Side-By-Side Plot Comparisons

Today we watched a short film called "The Dam Keeper" and did a comparative analysis of plot and theme with this film and the novel “The One and Only Ivan”. Can you make some deeper comparisons and go beyond Ivan is like Pig and Ruby is like Fox. How are the characters similar? How is the relationship between Pig and Fox similar to the relationship between Ivan and Ruby? How are they different? Think: How does the introduction of a new character in both stories (Fox/Ruby) cause the main character (Pig/Ivan) to change? How does this relationship affect the outcome of the story? How is the conflict of character vs. society evident in both stories? Dig Deeper: Quote taken from The Dam Keeper “Dad had always said the job of a dam keeper is to keep the darkness away.  But he never told me what to do when it surrounds you.  His mask protected me from the cloud, but nothing I had, protected me from the people. ” How does this quote also apply to Ivan? Does he wear a “mask” as well? Perhaps in a more symbolic rather than a literal sense of the word?

Respond: How are the themes of loneliness, bullying, isolation and friendship similar in these two stories. Do the authors’ have similar messages?

Showing Julia P. 202-203

from The One and Only Ivan p. 202-203


"It’s time to show my work.
The mall is silent, except for Thelma the macaw, who is practicing her new phrase: 'Uh-Oh!'
Julia is finishing her homework. George is sweeping outside. Mack has gone home for the night.
I grab Not-Tag and carefully pull out the folded papers. So many paintings! Page after page. Piece after piece of my giant puzzle.
I pound on my glass and Julia glances over.
Fingers trembling. I hold up one of my paintings. It’s brown and green, a corner piece.
Julia smiles.
I display another picture, and then another and another and another, each one a tiny part of the whole.
Julia looks confused. 'But...what is it?' she asks. She shrugs. 'It doesn’t matter. It’s pretty just as it is.'
'Uh-oh,' says Thelma.
No, I think. No.
It does matter."

I want you to do an activity so that you can understand just how difficult it would be for Julia to understand Ivan’s message.

First you will paint a picture. Don’t get too attached to your painting, because I am going to cut it up into a bunch of pieces.

After your picture has dried, I am going to cut it up and put it in a bag. You will each take a bag containing “puzzle” pieces that are not yours, then you will try to put the pieces together and figure out what someone else was trying to show you.  As difficult as this is, imagine how much harder this would have been for Julia to figure out-not knowing that she was being given pictures that were part of a whole that needed to be put together.

After completing the activity write about what it was like trying to put the pieces together. Include any thoughts that you might have on how Ivan’s plan could have been different to make it easier for Julia to figure out what he was trying to tell her. Do you think she will be able to figure it out?

This is one of Ivan's actual paintings:

Are Zoos Good or Bad?

Do you think zoos are good or bad? Read the following articles from Newsela on the topic of zoos:

• Baby chimp, neglected by mother, adapts to a new home in Florida zoo

• Argentine court's ruling gives basic human rights to captive ape at zoo

• Animal-rights group complains about Pittsburgh Zoo elephants

• Some clever chimps stage escape at Kansas City Zoo

Has your mind changed? What new opinions do you now have?

Now read some responses, both for and against zoos, to the question "Are Zoos Good or Bad on Debate.org:

DEBATE.ORG

With wild habitats disappearing worldwide, what role (if any) should zoos have in the conservation of endangered species, research, and education? 


Weigh in on the topic, either for or against zoos, citing evidence from one or more of these sources to support your opinion.

A Remarkable Friendship

Today I read a book called "Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship". It is the story of a baby hippo, Owen, that is caught in a tsunami and becomes stranded at sea. He loses his mother and the rest of his pod in the tsunami. He is rescued by humans and relocated to a shared domain with a giant tortoise, Mzee, who becomes his best friend. It is a true story of the most unlikely friendship.

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY VERSION OF THE OWEN AND MZEE STORY HERE.

There are so many similarities between Owen and Mzee & Ivan and Ruby that go beyond the obvious (their remarkable friendship). For example, Owen was saved by humans when he became stranded and Ruby was saved by humans when she fell in the village well. According to the documentary, Owen never really trusts the humans, while Ruby seems to be very comfortable with them, even after her bad experiences in the circus. What comparisons can you make between the two stories?

A Bad Dream P.161

From The One and Only Ivan, p. 161

"Every so often, I glance over at the empty ring. The claw stick glints in the moonlight.
'Stop! No!' Ruby's frantic cries startle me.
'Ruby,' I call, 'you're having a bad dream. You're okay. You're safe.'
'Where's Stella?' she asks, gulping at air. Before I can answer, she says, 'Never mind, I remember now.'
'Go back to sleep, Ruby,' I say. 'You've had a hard day.'
'I can't go back to sleep,' she says. 'I'm afraid I'll have the same dream. There was a sharp stick and it hurt...'"

This made me think about whether or not animals have dreams. Do you think animals dream? If so, what have you observed before that makes you think that they do dream. I also wonder what animals dream about. Do frogs dream about falling off of their lily pads and catching flies? Do they have realistic dreams, or fantastical dreams, or both? Do they day dream?

"What Do Animals Dream About?" This article may be a difficult read because there's a lot of technical language, but if you skim through it you might be able to get a piece or two of information from it.

I am a big, BIG fan of cute animal videos. Of course I'm going to use this opportunity to include a video compilation of doggies and their dreams.

My Place P.142 - 145

From The One and Only Ivan, p.142-145

"Mack grew sullen, and I grew bigger. I became what I was meant to be, too large for chairs, too strong for hugs, too big for human life.
I tried to stay calm, to move with dignity. I did my best to eat daintily. But human ways are hard to learn, especially when you're not human.
When I saw my domain, I was thrilled, and who wouldn't have been? It had no furniture to break. No glasses to smash. No toilets to drop Mack's keys in.
It even had a tire swing.
I was relieved to have my own place.
Somehow, I didn't realize I'd be here quite so long.
Now I drink Pepsi, eat old apples, watch reruns on TV.
But many days I forget what I am supposed to be. Am I a human? Am I a gorilla?
Humans have so many words, more than they truly need.
Still, they have no name for what I am."

Ivan seems to be having an identity crisis, or a feeling of unhappiness and confusion caused by not being sure about what type of person you really are or what the true purpose of your life is. How might Ivan's unnatural living arrangements have created this confusion?  

Creature Comforts

I have posted a stop motion animation video made by the creators of "Wallace and Grommit" and it is called "Creature Comforts". Please click on the ED TED button to watch this video and join the discussion. I think the creators of this video may have been influenced by the story of the real Ivan because this character has a lot of similarities to Ivan, even down to the tally marks on the wall.

ED TED

Think:

What are the most common complaints that the zoo animals have?
What are some of the things that the animals state that they like about their life in the zoo?
How might these animal interviews had been different if animals from a circus or amusement park zoo had been interviewed instead?
What makes a good zoo?Dig Deeper:

Read: Stanford students ease life in the zoo

Through a unique experience at San Francisco Zoo, Stanford students learn how to apply principles of animal behavior to design environmental enrichments that benefit both the animals and the complex mission of a zoo. 

Discussion: Is mental stimulation through environmental enrichment equally important as nutrition and veterinary care? Why or why not?

Knowing P.114

Knowing

"Stella once teased me that elephants are more superior because they feel more joy and more grief than apes."

"Right now I would give all of the yogurt raisins in all of the world for a heart made of ice."


Can animals be sad, depressed, lonely, bored, or jealous? Are these human emotions that we project on them? Is it convenient for us to believe that animals don't feel the same way that we experience pain, sadness, grief, or joy? Why?

If you do feel that animals feel genuine emotions what implications might that have? Do all animals feel these emotions or is this ability connected to intelligence? What evidence has led you to this conclusion? Read this article about the brain of a killer whale to give you some insight.


I have included a link to koko.org. It is an article and video about a San Francisco gorilla, Koko, that can communicate through sign language and it shows her reaction to the news that her good friend Robin Williams had died. Have your views on animals feeling emotions changed?

Cage vs. Domain P.111 & P.165

Stella to Ivan: p.111: 

"I've never asked for a promise before, because promises are forever, and forever is an unusually long time when you're in a cage."

"Domain," I correct.

Ruby and Ivan: p. 165

"Ruby taps her trunk against the rusty iron bars of her door. 'Do you think,' she asks, 'that I'll die in this domain someday, like Aunt Stella?'

Once again I consider lying, but when I look at Ruby, the half-formed words die in my throat. 'Not if I can help it,' I say instead.

I felt something tighten in my chest, something dark and hot. 'And it's not a domain,' I add.

I pause and then I say it. 'It's a cage.'"


At the beginning of the story the author defines a domain as a territory. A cage is defined as  a structure of bars or wires in which birds or other animals are confined.


There are connotative and denotative meanings to these words, similar to the way that the words "house" and "home" have different meanings. The connotative meaning of “home” is a place of security, comfort, and family. When Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz says, “There’s no place like home,” she’s not referring to its denotation, but the emotions “home” evokes for her and most people. A denotative meaning is the literal meaning of a word, the dictionary version. Remember this because Denotative/Dictionary are both "D" words. Connotative meanings involve shared feelings and emotions that the words carries with it.  

Although "cage" may be a synonym for "domain", it has a different connotative meaning. In the examples from The One and Only Ivan, does the word "cage" have a positive, negative, or neutral connotation? What is the connotative meaning of cage? Earlier in the story Ivan corrected Bob when he called their "domain" a "cage". Now Ivan has changed his thinking, and he is correcting Ruby. What do you think has caused him to change the way he feels about his "home"?

Watch this video about connotative and denotative word meanings.  Can you make a better video explaining connotative and denotative word meanings using "cage" and "domain" as examples?

The Arrival p.68-70

The Arrival

Following Ruby's arrival, Ivan thinks: "I am glad for Stella. But when I glance at her, I see she is not glad at all." Why do you think Stella is conflicted about Ruby joining them? Why might she be happy to have Ruby there? Why might it also make her sad? 


Watch the book trailer for The One and Only Ivan. Does this give you any clues as to why Stella may have mixed feelings about Ruby's arrival?

Not Sleepy P.51-53

Asking Follow-up Questions:

Remember that it is important to interact with each other and grow the conversation. You can grow the conversation by asking follow-up questions:

• Why do you think that?
  
  
• What's your evidence?
  
  
• What do you mean by...?
  
  
• Could you give me an example or an analogy to explain that?
  
  
• How does this relate to...(our topic may be a book or an event)?
  
  
• How would you respond to those that say...?
  
  
• Could you rephrase that? I don't understand.
  
  

Give it a try! Respond to the prompt that follows this text taken from our reading of "The One and Only Ivan". Make sure you support your conclusion with evidence, you will know if you didn't explain your reasoning very well based on the follow up questions from your classmates. Once others have responded to the prompt as well, read your classmates responses and ask follow-up questions.

Remember: Stay relevant, be civil, re-read and re-think before you submit.


In today's reading, Ivan can't sleep, even though he is tired. Something seems to be bothering him. Stella suggests that he think of a happy day. 


Read this excerpt from p. 51-53:

"Stella," I say after Julia and her father go home, "I can't sleep."

"Of course you can," she says. "You are the king of sleepers."

"Shh," says Bob from his perch on my belly. "I'm dreaming about chili fries."

"I'm tired," I say, "but I'm not sleepy."

"What are you tired of?" Stella asks.

I think for a while. It's hard to put into words. Gorillas are not complainers. We're dreamers, poets, philosophers, nap takers.

"I don't know exactly." I kick at my tire swing. "I think I may be a little tired of my domain."

"That's because it's a cage," Bob tells me.

Bob is not always tactful.

"I know," Stella says. "It's a very small domain."

"And you're a very big gorilla," Bob adds.

"Stella?" I ask.

"Yes?"

"I noticed you were limping more than usual today. Is your leg bothering you?"

"Just a little," Stella answers.

I sigh. Bob resettles. His ears flick. He drools a bit, but I don't mind. I'm used to it.

"Try eating something," Stella says. "That always makes you happy."

I eat an old brown carrot. It doesn't help, but I don't tell Stella. She needs to sleep.

"You could try remembering a good day," Stella suggests. That's what I do when I can't sleep."

Stella remembers every moment since she was born: every scent, every sunset, every slight, every victory.

You know I can't remember much," I say.

"There's a difference," Stella says gently, "between 'can't remember' and 'won't remember'."

"That's true," I admit. Not remembering can be difficult, but I've had a lot of time to work on it. 

"Memories are precious," Stella adds. They help tell us who we are..."


Respond: What does this passage reveal about Ivan's character? be sure to include details from the text to support your conclusion.