Lesson Plan form for  Paul Rombough/
Chateauguay Valley High School  (Tower University Grade 8 Site)
back to Tempest Main Page
Date:   June 7, 3rd period.
Class:          English
Objective: 
To discuss and outline important plot elements in the Tempest
To situate the Tempest in terms of its "level".  (see Frye's division of levels in notes below)
Materials: 
Opening Motivational Set: 
Procedure:
 

1.  Finish mini-presentations of The Tempest summaries of acts, from yesterday's class.

2.  Silent reading for 15 minutes.

Note: 
No time for the Tempest, so we are going to do some comparative literature work with Lord of the Flies (the movie) and Forbidden Planet (movie based on the Tempest)

3.  Introduce notion of high level and low level question (not new to class)
 

"Tomorrow we will be looking at low-level similarities between The Tempest and the film Lord of the Flies, including setting, character, plot, symbol and foreshadowing similarites. 
We will also be discussing high-level differences, based on what "level" or type of fiction each story is....
"To better understand what is meant by "level" of fiction, we will brainstorm examples of different stories which fit into this "level" diagram.  below


4.  As students copy out the Level's of Fiction overhead  below (the notion is Northrop Frye's, but I can't remember his exact title), the class brainstorms examples of each level. 
(Tempest as romance;  Lord of the Flies as Ironic)

5.  For an evaluation, students must write a paragraph on a story they have read or seen (film) and decide what "level" it is, and justify their answer with an argument and an example.
Take up orally.
Followup/ Evaluation: 

Film Lord of the Flies (one of the literature circle novels) and questions.

 
 
 
 
 

"Levels of Fiction"

Mythological Fiction 
-  The characters are Gods.  Completely above us.

Romantic Fiction 
-  The characters and ideas are perfected versions of us.  Just above us. 
Includes legends, heroes, love stories, and magic.

Realistic Fiction  (Us)
-  The drama of our lives, presented as if we were living it.  Our level.
Ironic Fiction 
-  We know more than the characters themselves.   We are left to be the judges.