Unit Plan by: Jacklyn Beisner

This unit is intended to enhance students’ understanding of historical context within mythological stories. Students will be given a list of several specific characters (Zeus, Persiphone, Hades, etc.) that will be reviewed and discussed as a class. Students will then be asked to choose a story involving the character of their choosing and present it to the class.

Reading 2.5 Analyze an author’s implicit and explicit philosophical assumptions and beliefs about a subject. 3.4 Analyze ways in which poets use imagery, personification, figures of speech, and sounds to evoke readers’ emotions. 3.6 Analyze the way in which authors through the centuries have used archtypes drawn from myth and tradition in literature, film, political speeches, and religious writings.

Listening and Speaking 2.3 Deliver oral responses to literature: b. Analyze the imagery, language, universal themes, and unique aspects of the text through the use of rhetorical strategies. d. Demonstrate an awareness of the author’s use of stylistic devices and an appreciation of the effects created.

 Students will identify tone, suspense, and style within Greek stories, poems etc.  Students will effectively convey emotion through oral presentations of their chosen literary work(s).  Students will develop a basic foundation of understanding and appreciation for Greek mythology and will be able to explore representations of ancient literary works in our modern world (ie. sculptures, paintings, etc.)

Essential Question What place does Ancient Greek Mythology hold in our modern world? Unit Questions What kind of impact does an oral presentation of a literary work make as opposed to a silent reading? What stylistic devices did ancient authors use that one could also use today to expand and/or improve their own writing? Content Questions What specific literary devices are important to silent reading and verbal presentations of a literary work? What do these stories or poems tell us about the ancient Greeks and their culture?

Research has proven that project – based learning is more conducive to learning than “traditional” teaching methods. Projects positively correlate with higher attendance rates, long term retainment of concepts learned, students’ overall satisfaction with their learning environments, higher – level thinking, increase in creativity, and applicability to students of all backgrounds and academic levels. This method of instruction aims to eliminate repetitiveness and boredom and encourage thinking “outside the box”. Each assignment will also incorporate the use of at least one form of modern technology that students can use within the classroom or in everyday life. Students will leave the course with an understanding of the importance of English Literature in their lives and, hopefully, a sense of pride in their accomplishments as an individual and as a class.

 After reviewing the background of Greek gods and goddesses as a class, students will each choose a story poem written about their favorite(s).  Students will then need to commit the story to memory in order to tell the story to the class, effectively conveying tone and emotion.  Students will also need to find an image of their character that exists today and holds some form of relevance in our society to present with their story. (Students will be assigned specific texts to locate both literary works and images so that extensive research is not required of them).