Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia

Author: Barbara O’ConnorAuthor: Barbara O’Connor

EKU Spring 2005 LIB 805Group Members: Melissa Angel, Lindsey Evans, Donna Hall, Mary Noble, and Christy Ward

SummarySummary

This is a story about a girl named Bird, who has a two big dreams. All of her life she just wanted to be noticed and to go to Disney World. One day she recognizes the change that she might be able to make one of those dreams come true. The prize for winning the state spelling bee is a trip to Disney World. All she has to do is find a partner. There’s this new boy, Harlem Tate, who has just moved to Freedom, Georgia. Bird thinks that she and Harlem could win the contest if they could just work together. Harlem agrees to be her partner for the spelling bee. After many practices, Bird and Harlem become good friends and discover that they just might win everything that Bird has always dreamed of.

Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

PlotPlotCharactersCharactersSettingSettingThemeThemeStyleStyle

When an author manages to blend these elements When an author manages to blend these elements successfully,successfully,

the result is the creation of a pleasing new world for the result is the creation of a pleasing new world for youngyoung

readers to enjoy.readers to enjoy.

PlotPlot

In Fame and Glory…In Fame and Glory… the plot is the plot is progressiveprogressive and and chronologicalchronological. .

A A chronologicalchronological plot covers a particular period of time and plot covers a particular period of time and relates the events in order within the time period.relates the events in order within the time period.

The story begins with Harlem having been in Freedom for three days, long The story begins with Harlem having been in Freedom for three days, long enough to know that no one liked him (no one except Birdie). Then it enough to know that no one liked him (no one except Birdie). Then it takes us through many events that leads to other’s acceptance of him.takes us through many events that leads to other’s acceptance of him.

ProgressiveProgressive plots establish characters, setting, and basic plots establish characters, setting, and basic conflict in the first few exposition chapters. The story conflict in the first few exposition chapters. The story then builds through rising action to a climax. Once the then builds through rising action to a climax. Once the climax occurs, a conclusion is reached and the story ends.climax occurs, a conclusion is reached and the story ends.

The spelling bee leads to a revelation about Harlem’s vision problems. The spelling bee leads to a revelation about Harlem’s vision problems. Birdie, in turn, intervenes with Mr. Moody and Harlem gets glasses which Birdie, in turn, intervenes with Mr. Moody and Harlem gets glasses which changes many things for him. Things change for Birdie too. She realizes changes many things for him. Things change for Birdie too. She realizes that maybe she had Fame and Glory in Freedom,Georgia after all.that maybe she had Fame and Glory in Freedom,Georgia after all.

CharactersCharacters

Two Important Aspects:Two Important Aspects:Characterization and Character DevelopmentCharacterization and Character DevelopmentCharacterizationCharacterization is simply how the author helps the reader is simply how the author helps the reader

to know the character.to know the character. O’Connor does this by O’Connor does this by describing physical appearance and personality. She describing physical appearance and personality. She also provides the reader with dialogue, actions, and also provides the reader with dialogue, actions, and interactions with the other characters to make the interactions with the other characters to make the characterization more convincing.characterization more convincing.

Character DevelopmentCharacter Development refers to the changes the refers to the changes the character undergoes during the story When significant character undergoes during the story When significant experiences occur, we expect the character to be experiences occur, we expect the character to be different as a result.different as a result. The experiences that Birdie and The experiences that Birdie and Harlem went through together as their friendship Harlem went through together as their friendship developed, changed both of them.developed, changed both of them.

Types of Characters:Types of Characters:

Round-Round-complex individuals who possess both complex individuals who possess both good and bad traits, like a real person good and bad traits, like a real person

Birdie and Harlem are the main characters in Birdie and Harlem are the main characters in this story. They are both round characters.this story. They are both round characters.

Secondary-Secondary-partially described individuals partially described individuals whose purpose is to help build the story and whose purpose is to help build the story and make it comprehensible/not necessary to make it comprehensible/not necessary to know everything about themknow everything about them

Miss Delphine, Ray, and Mr. Moody are the Miss Delphine, Ray, and Mr. Moody are the secondary characters in the story. secondary characters in the story.

SettingSetting

The setting of the small southern The setting of the small southern town of Freedom, Georgia is an town of Freedom, Georgia is an integralintegral setting. This means the setting. This means the story could not be the same if it story could not be the same if it were placed somewhere else. were placed somewhere else.

O’Connor made Freedom a place O’Connor made Freedom a place that was “just right” for this story that was “just right” for this story to unfold in the manner that it did.to unfold in the manner that it did.

ThemeTheme

Literary theme is the underlying meaning Literary theme is the underlying meaning or significance of the story.or significance of the story.

What was the author’s purpose?What was the author’s purpose?

What was the author trying to say?What was the author trying to say?

O’Connor’s theme in O’Connor’s theme in Fame and Glory…Fame and Glory… is is that we can all be important and make that we can all be important and make a difference in the lives of others, a difference in the lives of others, whether on a grand scale or a smaller whether on a grand scale or a smaller scale. We should realize our own worth.scale. We should realize our own worth.

StyleStyle

Style is the way the author tells the story.Style is the way the author tells the story.

Aspects of style: Aspects of style: words, sentences, words, sentences, organization, point of view, symbolismorganization, point of view, symbolism

Are Are wordswords appropriate to the story being appropriate to the story being told?told?

Do the Do the sentences sentences read easily?read easily?

Is the book Is the book organizedorganized??

From what From what point of viewpoint of view is the story told? is the story told?

Does the story contain Does the story contain symbolismsymbolism??

Style (Continued)Style (Continued)

O’Connor’s style:O’Connor’s style:The The wordswords O’Connor chooses to use in the book are O’Connor chooses to use in the book are

appropriately matched with the characters and setting appropriately matched with the characters and setting to help make the story believable.to help make the story believable.

The The sentences sentences flow easily and make reading pleasant and flow easily and make reading pleasant and enjoyable.enjoyable.

The book is The book is organizedorganized into chapters that are an into chapters that are an appropriate length for young readers.appropriate length for young readers.

The story is told from Birdie’s The story is told from Birdie’s point of viewpoint of view, which is , which is extremely effective. Knowing what Birdie is thinking extremely effective. Knowing what Birdie is thinking adds to the enjoyment of reading this book.adds to the enjoyment of reading this book.

The The symbolismsymbolism in the story is appears to be Harlem’s in the story is appears to be Harlem’s glasses. Once he gets the glasses and can see, things glasses. Once he gets the glasses and can see, things begin to change for him but they change even more for begin to change for him but they change even more for Birdie. She can see the world much more clearly since Birdie. She can see the world much more clearly since Harlem got his glasses.Harlem got his glasses.

Important issues that Important issues that come from “Fame come from “Fame

and Glory”and Glory”*True Friendship*True Friendship

*Never judge a book by it’s cover*Never judge a book by it’s cover

*Loyalty*Loyalty

*Poverty*Poverty

*Being happy with yourself, no matter what others think*Being happy with yourself, no matter what others think

*Perseverance *Perseverance

*Self-esteem*Self-esteem

Issues For Book Issues For Book DiscussionDiscussion

FriendshipFriendship

Friendship Discussion Friendship Discussion QuestionsQuestions What is a main problem in What is a main problem in

friendships?friendships? What is a good friend?What is a good friend? How do you keep a friend?How do you keep a friend?

Issues for Book Issues for Book DiscussionDiscussion

PopularityPopularity

Popularity Discussion Popularity Discussion QuestionsQuestions Why was it important for Birdie to Why was it important for Birdie to

“fit in” or be popular with the “fit in” or be popular with the other kids?other kids?

Why did Birdie want to win the Why did Birdie want to win the Spelling Bee?Spelling Bee?

Why did Birdie choose Harlem Why did Birdie choose Harlem Tate to be her partner?Tate to be her partner?

4. A link to a web page 4. A link to a web page which gives a good which gives a good editorial review of the editorial review of the book. book. 

http://www.barboconnor.com/my_novels.htm#Fame%20and%20Glory%20in%20Freedom,%20Georgia

This link shows awards and information about the book.  Also it has excerpts from various reviews of the book.

First website: Barbara O’Connor’s Website

Second Website:Second Website:Amazon BooksAmazon Books

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0374322589/ref=dp_item-information_1/103-3911407-5999049?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

This website is from Amazon books.  It has editorial and customer reviews from various organizations and readers.  I found it very helpful.  * Sample review on next slide.

From Booklist: *Starred Review* Gr. 4-6. Not the most popular kid in sixth grade, Bird feels a kinship with Harlem, a new boy in her class who is shunned because he "looks mean and acts dumb." With the help of her kindly neighbor, Miss Delphine, Bird starts a campaign to befriend Harlem. The process begins haltingly, but Bird is triumphant when he agrees to be her partner in the school spelling bee. Bird soon learns that becoming Harlem's friend requires work and courage, but it also brings surprising revelations and unexpected payoffs. Told from Bird's point of view, the narrative unfolds in a finely tuned voice that alternates between hope and disappointment, stubbornness and vulnerability, self-awareness and kindness.

Continued next slide…

This short novel beautifully portrays Bird's strongest emotions: her love for Miss Delphine and her longing for Harlem's friendship. On a practical note, O'Connor's account of the positive changes in Harlem's life that result from his getting eyeglasses may reassure some children who need glasses but are reluctant to wear them. From the author of Moon Pie and Ivy (2001) and Me and Rupert Goody (1999), this is an involving story with a small-town southern setting and a sympathetic heroine. Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved(www.amazon.com 2003)

5.     A link to a web page, which gives some information on the author of your book.

http://www.barboconnor.com 

This is the author’s website.  I found various links for her books, biographies on the author, teacher links, and author websites. It was an informative website for learning about this book and Ms. O’Connor’s other works of literature.

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