Transcription
Between the Shades of GrayBY: RUTA SEPETYS
Setting
Background! As Joseph Stalin was taking control ofEastern Europe, many Lithuanians werebeing deported.! The NKDV is the militarized policedepartment in charge of the deportation ofLithuanians.! Lithuanians were taken to labor camps andwere told they would be freed in they workedhard enough.
Author’s inspiration! Between Shades of Gray is partlybased on the stories Sepetys heardfrom survivors of the Lithuaniandeportation in 1941 during a visit torelatives in Eastern Europe.! Genre- Historical Fiction
Ruta Sepetys- Author Video
CharactersLina Vilkas- Protagonist- Stubborn, 15 year old girl- Keeps her hope alive byliving in her memories(flashback)
Characters! NKVD- Militarized lawenforcement agency of Russiaduring WWII.! Antagonists
Characters! Elena Vilkas- Lina and Jonas's mother- Goes out of her way to helpeverybody
Characters! Jonas Vilkas- Lina's ten-year old brother
Characters! Kostas Vilkas- Jonas and Lina’s father- Active politically before theywere deported
Characters! Andruis Azkyas- 17 year-old- Stays close to his mother
! Mrs. Azkyas- Andruis’s mother
Characters! Mr. Stalas- Bald, bitter-hearted man
Characters! Mrs. Rimas- Librarian- Deported by NKDV
Characters! Mrs. Gryas- School teacher who is alsodeported
Characters! Alexandras Lukas- Gray-haired man- Known as “the man who windshis watch”
Characters! Ulyushka- small, old Altaian woman.- Lina and her family’s“roommate”
Characters! Nickolai Kretsky- NKDV officer
Characters! Ona- Gave birth minutes beforebeing deported
Book Trailer! http://www.youtube.come/watch?v w1iNkJe4 0
Literary Terms! Figurative Language!Hyperbole-A figure of speech thatuses exaggeration to expressstrong emotion, make a point, orevoke humor.
Literary Terms! Figurative Language!Imagery-Descriptive languagethat appeals to one or more of thefive senses: sight, hearing, touch,taste, smell
Literary Terms! Figurative Language!Metaphor-A figure of speech thatmakes a comparison between twoseemingly unlike things.!Does not use “like” or “as”
Literary Terms! Figurative Language!Personification-A figure of speechin which an animal, object, forceof nature, or idea is given humancharacteristics.
Literary Terms! Figurative Language!Simile-A figure of speech thatuses the word “like” or “as” tocompare two seemingly unlikethings.
Literary Terms! Theme- The main idea or messageof a story, sometimes expressed asa general statement about life.
Literary Elements! Themes found in Between Shades ofGray:!Morality, Integrity and Sacrifice!Strength and Identity!The Power of Art!Genocide
Literary Terms! Symbol- Any place, animal, object,or event that exists on a literal levelwithin a work but also representssomething on a figurative level
Literary Terms! Symbols found in Between Shadesof Gray:!Drawing!Family Photos!The stone!Josef Stalin
Literary Terms! Point of View: The angle of thinkingabout things, shows us the opinion, orfeelings of the individuals involved in asituation.
Literary Terms!Firstperson:The narrator is telling the story.!involves the use of either of the twopronouns “I” and “we”."Example:“I felt like I was gettingdrowned with shame and disgrace.”
Literary Terms!Thirdperson: uses pronouns like “he”,“she”, “it”, “they” or a name.!Someone outside of the story is tellingthe story."Example: “Mr. Stewart is aprincipled man. He acts by the bookand never lets you deceive himeasily.”
Vocabulary!The following wordscan be found inBetween Shades ofGray.
Ivory (pg 3)! Sentence from the book !I opened a new ivory writing tablet and a case of pens ! What do you think the word means?
Ivory! Definition! 1. a creamy-white color.
Derogatory (pg 7)! Sentence from the book !Papa yelled at me and told me to never, ever say anythingderogatory about the Soviets.! What do you think the word means?
Derogatory (pg 7)! Definition!showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Divert (pg 11)! Sentence from the book !“I have to use the bathroom,” I announced trying todivert attention away from my mother and the coat.! What do you think the word means?
Divert (pg 11)! Definition!distract (someone or their attention) from something.
Mangled (pg 14)! Sentence from the book !One of his legs looked mangled.! What do you think the word means?
Mangled! Definition!severely mutilate, disfigure, or damage by cutting,tearing, or crushing.
Palpable (pg 25)! Sentence from the book !The chaos was palpable. Families were being separated.Children screamed and mothers pleaded.! What do you think the word means?
Palpable (pg 25)! Definition! Able to be touched or felt
Approximately (pg 31)! Sentence from the book !At the end of the car, large planks of wood approximatelysix feet deep had been installed as shelves.! What do you think the word means?
Approximately! Definition! Of about the same quantity or quality
Mesmerized (pg 38)! Sentence from the book !Even the two daughters left their grouchy mother and satmesmerized by the fantastic tales.! What do you think the word means?
Mesmerized! Definition! To hold the attention of someone or something
Horizon (pg 40)! Sentence from the book !The sun had just appeared on the horizon.! What do you think the word means?
horizon! Definition! The line at which the sky and land appear to meet
Ashen (pg 47)! Sentence from the book !Motherʼs face was ashen. She did a poor job of hiding herfear this time.! What do you think the word means?
ashen! Definition! Color of pale ash! Pale with shock, fear, or illness
Suspended (pg 54)! Sentence from the book !I grabbed onto the undercarriage of the train and liftedmy legs up, suspended under the car.! What do you think the word means?
suspended! Definition! Hang (something) from somewhere
Eerie (pg 57)! Sentence from the book !The station looked eerie, desolate, frozen with onlyremnants of the chaos that had taken place.! What do you think the word means?
eerie! Definition! Strange and frightening
Intermittent (pg 60)! Sentence from the book !Intermittent shots rang out in the distance.! What do you think the word means?
Intermittent! Definition! Occurring at irregular times, not continuous or steady
puncture! Sentence from the book !The sun reflected off the dagger-shaped blades. Theycould puncture us within a fraction of a second.! What do you think the word means?
puncture! Definition! To make a hole in something
Lunged! Sentence from the book !We were given two buckets of slop and water. Thechildren lunged for it.! What do you think the word means?
lunged! Definition! A sudden thrust forward of the body
atrophied! Sentence from the book “We must stretch before sitting down, sweetheart,” saidMother. “Our muscles have surely atrophied these pastweeks.”! What do you think the word means?!
atrophied! Definition! 1. Body tissue wasting away from little/no use! 2. Decrease in effectiveness because of little use
prolonged! Sentence from the book !I felt awkward under his prolonged gaze.! What do you think the word means?
prolonged! Definition! Continuing for a long time
propelled! Sentence from the book !My drawing stick rolled away, propelled by the wind andrain.! What do you think the word means?
propelled! Definition! Caused to move foreword
blossomed! Sentence from the book !A wide bruise blossomed across her cheek.! What do you think the word means?
blossomed! Definition! 1. To grow! 2. When a tree/bush sprouts flowers
hysterical! Sentence from the book !“Calm yourselves,” he said slowly. “We do no good bybecoming hysterical.”! What do you think the word means?
hysterical! Definition! Extreme emotion
obediently! Sentence from the book !We sat obediently, like schoolchildren in front of theprincipal.! What do you think the word means?
obediently! Definition! Willing to obey
muffle! Sentence from the book !“Mmm, hmm,” I said, trying to muffle my tears.! What do you think the word means?
! Definition! Wrapped or covered
bolster! Sentence from the book !She would chat with the person and work next to them inthe field, trying to bolster their spirit.! What do you think the word means?
bolster! Definition! To support or strengthen/ prop up
obscene! Sentence from the book !The other NKVD raised his eyebrows and made obscenegestures with his fingers before laughing and walkingaway.! What do you think the word means?
obscene! Definition! Offensive or disgusting
censored! Sentence from the book !“But she said the letters were cryptic and arrived withmarkings.”!“Of course they did, theyʼre censored.”! What do you think the word means?
censored! Definition! To delete parts of something
Between Shades of Gray is partly based on the stories Sepetys heard from survivors of the Lithuanian deportation in 1941 during a visit to relatives in Eastern Europe. ! Genre- Historical Fiction . Ruta Sepetys-
