Rattle Snakes By: John Muir
Pre-Reading:
Why might a human find a wild animal threatening?
A human might find an animal threatening because of their size or if it is poisonous. Ex: lion, snake
Why might a wild animal find a human threatening?
A wild animal might find a human threatening because depending on the animal, humans can be bigger and stronger. Ex: dog
What do you know about rattlesnakes?
I know that rattlesnake are venomous.
Given what you know, how would you react if you encountered a rattlesnake in the wild?
I would be very scared if I encountered a rattlesnake in the wild.
What do you know about John Muir?
John Muir was born on April 1838. He died on December 1914. He went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has wrote five books. He is an author.
Interpretive Questions:
1.) Why does Muir learn to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two?
- Muir learns to respect rattlesnakes after he kills two because he learns that rattlesnakes contain venom. "Only the rattlesnake is venomous, and he carefully keeps his venom to himself as far as man is concerned, unless his life is threatened." Pg. 175
2.) Why does Muir say that at one time he “imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found”? (p. 175)
- Muir says that at one time he "imagined that rattlesnakes should be killed wherever found" Pg. 175 because rattlesnakes are venomous.
3.) Why, after killing the first snake, does Muir say he feels “degraded by the killing business”? (p. 176)
- When Muir killed the first snake and says he feels "degraded by the killing business" Pg. 176 because he feels farther from heaven and he killed one of God's creations.
4.) Why does Muir feel “sore and guilty” about killing the snake he finds in his cabin? (p. 176)
- Muir feels "sore and guilty" Pg. 176 about killing the snake he finds in his cabin because he didn't want to kill the rattlesnake.
5.) Why does Muir explain his decision to encamp on a boulder rather than on the patch of flood-sand where he finds two snakes?
- Muir explains hid decision to encamp on a boulder rather than on the patch of flood-sand where he finds two snakes because there was a snake and he didn't want to kill the snake so he had to move also Muir just wanted his bread. "In vain I tried to explain that I only wanted my bread; he stoutly held the ground in front of it, so I went back a dozen rods and kept still for half an hour, and when I returned he had gone." Pg. 178
6.) Why does Muir use human characteristics and feelings to describe snakes?
- Muir uses human characteristics and feelings to describe snakes because the snakes look like how a human would act. "But he had been listening, and when I looked through the brush I found him confronting me, still with a come-in-if-you-dare expression." Pg. 178
7.) Why does Muir describe snakes as “fair and charitable”? (p. 176)
- Muir describes snakes as "fair and charitable" Pg. 176 because
8.) Why does Muir see the second rattlesnake as “desperately embarrassed”? (p. 176)
9.) Why does Muir say, “I have looked into the eyes of so many wild animals that I feel sure I did not mistake the feelings of this unfortunate snake”? (p. 177)
10.) Why does Muir describe the snake he accidentally threw his bundle of bread on as having a “come-in-if-you-dare expression”? (p. 178)
Vocabulary:
1.) Venomous (p. 175)
Quote: "Only the rattlesnkae is venomous,......" (Page 175)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): poisonous
Synonym: dangerous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I feel like he should go to the doctor since he has some venom in his system
2.) Persecuted (p. 176)
Quote: "Persecuted and tormented, again, and again,......." (Page 176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): mistreat
Synonym: torture
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The person was persecuted when angry bikers hit him for ruining the party
3.) Degraded (p. 176)
Quote: "I felt degraded with killing buisness." (Page 176)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): treated with disrespect
Synonym: not fairly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): They were treated with disrespect and they felt degraded.
4.) Intentionally (p. 177)
Quote: " Since then I have perhaps a hundred or more in these mountains, but I have never intentionally disturbed them."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): On purpose
Synonym: not an accident
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She intentionally missed when they made her lose her focus.
5.) Provocation (p. 177)
Quote: "....., but even with this provation,......" (Page 177)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): Annoy
Synonym: provoke
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He should take a chill pill and not respond to the provation
6.) Righteous Indignation (p.178)
Quote: " When he caught sight of me he eyed me angrily , and with an air of righteous indignation seemed to be asking why I thrown that stuff at him." (pg.178)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): reactive emotion
Synonym: mistreat
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): When my brother loses a game he has a rightous indignation for a few hours before its gone
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when the narrator feels certain about something and when the narrator feels uncertain about something. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
- At first John Muir didn't respect rattlesnakes because they make him feel uneasy (page 175)
- John Muir was thinking if he should step on the rattlesnkae that was in danger and was afraid under his foot but then he made a decision that he would (page 175)
- John Muir was certain he felt guilty for killing the snkae that was embarresed for being in the cabin (page 176)
- John Muir made up his mind to be fair and charitable to only kill a snake if he has too (page 176)
- John Muir was certain that he had to kill the snake because children and adults come to the cabin so he couldn't risk the people getting hurt (page 178)
NARRATOR = UNCERTAIN
- John Muir was thinking if he should step on the rattlesnkae that was in danger and was afraid under his foot (page 175)
- John Muir was uncertain about if he had to kill the snake since he was stuck and in front of him was a rattlesnake (page 177)
- John Muir was uncertain what to do when a rattlesnake went up his arm (page 175)
- When a snake looked at John Muir after he had thrown some stuff he wante dhis bread but since he couldn't get it back he descided he had to leave the bread with the rattlesnake (page 178)
- Since his encounter with the rattle snake at the big boulder that was in fornt of him he was uncertain whether he shoud go there again (page 177)