Earendil Lesson Plan
Objectives
-Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings
-Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
Goals
Students will
-Analyze the relationship between the source myths and Tolkien’s legend of Earendil the Mariner (Silmarillion Chapter 24)
-Gain a better understanding of how plot, characters, and locations can be common to multiple mythologies
-Practice adaptive writing
Honors students will accomplish the above as well as
-Analyze how Tolkien’s early Eärendil poems (found in The Book of Lost Tales 2) were combined and edited to form the prose form of the story
Materials
-pen/pencil
-lined paper
-Course Literature Collection
-document camera
Layout
1. Attendance and reading quiz on Silmarillion Ch.24 (1.What was the name of Eärendil’s wife? What object allowed Eärendil to successfully sail to Valinor? 3. Who/What is Vingilot?) on the board. 5 minutes
2. Go over quiz and recap plot. 5 minutes
3. Read and discuss Old English source verse (on document camera and handed out for notation). 10 minutes
4. Read Prose Edda passage referencing Aurvandil (Provided in Course Literature Collection) and discuss similarities in plot and tone. 10 minutes
5. Write original adaptation as either a poem or narrative. 10 minutes
6. Recap, volunteers may read their original adaption in front of the class for feedback and extra credit. 5 minutes
Homework
Expand original adaptation into a short story, minimum 2 pages double spaced and one paragraph comparing and contrasting their work with Tolkien and his sources.
-Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings
-Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone
Goals
Students will
-Analyze the relationship between the source myths and Tolkien’s legend of Earendil the Mariner (Silmarillion Chapter 24)
-Gain a better understanding of how plot, characters, and locations can be common to multiple mythologies
-Practice adaptive writing
Honors students will accomplish the above as well as
-Analyze how Tolkien’s early Eärendil poems (found in The Book of Lost Tales 2) were combined and edited to form the prose form of the story
Materials
-pen/pencil
-lined paper
-Course Literature Collection
-document camera
Layout
1. Attendance and reading quiz on Silmarillion Ch.24 (1.What was the name of Eärendil’s wife? What object allowed Eärendil to successfully sail to Valinor? 3. Who/What is Vingilot?) on the board. 5 minutes
2. Go over quiz and recap plot. 5 minutes
3. Read and discuss Old English source verse (on document camera and handed out for notation). 10 minutes
4. Read Prose Edda passage referencing Aurvandil (Provided in Course Literature Collection) and discuss similarities in plot and tone. 10 minutes
5. Write original adaptation as either a poem or narrative. 10 minutes
6. Recap, volunteers may read their original adaption in front of the class for feedback and extra credit. 5 minutes
Homework
Expand original adaptation into a short story, minimum 2 pages double spaced and one paragraph comparing and contrasting their work with Tolkien and his sources.
Creation Myth Project
Prompt
For the last few months we have explored the techniques Tolkien used to adopt the perspective of ancient cultures in his writing. By carefully selecting, borrowing, and adapting characters and stories common to Britain’s invaders, Tolkien has created a narrative with one foot in fantasy and the other in history. For this assignment you are going to imitate this method and adapt ancient myths to craft your own “Creation Myth”. A successful assignment will:
- Be properly formatted (12 point Times New Roman, double spaced)
- Be between 3 and 8 pages long
- Have at least 4 clear references to a source culture, via either characters, settings, historical events, or artifacts that contribute to the themes and tone of your story
Assignment Timeline
1. Discuss and brainstorm in class with a rough outline due for next class
2. Complete rough draft due 2 weeks after outline
3. Peer edit drafts in class
4. Final draft due 1 week after peer editing in addition to one paragraph explaining your sources and process.
Use myth and history as a foundation that you can build on. The more securely your story is based in your sources the more you can play and have fun with it, get creative!
For the last few months we have explored the techniques Tolkien used to adopt the perspective of ancient cultures in his writing. By carefully selecting, borrowing, and adapting characters and stories common to Britain’s invaders, Tolkien has created a narrative with one foot in fantasy and the other in history. For this assignment you are going to imitate this method and adapt ancient myths to craft your own “Creation Myth”. A successful assignment will:
- Be properly formatted (12 point Times New Roman, double spaced)
- Be between 3 and 8 pages long
- Have at least 4 clear references to a source culture, via either characters, settings, historical events, or artifacts that contribute to the themes and tone of your story
Assignment Timeline
1. Discuss and brainstorm in class with a rough outline due for next class
2. Complete rough draft due 2 weeks after outline
3. Peer edit drafts in class
4. Final draft due 1 week after peer editing in addition to one paragraph explaining your sources and process.
Use myth and history as a foundation that you can build on. The more securely your story is based in your sources the more you can play and have fun with it, get creative!