaviewer/File:Mathcurse.jpg
Text
1. The text of a children's book is usually organized into simple sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in the book that you have chosen to review? Explain whether this organization was sufficient for the story that this book is telling.
The text in this book is organized in short and simple sentences. The math problems are always illustrated in a text box with numbered problems. The way the text is organized is sufficient because it is clear and concise. The text is also bold and easy to recognize.
2. Children's book authors often employ literary tools to help make the story more vivid in the readers minds. Commonly used literary tools are rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in the text where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you identify, state the type of literary tool that is used and how the employment of the tool helps support the story.
Example 1: Rhythm. The way the text is read is written to create a type of rhythm, especially in the word problems. Usually when one is anxious or overthinking things as the main character in Math Curse does, the text takes on a rhythm as the words and problems are read.
Example 2: Repetition. There is the story line followed by at least two or more problems for each new school event such as at the bus stop, at lunch, in class.
Example 3: Imagery. Throughout the entire book, the problems are included in the images. Also, when the boy realizes he is in a math curse, he sees math problems spiraling down towards him. Another instance is his lunch dilemma of pizza and pie for lunch and how much should he eat. The image in the book shows his head with his eyes showing pizza and pie fractions.
Example 1: Rhythm. The way the text is read is written to create a type of rhythm, especially in the word problems. Usually when one is anxious or overthinking things as the main character in Math Curse does, the text takes on a rhythm as the words and problems are read.
Example 2: Repetition. There is the story line followed by at least two or more problems for each new school event such as at the bus stop, at lunch, in class.
Example 3: Imagery. Throughout the entire book, the problems are included in the images. Also, when the boy realizes he is in a math curse, he sees math problems spiraling down towards him. Another instance is his lunch dilemma of pizza and pie for lunch and how much should he eat. The image in the book shows his head with his eyes showing pizza and pie fractions.
3. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or other device to help move the reader to the next page.
In the book, there are little bonus questions. The bonus questions occur twice and they keep the story moving by asking the reader questions to answer that relate to the math curse the character is in.
The second instance where a device is used is how the text is arranged. In the middle of the book the text wraps entirely around two full pages and makes the reader turn the book to be able to read the text.
In the book, there are little bonus questions. The bonus questions occur twice and they keep the story moving by asking the reader questions to answer that relate to the math curse the character is in.
The second instance where a device is used is how the text is arranged. In the middle of the book the text wraps entirely around two full pages and makes the reader turn the book to be able to read the text.
Images
1. Some picture books have an images on the front cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they relate to the story.
The images on the front cover show math symbols and numbers used in the book and are arranged on the perimeter of the cover image. The inside area of the front cover image is the character spiraling down a spiral of numbers, evoking a sense of becoming consumed by the math and problems. The back cover shows all the answers to the problems in the story.
The images on the front cover show math symbols and numbers used in the book and are arranged on the perimeter of the cover image. The inside area of the front cover image is the character spiraling down a spiral of numbers, evoking a sense of becoming consumed by the math and problems. The back cover shows all the answers to the problems in the story.
2. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the images?
The primary medium used in the images is drawings that look like collages, with some uses of actual collages such as the birthday graph on pages 7 and 8 (although there are no page numbers).
The primary medium used in the images is drawings that look like collages, with some uses of actual collages such as the birthday graph on pages 7 and 8 (although there are no page numbers).
3. Identify the image that in your opinion is the most effective in developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more elements in the illustration help support and develop the story. If you can, insert a screenshot of the image into your blog.
The image that I feel captures the story is when the boy has a dream that he is stuck in an eternal math problem. The elements present in this image are the spiraling text that goes all the way around the two pages and the fact that the pages are covered in math numbers, symbols, and problems.
4. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the images. Explain how these elements support the story. If you can insert a screenshot into your blog.
The main character is present in almost every image on the pages. He is also depicted as showing confusion and an overwhelmed feeling due to all the math problems in his life. The second element in the images are the numbers in the problems. Each image has numbers or symbols associated with math as either the focus such as the eyes of the boy at lunch or in the background. These elements support the story because it is the boy who is in the math curse and the numbers and symbols are directly connected to the topic of math.
5. Find an example of how the images and text work together to create irony,metaphor and/or metonymy. If you can insert a screeenshot of the image into your blog.
The boy puts a hole on the wall and jumps out of his math curse dream. The next page shows him with a smile and the words "I'm free." the page on the left is completely black except for the white text and the page with the boy on the right is completely white with black text. This shows metonymy because it's connecting dark, depressing colors of black and the idea of needing an escape with the images and text on the left page. On the right page, the color of white connects hope, happiness, and freedom from the math curse and the joy with completing escape from a terrible thing.
Characterization
1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story's main character?
The dominant trait of the main character is that he is a student that listens to his teacher and maybe overthinks statements.
The dominant trait of the main character is that he is a student that listens to his teacher and maybe overthinks statements.
2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the text.
The trait the character establishes through the text is his notion of recognizing math problems in everyday life.
3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the images.
The trait that is established through the images is his anxiety over finding all these math problems and trying to solve some of them. His facial expressions are drawn in such a way that you can easily identify his level of anxiety and confusion with the problems.
The trait that is established through the images is his anxiety over finding all these math problems and trying to solve some of them. His facial expressions are drawn in such a way that you can easily identify his level of anxiety and confusion with the problems.
4. Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize with.
Sadly, most students believe they are not good in math and so students can easily identify with the character's pension for not solving the problems. Also, his feelings of anxiousness and hopelessness can be identified with students who get frustrated with math and it's many problems and types of problems. Another instance where children can identify with is his schedule. The main character is in school, with a teacher, and has multiple classes and lunchtime with friends. Students everywhere understand this schedule and recognize when they have their time for free time such as lunch and spending time with friends.
Sadly, most students believe they are not good in math and so students can easily identify with the character's pension for not solving the problems. Also, his feelings of anxiousness and hopelessness can be identified with students who get frustrated with math and it's many problems and types of problems. Another instance where children can identify with is his schedule. The main character is in school, with a teacher, and has multiple classes and lunchtime with friends. Students everywhere understand this schedule and recognize when they have their time for free time such as lunch and spending time with friends.
5. What was the main problem that the main character faces in the book? How is this problem similar to a problem that most children have faced before?
The main problem the character faces in the book is that he sees everything as a math problem after his math teacher suggests everything can be viewed as a math problem. This challenge is similar to children's experiences because the problems in the book contain problems that they encounter on a daily basis such as time and money.
The main problem the character faces in the book is that he sees everything as a math problem after his math teacher suggests everything can be viewed as a math problem. This challenge is similar to children's experiences because the problems in the book contain problems that they encounter on a daily basis such as time and money.
6. Sometimes a children's book character will solve the main conflict on his or her own. How did the character in the book you selected turn to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the story?
The boy solved his own math curse by realizing he knew the answer to 1/2 plus 1/2 equals a whole which he then translated whole to hole and drew a hole to climb out of his math curse. The little boy realized he could solve his math problems and was able to escape his math curse by simply doing the math.
The boy solved his own math curse by realizing he knew the answer to 1/2 plus 1/2 equals a whole which he then translated whole to hole and drew a hole to climb out of his math curse. The little boy realized he could solve his math problems and was able to escape his math curse by simply doing the math.
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