Shared+Reading

Shared Reading for: September 24-October 2, 2013:

=__Three Skeleton Key__ by George Toudouze=

= = Objectives: -We will read the story "Three Skeleton Key" as shared reading. -We will summarize and retell the main plot elements of the story. -We will analyze how an author uses foreshadow to create suspense.

Standards and anchors we will be working with:

1.3.8.A Read and understand works of literature R8.A.1.5 Retell/Summarize R8.B.1.1 Components of fiction (plot) 1.3.8.C Analyze the effect of various literary devices (suspense and foreshadow)

Summary of the story:

This horror story begins when three lighthouse keepers realize that a derelict ship heading for their tiny island is filled with thousands of giant rats. The ship runs aground and sinks, the famished rats scramble onto the island, and in time they break into the lighthouse. The besieged men struggle to stay alive. To draw the attention of people on the mainland, they do not light their lamp. Rescue ships come but are at first driven away by the human eating rats. Later, the rescuers devise anothe plan. They load a barge with meat and tow it near the island. The rats swim out to the barge, the barge is set on fire, and the rats are burned or eaten by sharks. The htree keepers are rescued, but one goes insane, the second dies from his infected wounds, and only the narrator is left to resume his service on the island of Three Skeleton Key.

This story was turned into a radio play starring Vincent Price. Visit the link below to listen:

**[|Radio Play starring Vincent Price]**