Creating Suspense Lesson 2: Analyzing Literary Devices in "The Lottery"

In this lesson (part 2 of 2 in a unit), students will read and analyze literary devices in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." Students will practice text-coding the story to note uses of characterization and references to tradition. Students will complete a handout where they will analyze how Jackson creates suspense through the use of setting, imagery, diction, and foreshadowing. Students will also compare/contrast a short (ten minute) film version of "The Lottery" to Jackson's story. Students will also participate in a Socratic Seminar covering topics such as Jackson's use of irony, tone, theme, and symbolism. For the summative assessment, students will write an essay comparing and contrasting Edgar Allan Poe's use of suspense with Jackson's, making a claim as to which author more successfully creates a suspenseful mood.

 
Resource ID#: 37267 Type: Lesson Plan
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General Information

Subject(s): English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 9, 10
Intended Audience: Educators educators
Suggested Technology: Document Camera, Computer for Presenter, LCD Projector, Overhead Projector
Instructional Time: 4 Hour(s)
Keywords: Edgar Allan Poe, Poe, The Masque of the Red Death, Shirley Jackson, The Lottery, compare, contrast, irony, symbolism, foreshadowing, imagery, characterization, suspense, mood, tone, theme
Instructional Component Type(s): Lesson Plan,  Unit/Lesson Sequence,  Worksheet,  Assessment,  Presentation/Slideshow,  Video/Audio/Animation,  Formative Assessment
Instructional Design Framework(s): Direct Instruction
Resource Collection: CPALMS Lesson Plan Development Initiative

Aligned Standards

This vetted resource aligns to concepts or skills in these benchmarks.

1 Lesson Plan

Creating Suspense Lesson 1: Analyzing Literary Devices in Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death"

In this lesson, students will read and analyze literary devices used in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death." They will read the first part of the story with support and modeling from the teacher, the next part in small groups, and the final section on their own. Students will examine Poe's use of imagery, foreshadowing, simile, personification, symbolism, and characterization. Students will also use various strategies to determine the meaning of selected vocabulary within the context of the story, as well as work to identify word choices that evoke a sense of time and place for the setting of the story. In the summative assessment, students will be able to explain how Poe creates suspense in his story, and they will be able to determine a theme from the story with support from the text. 

Related Resources

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Lesson Plan

Creating Suspense Lesson 1: Analyzing Literary Devices in Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death":

In this lesson, students will read and analyze literary devices used in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death." They will read the first part of the story with support and modeling from the teacher, the next part in small groups, and the final section on their own. Students will examine Poe's use of imagery, foreshadowing, simile, personification, symbolism, and characterization. Students will also use various strategies to determine the meaning of selected vocabulary within the context of the story, as well as work to identify word choices that evoke a sense of time and place for the setting of the story. In the summative assessment, students will be able to explain how Poe creates suspense in his story, and they will be able to determine a theme from the story with support from the text. 

Type: Lesson Plan