Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop a greater understanding of literary structures. Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. In this activity, students will create a visual plot diagram of major events in The Stars Beneath Our Feet. Students should identify major turning points in the novel such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Exposition / Conflict
Lolly lives with his mother in St. Nicholas Housing Projects in Harlem, NYC. His best friend Vega lives in an apartment nearby and is someone Lolly can always count on especially in supporting Lolly after the sudden and tragic death of his older brother, Jermaine. Lolly's parents are divorced and his father has not been around much. Knowing that he has been struggling with his grief, Lolly's mother's girlfriend Yvonne gifts him two big garbage bags full of Legos for Christmas.
Rising Action
Lolly attends an after school program. There, he talks with the director, Mr. Ali, who is a social worker that helps Lolly process his grief. Mr. Ali allows Lolly to build his Lego creations in an empty storage room and Lolly looks forward to escaping there to his make believe world Harmoee. One day Mr. Ali allows Rose, who struggles socially due to her autism, come to the storage room and build alongside Lolly using his Legos. At first, Lolly resents her invading his sanctuary and challenges her to a tower building contest, which ends in a tie.
Climax / Turning Point
Lolly and Rose communicate through their love of architecture. Rose is grieving the loss of her mother to suicide. Unfortunately, the storage room is going to be repurposed. Before they dismantle their worlds, they have a display for the community. Lolly makes it onto the news! He sees that he might have a future as an artist. One evening, Lolly and Vega get jumped by gang members who have been harassing them. Lolly‘s phone and Vega's jacket are stolen and both boys are badly beaten up.
Falling Action
The attack leaves both boys angry and hurt but Lolly has his Legos and his dreams of becoming an artist to escape to. Vega is disillusioned and so angry that he begins thinking of joining a gang and seeking revenge. He even procures a gun. Lolly is able to talk Vega out of pursuing revenge and the two boys throw the gun into the river. They don't want to go down the same tragic path as Lolly's brother Jermaine.
Resolution
The story ends with Lolly realizing that even though he will always miss his brother, he can find positive ways channel his grief and can keep Jermaine's memory alive by talking to him and seeking help when he needs it from the positive influences around him. Lolly says the people you are friends with can either lift you up higher or bring you down low. He realizes that your choices are what make you who you are.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual plot diagram for The Stars Beneath Our Feet.
Student Instructions:
Ask the students to analyze the significant events present in the narrative. For this analysis, students can go chapter by chapter or try to recall the major events from their memory that shaped the narrative. Encourage the students to highlight these events and guide the discussion using open-ended questions such as Would it impact the story if a particular event was not present in the story?
It is important to remind students of the conventional plot structure, which consists of the following elements: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Talk about how "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" relates to these components. Students can use this structure for their summary and other analyses.
Ask the students to go over the novel's central ideas. "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" examines topics including friendship, creativity, resiliency, and dealing with grief. Comprehending these themes gives the summary more substance. Ensure that the students are incorporating these central ideas in their summaries in order to maintain the essence of the real plot and writing.
Tell the students that an important aspect of summarizing a larger text is to paraphrase it and make it shorter while using vocabulary that conveys the same meaning. Teachers can give vocabulary-related activities and teach students concepts such as synonyms and antonyms to help students get more familiar with paraphrasing.
Initially, teachers can give students practice to help them get more familiar and get a grip on this activity. Once the students have mastered the technique, they can practice longer texts such as summarizing books or novels. “The Stars Beneath Our Feet” is a good way to get the students started on longer texts.
The falling action acts as a bridge between the climax and the resolution, illustrating the fallout from the character's choices. The conclusion of "The Stars Beneath Our Feet," reflects back on all the events and puts an end to the conflicts present in the story.
Gaining insight into the characters' lives and the setting—Harlem, New York—is essential. Both the general ambiance of the story and the obstacles the characters experience are influenced by this setting.
A crucial component of the story is the character development of the main character, Lolly. The plot moves ahead and contributes to its overall meaning when the characters' goals, beliefs, or relationships change.