The Catbird Seat

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

ACTIVITY: “Character Compare and Contrast”

Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows are foils for one another, meaning their respective characteristics highlight the temperaments and foibles of the other. 

Part A: Make a T Chart, listing Mr. Martin’s characteristics on one side and Mrs. Barrows’s characteristics on the other. Try to list at least ten on each side.

• In what ways are the characters direct opposites of one another?
• Do they share any similarities?

Part B: Choose two areas in which these characters contrast, and discuss (using one of the formats below) the significance of each contrast using specific examples from the text (connects to text theme The Battle of the Sexes).

• Create a small poster, dividing the paper into two sections, and write about the significance of each area of contrast, using bullet points to provide evidence from the text. You may also include illustrations in your poster. 
• In James Thurber style, create cartoons that show each character demonstrating their opposing characteristics. Create your own caption for the cartoons based on evidence in the text, or use a direct quote from the text as a caption.