Brother Lesson Plan

What do you think is the purpose of the prologue? Explain.

The prologue is written as a short scene with no context for it. However, it seems to introduce the themes of memory, safety, and protectiveness. Strong responses will conjecture that these themes will come to play an important role in the novel. Introducing them without context in the prologue plants the seed of these ideas to churn in readers’ minds as they begin to read the novel. Also, it sets up the relationship between Michael and his brother Francis, who, in Chapter One, readers learn has died. Introducing the relationship juxtaposed with those themes before readers know what’s going on may add layers of...