Introduction
Dark Matter is a modern science-fiction novel by Blake Crouch that contains many hard to grasp ideas that in today's science are only theory. In addition, underneath its more literal meanings and occurrences lay more symbolic meanings and parallelisms that bring even more meaning to this book. Read the book and follow the accompanying steps online. When you finish the book, complete the project in accordance with the rubric attached.
Task
Task 1: Follow along with the steps under process while reading Dark Matter. Watch the provided videos and answer all questions in complete sentences. When evidence is quoted it should include the page number it was found on.
Task 2: This task is the final project for Dark Matter and should be completed last.
Dark Matter ends with leaving interpretation to the reader. Write about what happens after the book ends from the continued perspective of Jason. Include dialogue and references to previous events in the story. The minimum for this is two pages, double spaced, with point 12 font.
Process
Step 1: Watch the video on the page from the link and answer the question.
http://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2015/01/12/dark-matter-explained/
Knowing now what dark matter is, what can be inferred about Dark Matter?
Step 2: As you read, think about commonalities between this book and others that you have read. List three examples of similarities and why these similarities may have occurred?
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Step 3: Why might the first person perspective in the book be important to the plot?
Step 4: Look at the following images. These images are all part of Daniela's art presentation. What might they represent?
Step 5: Watch this video for more details on the theories that inspired the plot line and answer the question.
What do you think is revealed about the characters from exploring the multiverse? Are the alterations they witness how they see it only because of their experiences?
Step 6: As you read think about the significance of colors (how do they reflect what is happening). Find and quote two examples, then explain their underlying meaning.
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Step 7: Read the following poem and answer the questions. As reading, think about the theories the videos discussed earlier.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken
How does the narrator of the poem view the path not taken? Is it similar to Jason's perspective in the beginning of the book? Why or why not?
In the poem Frost states:
"And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood"
If the narrator of the poem were Jason, how might he explained the meaning of these lines in the beginning of the book? What about by the end of the book?
The poems last lines are:
"I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
If these lines were taken in context of Dark Matter, how might the road Jason took have differed him morally from Jason2?
Evaluation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Content |
Narrative is not appropriate extension of the book's ending; many omissions or errors evident. Did not narrate from Jason's point of view. Omitted use of dialogue in narrative. |
Narrative is somewhat appropriate extension of the book's ending; some omissions or errors evident. Inconsistently narrated from Jason's point of view. Minimal use of dialogue in narrative. |
Well-written narrative that is appropriate extension of the book's ending. Consistently narrated from Jason's point of view. Appropriate use of dialogue throughout narrative. |
Creative narrative that is a logical extension of the book's ending. Consistently and clearly narrated from Jason's point of view. Creative and meaningful use of dialogue throughout narrative. |
| Format |
Less than one page of narrative. Font used is not 12 point; not double spaced. Excessive grammatical errors. |
1-2 pages of narrative. Used 12 point font OR double spaced. Several grammatical errors. |
2 pages of narrative. Used 12 point font; double spaced. Few grammatical errors. |
More than 2 pages of narrative. Used 12 point font; double spaced. No grammatical errors. |
Conclusion
Throughout the series of steps in Task 1, you have explored the symbolism and concepts related to Blake Crouch's novel, Dark Matter. In Task 2, you applied the knowledge and understandings developed in Task 1 to extend the book's ending. Together, these Tasks were designed to further developed your comprehension of the text. By completing these Tasks, you have investigated this author's intent and usage of symbolism. Additionally, you have examined and applied common narrative writing techniques.