Another great way to engage your students is through the creation of storyboards that examine Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, and Theme. This activity is referred to with the acronym “TWIST”. In a TWIST, students focus on a particular paragraph or a few pages, to look deeper at the author’s meaning.
Using an excerpt from Marvin’s reaction to seeing Earth for the first time, students can depict, explain, and discuss what the impact of this pilgrimage will be, while getting a good idea of the author's voice.
It was beautiful, and it called to his heart across the abyss of space. There in that shining crescent were all the wonders that he had never known—the hues of sunset skies, the moaning of the sea on pebbled shores, the patter of falling rain, the unhurried benison of snow. These and a thousand others should have been his rightful heritage, but he knew them only from the books and ancient records, and the thought filled him with the anguish of exile.
| T | TONE | Marvin is in despair. He knows that Earth holds many wonders that he should have been able to experience, but he will never be able to. |
|---|---|---|
| W | WORD CHOICE |
abyss, wonders, hues, unhurried, anguish, exile |
| I | IMAGERY |
"... the hues of sunset skies, the moaning of the sea on pebbled shores, the patter of falling rain, the unhurried benison of snow." |
| S | STYLE |
The author uses a very descriptive narrative of the beauty of Earth that Marvin will only ever know from afar: it is a shining crescent with many wonders. The fact that Marvin will never see any of it in person fills him with anguish. |
| T | THEME |
This passage highlights the unfairness for Marvin that is a direct result of humanity’s own failure. What should have been his rightful heritage will never be something he can have because of the carelessness with which nuclear weapons were used. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Perform a TWIST analysis of a selection from "If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth…". Remember that TWIST stands for Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, Theme.