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01.02 Perspectives and Themes Worksheet Complete all activities using the Japanese folktale “The Aged Mother.” The full text is included below. Part 1: Tracking Themes in “The Aged Mother” Read “The Aged Mother.” Then, select two topics and track their development through the text using the chart below. Answer in complete sentences and use examples from the story in your response. Steps to Tracking Theme Topic #1: Love Topic #2: Poor Character  What are the views and attitude of the character(s) toward the topic?  How do these views and attitudes change from beginning to end?  How does the character change from beginning to end? The character's opinions and perspective on the subject are that the Farmer adores his mother. However, because he was prepared to give everything up for her and because their love only grew throughout the narrative, opinions remained the same from the beginning to the finish. The character's views and perspective on the subject are that the son would have done anything to save his mother. Since he was not poor but had to take care of his mother in the end, the opinions have shifted from the beginning to the conclusion. Conflict  How does the conflict relate to this topic?  How is this conflict resolved? If not resolved, why?  What does the way the conflict is resolved tell you about the character(s) and the topic? The Farmer could have executed his mother in accordance with the governor's orders, but he chose to relocate her to the mountains. He didn't follow through, therefore the dispute was never settled. In order to continue taking care of her, he brought his mother back home. The argument started because of the son's refusal to murder his mother, which caused him to fall into poverty. The soil that fed him and his mother couldn't keep up with him . Repetition  What about the topic do the characters repeatedly focus on?  Which words related to the topic are repeated throughout?  Which ideas or images related to the topic do I see more than twice? The characters show their love for one another throughout the narrative. The term "love" is used frequently and subtly throughout the narrative. Because they were both willing to contribute, the images relating to the issue were those of love. Son puts everything at stake for his mother as mom leads him through the hills. All through the narrative. I was reminded of the son's selfless sacrifice on behalf of his mother. The idea associated with the subject is that they were underprivileged and unable to maintain the land. Setting  Which elements of setting relate to the topic – historical context, mood, place, social environment, time, or weather? Because of their affection for one another, the scene is altered. The mother was transported by the son to the mountain, where she was later Before they went to the mountains, the scene altered; they had food and money. They were starving and in need when they returned. Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School. FlexPoint Education Cloud™ is a trademark of Florida Virtual School.

 How is the topic treated in the setting? Does the treatment change if/when the setting changes? returned. This connection gets stronger. Theme Based on your responses, write a statement of theme for each topic . Love your parents since tomorrow is never certain. Both with and without money, you can be happy. Part 2: Characters’ Perspective in “The Aged Mother” Authors develop and individualize their characters’ perspectives through the narrator’s words, the characters’ interactions, the setting, and the characters’ own thoughts. Using “The Aged Mother,” answer the following question. 1. In “The Aged Mother,” what is one way that Matsuo Basho develops and individualizes either the son’s or the mother’s perspective? Include an example from the folktale to support your response of 2-3 sentences. The only way to grow as a person is to consider things from other perspectives. The mother's viewpoint, always trying to comprehend, lead, guard, and educate her son. The son, on the other hand, considered listening and guarding his mother. "The Aged Mother" by Matsuo Basho Long, long ago there lived at the foot of the mountain a poor farmer and his aged, widowed mother. They owned a bit of land which supplied them with food, and they were humble, peaceful, and happy. Shining was governed by a despotic leader who though a warrior, had a great and cowardly shrinking from anything suggestive of failing health and strength. This caused him to send out a cruel proclamation. The entire province was given strict orders to immediately put to death all aged people. Those were barbarous days, and the custom of abandoning old people to die was not uncommon. The poor farmer loved his aged mother with tender reverence, and the order filled his heart with sorrow. But no one ever thought twice about obeying the mandate of the governor, so with many deep and hopeless sighs, the youth prepared for what at that time was considered the kindest mode of death. Just at sundown, when his day’s work was ended, he took a quantity of unwhitened rice which was the principal food for the poor, and he cooked, dried it, and tied it in a square cloth, which he swung in a bundle around his neck along with a gourd filled with cool, sweet water. Then he lifted his helpless old mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the mountain. The road was long and steep; the narrow road was crossed and re-crossed by many paths made by the hunters and woodcutters. In some places, they got lost and confused, but he gave no heed. One path or another, it mattered not. On he went, climbing blindly upward -- ever upward towards the high bare summit of what is known as Obatsuyama, the mountain of the “abandoning of the aged.” The eyes of the old mother were not so dim but that they noted the reckless hastening from one path to another, and her loving heart grew anxious. Her son did not know the mountain’s many paths and his return might be one of danger, so she stretched forth her hand and snapping the twigs from brushes as they passed, she quietly dropped a handful every few steps of the way so that as they climbed, the narrow path behind them was dotted at Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School. FlexPoint Education Cloud™ is a trademark of Florida Virtual School.

chart  No major errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling chart  Minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling grammar, punctuation, and spelling Part 2: Characters’ Perspective 5 points  Insightfully explains one way that Matsuo Basho develops and individualizes either the son’s or the mother’s perspective  Includes an example from the folktale to support response  Response is at least 2-3 complete sentences in length  No major errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling 4-3 points  Lists one way that Matsuo Basho develops and individualizes either the son’s or the mother’s perspective  May be missing an example from the folktale to support response or example is loosely related  Response is 1-2 complete sentences in length  Minor errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling 2-0 points  May be missing explanation of how Matsuo Basho develops and individualizes either the son’s or the mother’s perspective  May be missing an example from the folktale to support response  Response is missing altogether  May have major errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School. FlexPoint Education Cloud™ is a trademark of Florida Virtual School.