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Holt Literature & Language Arts - 2003 Grade 9

Unit 2

Title: The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind

Suggested Time: 5 days (45 minutes per day)

Common Core ELA Standards: RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.4; W.9-10.2, W.9-10.4, W.9-

10.9; SL.9-10.1; L.9-10.1, L.9-10.2, L.9-10.4, L.9-10.5

Teacher InstructionsPreparing for Teaching

1. Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis. Please do not read this to the students. This is a description for

teachers about the big ideas and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task.

Big Ideas and Key Understandings:

Sometimes we focus too much on competing with others and we lose sight of what’s important in our own lives.

Synopsis

In Bradbury’s story “The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind,” an ancient Chinese ruler, or Mandarin, grows distraught after learning

about events in a nearby town. A rival ruler has changed the shape of his city walls to resemble the outline of a pig. The

Mandarin is upset because his own town walls resemble an orange. Because a pig can eat an orange, this change is an evil

omen. On his daughter’s advice, the Mandarin orders his own town walls to be rebuilt in the shape of a club, which can beat

a pig. Instead of solving the problem, it launches a type of “walls race,” as each town tries to outdo the other. The cycle

continues until both towns grow desperately weak because the inhabitants have no time for productive activity – they are


too busy building walls. Finally, the daughter tells the now-ailing Mandarin to summon his rival to try to end the vicious cycle.

She takes the two rulers out into a field where children are flying kites and points out that kites and wind cooperate and

complement each other’s beauty. The Mandarin rebuilds his walls a final time, in the shape of a kite. His rival rebuilds his

walls in the shape of the wind. Peace reigns at last, and prosperity returns to both towns. (Holt Literature and Language Arts

TE 3rd Course, pg. 364)

2. Read the entire story a time or two, keeping in mind the Big Ideas and Key Understandings.

3. Re-read the text while noting the stopping points for the Text Dependent Questions and teaching Tier II/academic vocabulary.

During Teaching

1. Students read the entire story independently.

2. Teacher reads the text aloud while students follow along or students take turns reading aloud to each other. This story is

complex in its ideas, but not in its syntax or vocabulary, so letting the students read it out loud to each other would be great

practice with fluency.

3. Students and teacher re-read the text while stopping to respond to and discuss the questions, continually returning to the text.

A variety of methods can be used to structure the reading and discussion (i.e., whole class discussion, think-pair-share,

independent written response, group work, etc.)

Text Dependent Questions

Text-Dependent Questions Evidence-based AnswersReread footnote #1 on page 366. Why would the Mandarin say, “What an evil day in an evil year” in reaction to what was happening in Kwan-Si? What inference can be drawn from his reaction to the neighboring city’s growth?

A Mandarin is a high-ranking government official in the Chinese Empire. It is likely he would be especially bothered by the growth of a neighboring city because he is responsible for his city and seems to feel personally affected by the threat of a neighbor growing


strong. Why is the Mandarin “sad and angry” in paragraph 3 on page 366?

The Mandarin is sad and angry about the pig shaped wall constructed by the neighboring town of Kwan-Si. Because his town’s wall is built in the shape of an orange, he sees the pig shaped wall as a threat because a pig can eat an orange.

The narrator points out that life is full of “symbols and omens”. Reread paragraph 3 on page 366 and explain why the city wall is important and the implications of the wall for the town.

The narrator explains that the shape of a city wall is an important symbol, or omen, in the eyes of the town, “Life was full of symbols and omens. Demons lurked everywhere, Death swam in the wetness of an eye, the turn of a gulls wing meant rain, a fan held so, the tilt of a roof, and, yes, even a city wall was of immense importance.” He further explains that travelers would not choose to go to a town shaped like an orange because a pig appears to be more prosperous. He feels it may affect the livelihood of the town.

What request does The Mandarin make of his workers in paragraphs 6-8 on page 367?

The Mandarin requests that his architects and stonemasons “go bearing trowels and rocks and change the shape of our city” into “a club which may beat the pig and drive it off!”

In paragraph 6 on page 367, what literary device does the author use to demonstrate the condition that the people and town are in? Why would this make the workers follow The Mandarin’s request?

The author lets readers know that the workers are desperate to follow The Mandarin through his use of personification; “Death rattled his cane in our outer courtyard. Poverty made a sound like a wet cough in the shadows of the room.” This lets us know that people in the town are experiencing extreme poverty and are likely close to death. This would make them likely to be excited about a solution.

Why is the Mandarin “delighted at the words from his mouth?” How does the Mandarin come to speak these words? (67, paragraph 9)

The Mandarin is delighted by the words he speaks because they are a surprise to him, “The Mandarin himself gasped at what he had said.” He is also delighted because the idea is so clever and his words garner such a positive response from the workers. The Mandarin comes to say these words because he is being prompted by his daughter on what to say to his workers. As he speaks the words his shock at what he is saying is evident because he “gasped


at what he had said.” Re-read paragraph 2-4 on page 368. From The Mandarin’s actions throughout this section and his statement, “A little more wine daughter-who- thinks-like-a-son,” what can be inferred about the role women play in this society?

We first learn that The Mandarin is being acclaimed for his decision regarding the re-shaping of the wall, and that he takes credit for this believing that his daughter is modest and wants him to have this triumph. Because he sleeps “happy like a fox” every night we know that he has no moral qualms with this decision. He goes on to treat his daughter as a servant asking for “more of that wine” and then regards her as a “Daughter-who-thinks-like-a-son”. We can infer from this that females had an inferior role in this society and were not given positions of power. It is clear that men are expected to be leaders. From The Mandarin’s characterization of the daughter we can also infer that sons were more prized then daughters.

Consider paragraphs 5-20 on pages 368 and 369. Identify examples of cause and effect in this section of text.

Examples of cause and effect in this section include:Kwan-Si builds the walls as a bonfire, and in response The Mandarin builds his walls into a lake. Kwan-Si then builds their walls into a mouth to drink the lake, and in response The Mandarin builds his into a needle to sew up the mouth.Kwan-Si then builds their walls into a sword to break the needle, and in response The Mandarin builds his into a scabbard to sheath the sword.Kwan-Si then builds their walls into lightning, which will destroy the sheath.

What words, phrases, or literary techniques does the author use on pages 368-369 in paragraphs 5-20 to contribute to the mood and tone of the story?

In this section of text the author uses words such as sickened, spurn, destroyed, fire, conquer, neglect, weaker, poorer, horrible, break, and trembling. These words show the degrading condition of the town and the ominous tone and desperate mood of the story. The author also uses phrases such as “plagues, and poisoned well


water,” “turned triumph to winter ashes,” “the whisper that was a falling drop of rain.” These phrases help to illustrate the same tone and mood. The author also uses cause and effect to illustrate the escalation of the pace of the story. This pattern creates a mood of urgency and a frantic tone. Each time the towns top one and another there is an added sense of desperation in the story.

Reread paragraph 14 on page 368. What do we learn about the condition of the townspeople? Why are they in this condition?

The people of the town are currently worn down and tired. They are described as “singing, but not as loudly as before, of course, for they were tired.” The townspeople are in this condition because they “had to neglect business and crops and therefore were somewhat weaker and poorer.”

What do the lines “…standing very close to his silken screen…” and “…held, trembling, to the silken screen” in paragraphs 17-19 on page 368 tell you about The Mandarin?

From The Mandarin’s words “stand[ing] very close” and hold[ing] “trembling, to the silken screen” we learn that the Mandarin seems nervous, anxious, or scared.

How does the figurative language on paragraph 1 on page 369 tell the reader about the condition of the town?

Ray Bradbury purposely used figurative language is to illustrate the decline of the town due to the “wall war.” Some examples of this figurative language are: “Sickness spread in the city like a pack of evil dogs”.“The population… resembled Death himself, clattering his white bones like musical instruments in the wind”“The voice behind the screen was weak now, too, and faint, like the wind in the eaves”. These similes and personifications help to make the description of the town more vivid by bringing to life the decline of the town’s circumstance, specifically alluding to starvation. Images of Death, evil dogs, and clattering bones help to set an ominous mood and make the desperation of the town tangible.

In paragraph 4 on page 369 the whisperer says, "put an end to this." Explain what “this” is and why it must end.

The whisperer/daughter makes the plea to “end this” to the two Mandarins. She is referring to the ongoing feud between the two men and their respective towns. The feud must end because the


“walls race” has placed both towns on the brink of ruin. The whisperer shares that the people in both cities have done nothing but rebuild their cities and that they have “no time to hunt, to fish, to love, to be good to their ancestors and their ancestors’ children.”

Explain what the daughter means when she says, “no time to hunt, to fish, to love, to be good to their ancestors and their ancestors’ children,” In paragraph 8 on page 369.

When the daughter says “no time to hunt, to fish, to love, to be good to their ancestors and their ancestors’ children,” she is referencing the fact that the people in both towns have neglected their daily routines and the things that give them joy.

When the Mandarins are brought out into the light together, what is the scene that they come upon? What words and phrases contribute to the mood? (Page 369-370, paragraphs 10-11)?

The Mandarins come upon “ a few very thin children [who] were flying dragon kites in all the colors of the sun” They also take note of the “…sun, and frogs and grass, the color of the sea, and the color of coins and wheat.” This contributes to a mood of lightness. Color and animals and children are images of hope and life.

Explain the relationship between the kite and the wind on page 370, paragraph 4-7.

The relationship between a kite and the wind is reciprocal. The whisperer asks,

“But what is a kite on the ground?” she said. “It is nothing. What does it need to sustain it and make it beautiful and truly spiritual?”

“The wind, of course!” said the others.“And what do the sky and the wind need to make them beautiful?

“A kite of course – many kites, to break the monotony, the sameness of the sky.”

This shows how a kite and the wind need one another just as the two men in the towns need each other to prosper as well.

According to paragraph 10 on page 370 what happens to the towns?

The towns changed their names to the Town of the Golden Kite and the Town of the Silver Wind. We also learn that the businesses and people flourish again, “…harvestings were harvested and businesses tended again, and the flesh returned, and disease ran off like a frightened jackal.”

Take into consideration the conversation on page 370, Re-naming the towns, Town of the Golden Kite and Town of the


paragraphs 4-7. From the text, what symbolism can you discern from the new town names?

Silver Wind, symbolizes the restored balance and peace brought to the two towns. This reflects the revelation the Mandarins had about the reciprocal nature of the relationship between a kite and the wind, “[the wind needs] many kites, to break the monotony, the sameness of the sky.” The implications for both towns are that they will live peacefully and appreciate each other’s beauty, allowing them to thrive.

Tier II/Academic Vocabulary


These words require less time to learn(They are concrete or describe an object/event/

process/characteristic that is familiar to students)

These words require more time to learn(They are abstract, have multiple meanings, are a part

of a word family, or are likely to appear again in future texts)

Mea

ning

can

be le

arne

d fr

om co

ntex

t

*Omen – pg. 366*Lurked – pg. 366*Pandemonium – pg. 368*Monotony – pg. 370*Enduring – pg. 370

*Definition given in the text

Devour – pg. 366Prosper – pg. 366Prosperity – pg. 366Despairingly – pg. 367*Eclipse – pg. 369


Mea

ning

nee

ds to

be

prov

ided Ravenous – pg. 367

Vile – pg. 367*Acclaimed – pg. 368Modestly – pg. 368Succession – pg. 368Clattering – pg. 369*Sustain – pg. 370


*Portents – pg. 336*Spurn – pg. 368Quench – pg. 368


Culminating Writing Task


Prompt

In the conclusion of Ray Bradbury’s “The Golden Kite, and Silver Wind,” the competing leaders of two towns come to the realization

that ”One without the other is nothing.” In a well-developed essay, explore the idea of balance as represented in the story and

explain how achieving balance allows leads to mutual benefit. Find textual evidence to explain how balance helps these towns

achieve peace and prosperity.

Teacher Instructions

1. Students identify their writing task from the prompt provided. Class discussion of the TDQs for the story should help to

clarify the students’ understanding of the story. Through discussion on these questions, the teacher should be able to

discern whether or not the students are prepared to write.

2. Students complete an evidence chart as a pre-writing activity. Teachers should remind students to use any relevant notes

they compiled while reading and answering the text-dependent questions.

EvidenceQuote or paraphrase

Page number

Elaboration / explanation of how this evidence supports ideas or argument

“All is lost! These symbols and signs terrify. Our city will come on evil days.”

Pg. 366 This evidence supports the anxiety and desperation that is felt by the town over the pig wall that Kwan-Si builds. It is the initial show of balance being lost between these two towns.

“Death rattled his cane in our outer courtyard. Poverty made a sound like a wet cough in the shadows of the room.”

Pg. 367 The author lets readers know that the workers are desperate to follow The Mandarin through his use of personification; This lets us know that people in the town are experiencing extreme poverty and are likely close to death. This shows the effect of losing balance between the town and in the individual lives of the people.

Kwan-Si builds the walls as a bonfire, and in Pg.368-9 This evidence shows the escalating tension between the


response The Mandarin builds his walls into a lake. Kwan-Si then builds their walls into a mouth to drink the lake, and in response The Mandarin builds his into a needle to sew up the mouth.Kwan-Si then builds their walls into a sword to break the needle, and in response The Mandarin builds his into a scabbard to sheath the sword.Kwan-Si then builds their walls into lightning, which will destroy the sheath.

two towns. It reaches its pinnacle after a long series of one-upping each other in the building and re-building of town walls. We see that the town has become so focused on triumph over Kwan-Si that they are crumbling themselves.

“Sickness spread in the city like a pack of evil dogs. Shops closed. The population… resembled death himself.”

Pg. 369 In this section of text the author shows the degrading condition of the town and the ominous tone and desperate mood of the story through personification, simile and metaphor.

“Let us put an end to this…Our people do nothing but re-build our cities to a different shape…They have no time to hunt, to fish, to love”

Pg. 370 When the daughter says this she is referencing the fact that the people in both towns have neglected their daily routines and the things that give them joy. This is further evidence of the result of imbalance.

“But what is a kite on the ground?” she said. “It is nothing. What does it need to sustain it and make it beautiful and truly spiritual?”

“The wind, of course!” said the others.“And what do the sky and the wind need to make them beautiful?

“A kite of course – many kites, to break the monotony, the sameness of the sky.”

Pg. 370 The relationship between a kite and the wind is reciprocal. This shows how a kite and the wind need one another just as the two men in the towns need each other to prosper as well as restore balance.

“The wind will beautify the kite and carry it to wondrous heights. And the kite will break the sameness of the wind’s existence and give it purpose and meaning. One without

Pg. 370 This piece of evidence specifically shows the relationship between balance, purpose and reciprocal relationships. It helps to illustrate that when balance is restored, prosperity will follow.


the other is nothing.”“…harvestings were harvested and businesses tended again, and the flesh returned, and disease ran off like a frightened jackal.”

Pg. 370 This is evidence of how prosperity will return once balance is restored to the towns and the people.

“The wind will beautify the kite and carry it to wondrous heights. And the kite will break the sameness of the wind’s existence and give it purpose and meaning. One without the other is nothing.”

Pg. 370 Re-naming the towns, Town of the Golden Kite and Town of the Silver Wind, and re-building the walls reflects the revelation the Mandarins had about the reciprocal nature of the relationship between a kite and the wind. The implications for both towns are that they will live peacefully and appreciate each other’s beauty, allowing them to thrive.

3. Once students have completed the evidence chart, they should look back at the writing prompt in order to remind

themselves what kind of response they are writing (i.e. expository, analytical, argumentative) and think about the

evidence they found. (Depending on the grade level, teachers may want to review students’ evidence charts in some way

to ensure accuracy.) From here, students should develop a specific thesis statement. This could be done independently,

with a partner, small group, or the entire class. Consider directing students to the following sites to learn more about

thesis statements: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/ OR http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/

thesis_statement.shtml.

4. Students compose a rough draft. With regard to grade level and student ability, teachers should decide how much

scaffolding they will provide during this process (i.e. modeling, showing example pieces, sharing work as students go).

5. Students complete final draft.

Sample Answer

In Ray Bradbury’s, The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind, the idea of balance is explored through two neighboring towns and their

struggle for dominance over one another. Ultimately this struggle leads to the realization that dominance is not what is truly best for


both towns. Instead they come to understand that peace and prosperity can only be achieved through balance between their two

towns. They achieve this by learning the dynamic of co-existing and appreciating each other.

The problem for the two towns begins when the neighboring town of Kwan-Si becomes large enough to build a town wall,

and chooses to build it in the shape of a pig. This immediately throws off the balance of power between these neighbors because,

symbolically, the Mandarin’s town’s simple orange shaped wall represents a less prosperous town than that of a pig. The Mandarin

worries that this will take away from the prosperity of his town. We can see evidence of his fear when in response he weeps the

words, “All is lost! These symbols and signs terrify. Our city will come on evil days.”(pg. 366) Further evidence of the desperation this

imbalance causes is given in the descriptions of the town’s workers, “Death rattled his cane in the outer courtyard. Poverty made a

sound like a wet cough in the shadows of the room.”(pg. 367) Here, we see that the town being overly fixated on the threat of Kwan-

Si has also begun to affect their personal health and prosperity, further showing imbalance in the Mandarin’s town.

The tension between the two towns reaches its pinnacle after a long series of one-upping each other in the building and re-

building of town walls. A pig begets a club, which precipitates a bon-fire, which triggers a lake, bringing on a mouth, giving rise to a

needle, leading to the construction of a sword and then a scabbard, then lightning (pg. 367-369). At this point, the town has become

so focused on triumph over Kwan-Si that they are crumbling themselves, “Sickness spread in the city like a pack of evil dogs. Shops

closed. The population… resembled death himself.”(pg. 369) Being consumed with this battle has nearly cost them all their lives.

Finally, the Mandarin’s whisperer daughter recognizes that this cannot go on. She urges her father to call for Kwan-Si, and at this

meeting tells the two men, “Let us put an end to this…Our people do nothing but re-build our cities to a different shape…They have

no time to hunt, to fish, to love.” (pg. 369) The daughter’s words illustrate the severe imbalance in the lives of the people in the two

towns who have neglected their daily routines and the things that give them joy. Neither town is prosperous or at peace at this point

in the story.


Now that this fact is clear to the two Mandarins, the daughter takes them outside to see the town and points out children

playing with kites. She explains to them that simple activity could not exist without a balanced relationship;

“But what is a kite on the ground?” she said. “It is nothing. What does it need to sustain it and make it beautiful and truly spiritual?” “The wind, of course!” said the others.“And what do the sky and the wind need to make them beautiful? “A kite of course – many kites, to break the monotony, the sameness of the sky.”(pg. 370)

Through this metaphor, the daughter illustrates that both peace and prosperity lie in the ability to appreciate each other’s beauty

and recognize the reciprocal relationship needed to sustain their two towns. The realization that is made by the leaders allows the

daughter to propose a solution to restore balance, peace, and prosperity to the towns. They will each re-build their wall one last

time to the shape of a golden kite and the wind so that “The wind will beautify the kite and carry it to wondrous heights. And the

kite will break the sameness of the wind’s existence and give it purpose and meaning. One without the other is nothing.” (pg. 370)

The towns take these actions and through them are able to restore balance to their people and between the towns. As a result of

restored balance, “harvestings were harvested and businesses tended again, and the flesh returned, and disease ran off like a

frightened jackal.” (pg. 370) Peace and prosperity are achieved through the two towns sustaining one another.

Additional Tasks This story is not only rich in figurative language and didactic in nature, but it is also an allegory. Research this story, the author,

Ray Bradbury, and the year in which it was written. Take your findings and draw an evidence-based conclusion as to why this

story is an allegory for and what you believe the author’s purpose to be in writing this story. Please use textual evidence from

your research to support your conclusion.


Name _______________________________________________ Date ________________

“The Golden Kite, The Silver Wind”

1. Reread footnote #1 on page 366. Why would the Mandarin say, “What an evil day in an evil

year” in reaction to what was happening in Kwan-Si? What inference can be drawn from

his reaction to the neighboring city’s growth?

2. Why is the Mandarin “sad and angry” in paragraph 3 on page 366?

3. The narrator points out that life is full of “symbols and omens”. Reread paragraph 3 on page

366 and explain why the city wall is important and the implications of the wall for the town.

4. What request does The Mandarin make of his workers in paragraphs 6-8 on page 367?


5. In paragraph 6 on page 367, what literary device does the author use to demonstrate the

condition that the people and town are in? Why would this make the workers follow The

Mandarin’s request?

6. Why is the Mandarin “delighted at the words from his mouth?” How does the Mandarin

come to speak these words? (Page 367, paragraph 9)

7. Re-read paragraph 2-4 on page 368. From The Mandarin’s actions throughout this section

and his statement, “A little more wine daughter-who- thinks-like-a-son,” what can be

inferred about the role women play in this society?

8. Consider paragraphs 5-20 on pages 368 and 369. Identify examples of cause and effect in

this section of text.

9. What words, phrases, or literary techniques does the author use on pages 368-369 in

paragraphs 5-20 to contribute to the mood and tone of the story?


10. Reread paragraph 14 on page 368. What do we learn about the condition of the

townspeople? Why are they in this condition?

11. What do the lines “…standing very close to his silken screen…” and “…held, trembling, to

the silken screen” in paragraphs 17-19 on page 368 tell you about The Mandarin?

12. How does the figurative language on paragraph 1 on page 369 tell the reader about the

condition of the town?

13. In paragraph 4 on page 369 the whisperer says, "Put an end to this." Explain what “this” is

and why it must end.

14. Explain what the daughter means when she says, “no time to hunt, to fish, to love, to be

good to their ancestors and their ancestors’ children,” In paragraph 8 on page 369.


15. When the Mandarins are brought out into the light together, what is the scene that they

come upon? What words and phrases contribute to the mood? (Page 369-370, paragraphs

10-11)?

16. Explain the relationship between the kite and the wind on page 370, paragraph 4-7.

17. According to paragraph 10 on page 370 what happens to the towns?

18. Take into consideration the conversation on page 370, paragraphs 4-7. From the text, what

symbolism can you discern from the new town names?

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