Discussion Director

1-  What problems might you predict will come about with sea gulls carrying the     peach?

(Sometimes you will not be able to write and answer and site it.)

2-  What caused James and/or his companions to stress once the peach landed in the water?

Many of James' companions worried as soon as the peach landed in the water because they can not swim.

 pg.  51

Everyone, including James became frazzled when the sharks appeared and started lunging at the peach.  

pg. 61

3-  How would you describe James in terms of how he reacts to problems?

James is always quick to think of a solution.  He is very optimistic and uses his head to figure things out.  He is a natural problem solver.

On page 51, James reassures his friends that no one will have to worry about swimming because the peach is floating.  He also has faith that a ship will come to their rescue.

On page 62, James comes up with an escape plan.  He uses the resources that they have available (spider and silk worm) to capture seagulls.  Then the seagulls can carry the peach out of the water away from the sharks.

4-  What is the main idea of this passage?

James and his companions work together to get out of a dangerous situation.  They use the resources that they have available to them to get away from the sharks.

5-  Give one example of figurative language found in this section (simile, personification, onomatopoeia, metaphor, etc.) How does this add meaning to the story?

"All around them lay the vast black ocean, deep and hungry."  pg  51

The author personifies the ocean by saying that it is hungry so that the reader can visualize how vulnerable James and his companions feel.  They are so scared, it is almost like the ocean could "eat them up."