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Study GuideBridge to TerabithiaByKatherine PatersonCreated by Pamela CohenName

IntroductionThis booklet is a resource for the study of The Bridge to Terabithia by KatherinePatersonSource: http://www.ulster.net/ petersne/kpat.htmlComprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20142

Week OneReading - Chapters 1-2We will:be identifying the different characters, setting, plot and the themes of thenovelexamine the author's motivation and reasons for writing this novelcreate mind maps and family treesWorksheet OneResearch and write a brief biography of Katherine Paterson.1. When was Katherine Paterson born?2. Where was Katherine Paterson born?3. What was her first language?4. Name some of the countries Katherine Paterson has lived in?5. What did Katherine's parents do for work?6. When did she get married?7. Who did she marry?8. How many children did she have?9. When did she write Bridge to Terabithia?10. Why did she write Bridge to Terabithia?Take on the role of an editor who writes autobiographical entries for novels.Use the information you have gained from answering the questions above towrite your entry. Think carefully about spelling and grammar.Comprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20143

KATHERINE PATERSON - A BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHORKatherine Paterson was born in China in 1932, the daughter of Christianmissionaries. When Japan invaded Manchuria in World War 2, thePaterson family returned to the United States, settling in rural Virginia, aplace where many of her books are set. Chinese had been her primarylanguage, so when she entered the fourth grade in Virginia, she had tolearn English, and this made her school year a traumatic experience. Herdifficulties in reading English texts put her off writing, but theseexperiences actually planted the seeds for her future career.After the end of World War 2, Katherine finished up her studies atgraduate school. She wanted to return to China, but that country hadclosed its doors to Westerners at that period in time, so she decided tomove to Japan for a while. Although she disliked Japan for their wartimeactions against China and the U.S., she was interested in Japaneseculture and wanted to learn about the Japanese way of life. TheJapanese and Chinese cultures would both influence her writing later.When Katherine returned from Japan, she went to New York City, whereshe met Presbyterian minister Reverend John Paterson. They weremarried in 1964, and would have four children. While working for thePresbyterian Church, Katherine began her professional writing career bywriting teaching curriculums for 5th and 6th grade parochial students.She also taught school as well. Later, in the mid 1970s, she wrote herfirst novel, The Sign Of The Chrysanthemum, which was a Japanese fairytale.In 1977, Katherine would publish her most beloved novel to date - BridgeTo Terabithia. This heart-wrenching story about the inseparable bond offriendship between two very different children - a poor, shy farm boy anda vivacious rich girl from the city - that is cut short by the girl's suddendeath, was inspired by a tragedy that hit close to home. Katherine's sonDavid, then 8 years old, lost his best friend, a girl named Lisa Hill, whenthe little girl was struck by lightning. The book is dedicated to both Davidand Lisa. This beautiful novel won the prestigious Newbery Award in1978. Surprisingly, Bridge To Terabithia soon became the subject of acensorship controversy that continues to this day. I discuss this andother aspects of the book in detail in the Bridge To Terabithia section ofthis site.Katherine Paterson has always advocated the need for contemporary,realistic children's fiction. Some of her books feature difficult themessuch as the death of a loved one (Bridge To Terabithia, Flip-Flop Girl),the tribulations of foster children (The Great Gilly Hopkins),governmental persecution (Rebels Of The Heavenly Kingdom), and theexploitation of workers (Lyddie). She has also written on the subject ofComprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20144

writing for children and teenagers. Here are some quotes from her bookGates Of Excellence:"I wrote about the difficulties of the human experience with hope becauseI am a person who lives in hope. That is how I see the world and how Imust wrote about it.""When people ask me what qualifies me to be a writer for children, I say Iwas once a child. But I was not only a child, I was better still, a weirdlittle kid.""And if we marvel at the artist who has written a great book, we mustalso marvel at those people whose lives are works of art and who don'teven know it.""I do believe that those of us who have grown up have something of valueto offer the young.""A great novel is a kind of conversion process. We come away from itchanged.""The reason I began to write fiction was not that I believed myself to beone of those enviable artist, the 'born story teller,' but that I loved storiesso much I wanted to be on the inside.""Looking back, I don't seem to have ever created a character that somecorner of my soul does not personally claim. I am all of them.""I believe that the reading of fiction has helped me not only to come toterms with the weird little kid I was but also to realize that almosteveryone I meet has a weird little kid tucked away inside.""When I write a story, it is not an attempt to make children good or wise - nobody but God can do that. I am trying in a book simply to givechildren a place where they may find rest for their weary souls.""It is not simply living with my four children that keeps me from anidealistic view of childhood; it is the memory of myself as a child. I wasnot of the superior breed. Nor was I gifted or beautiful. I was scared anlonely and dumb.""I want children to know that despite all the evidence that the worldseeks to crush them with there is room for hope. That good life, far fromending in childhood, barely begins there."Source: http://www.ulster.net/ petersne/kpat.htmlComprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20145

Worksheet TwoChapter One QuestionsWhy does Jesse sneak out of bed?What are Jesse's sisters' names?Why does Jesse get up so early in the morning?What is the name of Jesse's cow?What is the author telling us about Jesse's relationship with his mother inthis chapter?6. What does this chapter say about Jesse's dad? What language techniquesare used?7. Where does Jesse go to school?8. Draw a map of the playground at the school using the informationprovided in the first chapter?9. What is the author's intention when she provides the responder (you)with Jesse's thoughts on his older sisters, Ellie and Brenda?10. What is Jesse's big ambition?11. Jesse is afraid of being called a 'bragger', why? What language device isused here?12. What happens at the end of this chapter that will change Jesse's lifeforever?1.2.3.4.5.Comprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20146

Worksheet ThreeChapter Two QuestionsWhat did Jess and his little sisters have for dinner?What does 'pudgy' mean?What did Jess like to draw?What kind of drawing is this?Why can't Jess show his drawings to his dad?Describe Miss Edmunds?What does jess think of Miss Edmunds? Provide some textual examplesfrom the novel. Remember to put quotes in inverted commas.8. The author mentions five songs in this chapter. What are they? What dothey tell us about the era this novel was written in?9. This chapter uses some onomatopoeic text. What is it and what does itmean?10. Who is Leslie Burke? What is interesting about this character?1.2.3.4.5.6.7.Extension ActivitiesFind the lyrics to any one of the songs mentioned in Chapter Two. Researchwhen it was written and what was happening in the world at that time. Draw acartoon based on the song lyrics and your research and write a short rationale tohelp your teacher and classmates interpret the image in relation to the novel.Comprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20147

Week TwoReading - Chapters 3-6We willexamine the importance of school in this novelexamine the relationships Jess Aarons has with other studentsexamine the issues that are raised in the novel about learning, going toschool, dealing with bullying and with the seriousness, fun and energy ofcompetition.Worksheet OneChapter Three QuestionsWho is Mr Turner?Who is Mrs Myers?What year is Jess in at Lark Creek Elementary School?What is implied when the author has Jesse reflect on Mrs Myers 'firstday-of-school-smile? What is another term given for her smile in thischapter?5. What are the names Jesse is thinking of using for his book of drawings?6. Who is Gary Fulcher?7. What are the names of some of the other runners in the Year 5competition?8. Why didn't Gary Fulcher want Leslie to run against the boys?9. Why did Jesse sit next to May Belle on the bus on the way home?10. What does Jesse mean when he thinks that Leslie's running reminds himof 'wild ducks in the autumn'? What language feature is this?1.2.3.4.Comprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20148

Worksheet TwoChapter Four Questions1. Why did running cease to be fun for Jesse?2. What descriptions of Miss Edmunds are given in this chapter? Usetextual evidence to support your answer. Remember if you quote straightfrom the text you must use quotation marks.3. What technique is used and what does Jesse mean when he calls himselfa 'yellow-bellied sapsucker'?4. What does the responder (you) find out about Leslie's family in thischapter?5. What is Leslie Burke's hobby?6. Why would this hobby be unusual in Lark's Creek?7. Why doesn't Leslie have a television?8. What does this chapter tell us about Jesse's personality?9. Where does Jesse choose to sit on the bus and why?10. Why does Leslie say that she and Jesse need a place 'just for us'?11. What other story is mentioned in this chapter and how does thisintroduce intertextuality to the story?12. What does the author quote from the Bible in this chapter and why?13. Who names the secret place Terabithia and why?Worksheet ThreeChapter Five Questions1. The last chapter was called ‘Rulers of Terabithia’. This chapter is called2.3.4.5.6.7.‘The Giant Killers’. Explain why.Who is Janice Avery?What kind of meeting do Jesse and Leslie have in Terabithia?Why does Maybelle get bullied?What strategy do Jesse and Leslie devise to try and stop the bullying?Do you think this strategy is effective?This novel alludes to other texts and stories. List these allusions andresearch at least three. Determine why they are important tounderstanding this novel.Comprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 20149

Worksheet FourChapter Six Questions1. Jess gets very angry at the beginning of this chapter. What makes him2.3.4.5.angry and why?Does this novel deal with gender issues? How?What does may Belle want for Christmas?Who and what is Prince Terrien?What did everyone at Jesse's house get for Christmas?Extension WorkDiscuss the development of Jess and Leslie's friendship so far. List how it hasdeveloped in terms of the plot (This happened, then this happened.) in a mindmap and then write a story, poem or song about and how it has affected bothJess and Leslie.Source: http://www.ulster.net/ petersne/kpat.htmlComprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 201410

Week ThreeReading - Chapters 7-10Source: http://www.ulster.net/ petersne/kpat.htmlWe will:examine the friendship that has developed between Jess and Leslielook at why they are both so different and yet can be friendslook at gender and how a friendship between boys and girls is as valid assame gender friendshipslook at the mathematics and physics behind sport, time ourselves runningfast and slow, and look at the science and physics of swinging off a ropeabove a creek (although not literally).Comprehension guide created by Pamela Cohen, 201411