The Life You Save May Be Your Own

In the story, both Mrs. Crater and Mr. Shiftlet hide their true intentions from one another, each with their own selfish motive. How do they deceive one another, and what do their true intentions reveal about what they value most? What effect does this juxtaposition of their characters have on our understanding of the story?

Teaching Suggestion: Both Mrs. Crater and Mr. Shiftlet present themselves in one way, hiding their true intentions from one other to gain something they want. Students may benefit from making a character map for each character before comparing them. Consider encouraging them to explore the internal and external tensions, considering what Mr. Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater present to one another, as well as to themselves. Students may also examine connections to the themes of The Spirit Versus the Law, The End of Innocence, and The Possibility of Salvation.

Differentiation Suggestion: For ELL students and students who may benefit from a more structured or visual approach, a graphic organizer may be helpful. This graphic organizer could be a chart with three columns (Internal, External, Tension) and two rows for Mr. Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater. Students can then clearly categorize their observations about the internal and external thoughts and actions of each character, make note of tensions between these two categories, and more easily draw comparisons.