By Ann Rinaldi. Tr 0060296380, Lb 0060296399. Curriculum Connections.
English. Ann Rinaldi uses “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” to increase the
mystery.
MUTINY’S DAUGHTER By Ann Rinaldi Tr 0060296380, Lb 0060296399 Curriculum Connections English Ann Rinaldi uses “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” to increase the mystery surrounding Fletcher Christian and to add depth to the plot. In pairs, ask students to read this poem and find similarities to Fletcher Christian and his behavior. Have each pair of students make a list, and then combine all student lists. Based on what the students discover, ask them if they think the poem was written about the HMS Bounty. Have students choose a recent and historic event and write a poem following the pattern of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” or “Oh, Captain, My Captain.” Assemble the poems and make a collection of historic poems. Students could also research other famous poems written about historic events such as “Oh, Captain, My Captain” which was written about the assignation of Abraham Lincoln. English Uncle Charles gives Mary some advice by stating a quotation (page 71). Investigate this quote to determine who said it. Then write a brief explanation of its meaning. Ask students to bring an appropriate, favorite family quote and assemble these in a booklet. History Much has been written about the mutiny on the HMS Bounty and the mysterious Island of Pitcairn. Ask students to look at the below websites and find an interesting fact or story about the HMS Bounty and its mission and select something to share with the class. Using the facts and stories shared, have students write the story of the mutiny on the HMS Bounty as told by different individuals connected to the event. • Mutiny on the HMS Bounty http://www.lareau.org/bounty.html • HMS Pandora http://www.ourbounty.com/bounty/pandora.html Geography Have students locate Tahiti, Pitcairn, and England on a map, then trace the route the HMS Bounty traveled from England to Tahiti and locate Pitcairn Island, where some of the crew lived after the mutiny. On pages 12 and 13, Mary says what she believes happened to Captain Bligh after the mutiny. Trace this route back to England, including the stop at the Dutch settlement, Timor-Coupang. Display the maps on the wall. As an extension activity, have students prepare a series of Captain’s logs that accurately detail the weather, the surroundings, and the daily life on such voyages and stops along the way. Science
Investigate William and Caroline Herschel and their celestial discoveries. Ask students to compile a list of the stars and moons they discovered. The following websites will be helpful: • Herschel Museum http://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/museums/herschel • Friedrich Wilhelm (William) Herschel http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/Bios/wherschel.html Have students use white colored pencils to create a “night sky” on black butcher paper, labeling the stars and moons on their researched list. Display these on the ceiling of the classroom. Thematic Connections Honesty Mary and her family live with the fear that someone will discover who she is, and bring dishonor to her family. When Lizzy discovers the truth, she forces Mary to do her bidding, which eventually leads Mary to cheat. What could Mary have done to avoid Lizzy’s discovery? Was there another solution to her predicament so that she wouldn’t have had to cheat? Family Honor Mary dislikes the fact that honor means so much to her family. On page 48 she says, “I hate the family honor.” What leads her to make that statement? Do you think her attitude toward honor changes after she becomes acquainted with Mr. Katterfelt? Why or Why not? Friendship Mary makes friends with the hired help, Gwen and Willy, even though she knows that a person of her class should not associate with servants. What does this say about Mary’s character? How does her relationship with them enrich her life? Overcoming Challenges All of the characters in Mutiny’s Daughter struggle with decisions, burdens, or crises that they must somehow overcome. How do each character’s acceptance of the emotional, physical, or financial challenges and their attitude help them to cope? Think of a time when you had to overcome a difficult challenge. What helped you get through that difficult time? Discussion Questions 1. Mary says her Uncle Edward is “a dependable snob and a stuffy dull wit” (page 16). What else do we know about him based on his actions? Do you think he is a hypocrite? Why or why not? 2. When Mary receives a letter from her brother Thursday October, she realizes how fortunate she is that her father has taken her to London. Why do you
think she could be feeling guilty? Do you think she wants to pursue a relationship with her brothers? 3. When they first meet, Mary thinks Miss Harriet is ugly but several weeks later, Mary realizes that she no longer thinks this (page 132). What prompts her change of heart? On page 143, what does Celeste say about Miss Harriet that sheds light on her personality? 4. Mary is convinced Mr. Katterfelt is her father, Fletcher Christian. On what does she base her belief? Do you agree with her? 5. What is Lizzy’s motivation to blackmail Mary? Do you think her attitude toward Mary changes by the end of the novel? Why or why not? Teaching ideas prepared by Susan Geye, library media specialist, Crowley, Texas
