Before Reading
Make a Chart
Have you ever kept a journal? What kinds of things did you write in it? Read more about journals in Literary Tools on page 588. In your notebook, make a chart like the one shown to record inward and outward observations that Pepys makes in his journal.
During Reading
Complete Your Chart as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first entry aloud. What events does Pepys record? Are they inward or outward events? Write these events in your chart.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Record major events in your chart as either internal or external events.
Fix-Up Idea: Work with Unfamiliar Words
English spelling and capitalization were not standardized in Pepys's time, so some words may look unfamiliar. Use footnotes and context clues to help you figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words.
After Reading
Summarize What You Wrote
Discuss the following questions with a partner. Which events give you clues about what kind of person Pepys is? Describe his character. What do you learn about life in London during his life?