Pre-Reading Tasks



1. Before you begin reading Cold Mountain, each clan member should complete the following journal response: Dreams tell us a great deal about ourselves: our aspirations, our fears, our concerns.  For this journal entry, create a dream that you might have (any sexual or illegal content will not be considered acceptable).  Imagine that you have fallen asleep and begin this entry as a description of that dream.  You should consider dreams you have had in the past when making your “artificial” dream.  Also, think of the things that are on your mind now when creating this dream.  Use imagery and symbolism as much as possible, and give in depth descriptions.  Be creative!
 

2. After everyone in your clan has created and written down their dream (allow 15-20 minutes), exchange journal entries with other clan members.  Now pretend that you are a psychoanalyst or a “900 number” fortune-teller.  Read and interpret the dream of your clan member by writing a responsive journal entry (no inappropriate content here either).
 

3. Share the dream journal entries with the rest of the group.
 

4. Look at the dream-analyzing book provided by your guide as a clan.  Notice all of the common themes and symbols that occur throughout people’s dreams and the book’s interpretation of them.  Now, using your dream journal entries from tasks 1-3, create your clan’s own dream-analyzing glossary.  Include in it at least 10 common themes and/or symbols from your clan’s dream journals and a paragraph explanation for each.  Type up your glossary and create 2 pages of artwork that supplement the entries.  Use construction paper and a stapler to bind your glossary and artwork together.
 

Move on to Guided Reading Tasks

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