Heroes in Literature
Title:
Type:
Subject:
Grade Range:
Description:
Duration:
Author(s):
Compare and Contrast
Lesson Plan
ELA
Honors 9
90+ Minutes
Jessica Barger
Instructional Unit Content
Standard(s)/Element(s)
Content Area Standard
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with
other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
TAG Standard
Advanced Communication Skills
The student produces written and/or oral work that is complex, purposeful, and organized, includes relevant supporting examples and manipulation of language.
Higher Order and Critical Thinking Skills
The student responds to questions with supporting information that reflects in-depth knowledge of a topic.
The student conducts comparisons using criteria.
The student makes and evaluates decisions using criteria.
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
The student develops original ideas, presentations, or products through synthesis and evaluation.
Summary/Overview The focus of this lesson is to identify the universal motivations and reactions of characters that transcend historical settings
through compare and contrast. Students will also analyze how setting (especially cultural norms) affects the actions and beliefs of a character. Students
will use the model of the “Hero’s Journey” or monomyth to determine which character’s tale more accurately demonstrates the traits of the hero’s
journey- Odysseus from The Odyssey or Ender from Ender’s Game.
Enduring Understanding(s)
At the end of this lesson the student will understand:
a. that there are universal motivations and reactions of characters that transcend historical settings.
b. that the historical setting may affect character motivations and reactions.
c. the elements of the hero’s journey.
Essential Question(s)
What universal motivations and reactions of characters transcend historical settings? (Patterns)
What cultural norms and expectations drive our decisions?
What character traits define a hero?
What is the hero’s journey?
Evidence of Learning
What students should know:
a. Story settings are influenced by the times, locations, events, and the cultural norms of the period in which they are written; setting
affects the plot of literary work.
b. There are similarities in the reactions and motivation of literary characters when confronting similar situations or conflicts
regardless of the time in which the story is set.
c. There are differences in the reactions and motivation of literary characters across historical time periods.
d. There are elements of a plot and traits of a character that contribute to the character being identified as a hero.
What students should be able to do:
a. Conducts comparisons using criteria.
b. Examines an issue from more than one point of view.
c. Identify parts of a story that apply to the hero’s journey
Suggested Vocabulary
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Setting
Characteristics
archetype
Procedure(s)
Hook
1.
Instructor will present a “word splash” of names of popular fictional heroes. Instructor will ask students to identify what the names
have in common (and why are they mostly men??). This will lead into a brief discussion of heroic traits the characters have in
common, as well as similarities in their stories. The teacher will inform the class that we will be comparing two of the characters they
have read about in class this semester- Odysseus and Ender.
2.
Divide the class into 2 groups: Odysseus and Ender.
Phase 1: Description
3.
Instructor will distribute the hero’s journey chart. Each student will complete the chart (criteria organizer) for his/her assigned
character.
4.
Pair students with like characters to discuss criteria organizer.
5.
Students will pair with someone who completed the opposite reading (i.e., each “Odysseus” pairs with an “Ender”). Each student will
review with his/her partner their thoughts on the character’s hero journey.
Phase 2: Comparison
6.
Distribute Visual Organizer. Groups of four will work together to complete a visual organizer.
Phase 3: Conclusion
7.
In a class discussion, groups will share general statements about the roles of heroes and how the setting and culture of each influences
decisions and behavior.
Phase 4: Application
8.
Distribute Think-Tac-Toe. Each student will select and complete three of the activities.
Summarizing Activity
Learning Log:
 Based on your analysis, what are some general statements that you can make about how the setting and culture of a character impacts
that character’s motivations and reactions?
 What parts of “the hero’s journey” best exemplify the traits of a hero?
 What other stories or novels have you read that follow the structure of the hero’s journey? Do you consider the characters in those novels
“heroes”?
Synthesis Activity
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Think-Tac-Toe
Resource(s)
Anchor Text(s):
The Odyssey by Homer
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Technology: n/a
Handouts:
Handout 1:
Handout 2:
Handout 3:
Handout 4:
Hook- Word Splash
Hero’s Journey Chart (Criteria Organizer)
Comparison Organizer
Think-Tac-Toe
Iron Man
Superman
Shrek
Wonder Woman
Mulan
Frozen
Simba
What do these characters
have in common?
Thor
Nemo
Hulk
Batman
Buzz & Woody
Spider-Man
Ender’s
Differences
Odysseus’s Differences
SIMILARITIES
Compare and Contrast Synthesis Activities
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Learning Log Questions
Based on your analysis, what are some general statements that you can make about how the setting and culture of a character impacts that character’s
motivations and reactions?
What parts of “the hero’s journey” best exemplify the traits of a hero?
What other stories or novels have you read that follow the structure of the hero’s journey? Do you consider the characters in those novels “heroes”?
Think-Tac-Toe
In order to extend your learning on how “the hero’s journey” is depicted in literature, complete three activities (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to win tic-tac-toe.
Create a song or poem using the
Research the historical facts behind the setting and
voice of Odysseus or Ender explain
characters in The Odyssey. Write a literary critique
his reaction to one of the conflicts in of the accuracy of the author’s setting and character
the story. Incorporate how the setting
sketches.
impacted the reaction.
Create a map that shows the journey
of either Odysseus’s or Ender’s
travels throughout the novel.
Wild Card
Create your own activity to extend your learning of
how authors use setting to define a character’s
motivations and reactions.
You must complete a learning contract and have it
approved by the teacher before beginning the
activity.
Reflect upon what you have learned
about how setting can impact a
character’s motivations and reactions.
Write a journal entry on how your
motivations and reactions are
impacted by your surroundings.
Create a skit in which one or more characters from
our current novel appear on an afternoon talk show
such as Oprah or Dr. Phil to discuss a major
conflict.
Create a mnemonic device to help you remember
the events that compose either Odysseus or
Ender’s “hero’s journey.”
Role play a conflict between two characters in
Ender’s Game. Change the setting and role play
the conflict again. How do the characters’
motivations and reactions change?
Develop a hypothesis for how humans will react
to a certain situation or conflict. Create an
experiment to test this hypothesis.