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| (Image: Kush Metamorphosis II) |
Postmodernism: Unit Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify key characteristics and features of postmodernist literature: author as a character, questioning of values, unreliable narrators, narrative shifts, distortion of time, and distortion of reality.
- Identify key themes in the readings: what do we learn about human nature through these readings? how can we prove whether faith still has value? how can we prove that truth exists?
- Discuss key characteristics and features of postmodernist literature in class discussion forums and through one online Skype discussion.
- Discuss key themes in the readings for this unit in class discussion forums and one online Skype discussion.
- Analyze key characteristics, features, and themes of postmodernism through written assignments: forum posts, short-paragraph responses, weekly reading journals, and a theme analysis paper.
Unit Length: Two Weeks
Unit Assignments:
- Readings: "The Tyger" and "The Lamb" by William Blake; "The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton; Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
- Postmodernism survey: 10 points
- Timed short-paragraph response: 10 points
- Forum posts: Two original forum posts per week; one response to two different classmates each week. (two original forum posts per week = 20 points per week or 40 points total; two responses per week = 20 points per week or 40 points total)
- Short-paragraph response: One weekly short-paragraph (150 words or less) response to one question posted on course website (10 points per week; 20 points total)
- Two reading journals: One reading journal (one page, typed, double-spaced) per week (20 points per journal; 40 points total)
- Unit quiz: Final 10-point quiz over readings and postmodernism.
- Final paper: Final literary analysis paper over one of the guiding questions (50 points)
- Total Unit Points: 220
Guiding Questions:
- What is meant by the term postmodern?
- What are the characteristics of postmodernist literature?
- How is Life of Pi a postmodernist novel?
- What do we learn about human nature through Life of Pi and other readings in this unit?
- How does Life of Pi discuss faith?
- How does Life of Pi challenge or prove something to be true?
Texts:
"The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Rationale:
Life of Pi is young adult fiction novel and is also a postmodernist novel. Its themes challenge what it means to be human, what the nature of faith is, and how we as humans can know and hold on to what is truth. As a postmodernist novel, it challenges faith and truth, yet it also suggests why faith and truth are still important in a postmodernist world.
Life of Pi is now commonly taught at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. This unit study has been created as a post-secondary sophomore-level class; however, it may be adapted for secondary use.
Life of Pi is now commonly taught at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. This unit study has been created as a post-secondary sophomore-level class; however, it may be adapted for secondary use.
Steps to success:
- Follow the lessons in order.
- Read the entire lesson and all the links posted on each lesson.
- Complete all readings and assignments on time. All readings must be done on a daily basis; all written assignments for each week are due no later than the end of that week.
- Reading journals and the theme analysis paper must be typed in a Microsoft Word document and e-mailed as an attachment to me at: mmatheny60@gmail.com.
- Final literary analysis paper due one week after the end of the unit study.
