High School Lesson Plan for Thematic Unit: Literature as History, History as Literature

I. Course title: "Literature as History, History as Literature"

II. Grade and ability level: High school English, preferably advanced.

III. Overview of the Unit.

The theme of this unit is designed to teach students how history can be used in literature to bring to life events which in textbooks are often nothing but boring facts and dates. The emotional background of historical events are brought to life through literary devices used in fiction, drama and poetry. A multimedia approach will be taken involving not only literature, but music, film, television and art.

IV. Goal of the Unit.

To show students how history can be used as a springboard for creating memorable novels, plays, songs, TV shows and movies. To show how one historical moment can be seen through a variety of points of view so that we can gain further insight into exactly what was going on during a certain period of time.

V. Objectives.

1. An understanding of how emotional reactions to larger historical events can result in compelling fiction.

2. An understanding that even the most sincere reading of history will be altered due to an author's viewpoint.

3. Literature can be used to enhance one's enjoyment of history.

4. Students will develop their ability to create fiction based on a historical background.

VI. Materials.

Literature:

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

"Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Casabianco" by Felicia Dorothea Hemans

"At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border" by William Stafford

"Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall

Schindler's List by Thomas Kenneally

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Sophie's Choice by William Styron

Henry IV, Part One by William Shakespeare

Films:

Guilty by Suspicion

Music:

"Spanish Bombs" by The Clash

Television shows

The Simpsons

Art:

Pablo Picasso's mural "Guernica"


Week 1