Literature Project

For your literature project on Of Mice and Men, your group will have two requirements:

A. Individual 1.5 Page Report, MLA format
* Choose one character, one theme, and one symbol to analyze
* Provide a quote and page number for each part

B. 3D Model / Diorama 
* As a group, choose an important scene to create a 3D model of
* You should be able to explain the importance of your scene in a presentation









 

The Bond of Friendship

Friendship is a theme common to all of humanity, and therefore a common theme throughout literature. We all know the values - and the pain - that can come from friends, as well as the differences between a casual friend and a close friend. Read the following proverb on the nature of friendship and leave a comment describing what you think it means:

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" - Biblical proverb.

The American Nightmare

The Master of Terror

Edgar Allen Poe can be seen as one of the original master story-tellers of terror. For this week, we will be reading and exploring some of his scariest short stories. Here is your group assignment for this week:

1. Read the short story your group is assigned. (One of the following below)
     A. "The Tell-Tale Heart"
     B. "The Black Cat"
     C. "Cask of Amontillado"
     D. "The Pit and the Pendulum"
     E. "Masque of the Red Death"


2. Each member of your group needs to write a one page report on one of the following 
    questions about your short story (MLA, 3rd person):
    A. What is the plot of the story?
    B. What are the gothic/macabre/scary elements of the story? How does it make the reader feel?
         Describe the tone/mood.
    C. Write a shortened movie script version of the story for your group to act out: Who's playing
         what part? What are they saying? What's the scene? Why are you filming it that way? etc.


3. Film with the iPad your version of the short story. It can be a literal translation of the story 
    or a different interpretation: it's up to your group.

   

Potential Paper Topics

Theme
The American Dream / Death of the American Dream
Ambition
Success
Tragedy
Unrequited Love 

Characters
Gatsby
Nick
Tom
Myrtle
George
Daisy

"A Dream Deferred"
by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

Read the poem. What is the poet saying about dreams that are never fulfilled or realized? Apply this poem to the American Dreams of the characters in The Great Gatsby. Which one of these similes ("like....") applies best to each character's dream in the novel? Detail and explain why. Analyze the characters: 

1. Gatsby   2. Daisy    3. Tom     4. Myrtle    5. George Wilson   6. Nick

Individually, make a keynote for each simile in the poem for the character who you think it applies to.