Unit 2_Honors/College: Literary Device via Short Stories, Drama, Poetry
Essential Question: What makes a good story?
Tentative Length: 5 Weeks
Themes and Concepts: 3 Appeals, Symbolism, Literary Devices/Tools, Point of View
Genres
Content
Skills/Standards
Evidence/Assessment
Resources
Short Stories
Students will know and
understand:
Students will be able to do
and demonstrate:
Analysis of Author’s Purpose

Cultural, social, and
historical influence within
literature (Irving, Lee,
Miller, Wilson)
Annotating and charting
text
Novel: To Kill a
Mockingbird – Harper
Lee
Nonfiction
Fiction
Poetry
Drama
Big Ideas:
 Otherness
 Prejudice
 Dreams/Visions
 Discrimination
 Reform
 Dignity
 The elderly
Diction & Syntax
Literary elements












Mood
Tone
Symbolism
Imagery
Conflict
Alliteration
Character
Connotation
Denotation
Diction
Syntax
Figurative Language
Author’s Purpose
Issues or themes that
reflect the viewpoints of
Americans of the time
Use symbolism, setting,
dialogue, and character to
determine mood and tone
Comprehension Questions on
each text
Summaries
Poetry:
The Raven – Edgar Allen
Poe
Daily reading checks
Non-fiction:
Weekly Skills check
Identify and understand
the cultural, social, and
historical influence from
text
Interpret and apply
inference skills to make
meaning and understand text
Analyze author’s purpose
and evaluate effectiveness
for different audience
(includes fact or opinion,
author’s point of view, tone,
and use of persuasive
devices) (Intro to Appeals:
pathos)
Analyze author’s use of
Vocabulary Quiz
Major writing assignments
Exit tickets
Fiction: Short Stories
Dr. Heidegger’s
Experiment – Nathaniel
Hawthorne
The Devil and Tom
Walker – by Washington
Irving
The Bet – Anton Checkov
Tusk, Tusk by David
McKee ( for
differentiation)
Black Misery, by
Langston Hughes (for
differentiation)
Drama:
Awareness of ideas that
dominate different cultures
Social commentary (social
issues within society)
literary elements and
devices in relation to theme
and/or message.
Death of a Salesman –
Arthur Miller
Understand theme through
identification of main ideas
and supporting details.
Fences – August Wilson
Make cause and effect
connections within the text
or between texts/media.
PPT presentations –
 Symbolism

“The Devil and
Tom Walker”
Make inferences or
predictions based on reading
of texts and media.
Content –
“Fences” by August Wilson





Prologue – what it teaches about theme, plot,
characters
Symbolism of the title
Setting – time period, socio-political climate, place;
and their impact on characters
Introduction of characters by narration, other
characters, dialogue, interpersonal
relationships/response to crisis
Readers’/audience’s earlier impression of main
characters based on dialogue
What is the source of conflict in the play (at the workplace,
familial relationships, parental expectations)?
Dominant themed on the play





Skills - “Fences” by August Wilson
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Strategies in context (Plot, characterization, symbolism, diction, figurative language,
etc.)

dreams and expectations
fences/barriers
segregated sports
role of women
forgiveness
Predict plot from cues given in prologue
Interpret symbols
Identify similar symbols in environment (ex. Fence = prison,
controlling relationships, curfews)
Define character traits
Form personal impression of characters
Identify causes of conflict
Find solution for the conflicts encountered
Identify fences in the characters’ lives
Identify writer’s intention, attitude, message



Write all the words/phrases that are associated with the
symbol “fence”
Predict what the plot of the play will be based on the
message of the prologue
Use the setting to help define the characters
What is your first impression o the main character
Troy? What do you like of dislike about him? Why?
Assessment
Direct/Indirect
Character analysis
 What is your first
impression o the
main character
Troy? What do
you like of dislike
about him? Why?
 Discuss and write
about how the
interaction among
the characters
helps the readers
to get to know
them.
History & Literature
Negro Baseball league
Unit 2_Honors/College: Literary Device via Short Stories, Drama, Poetry
Essential Question: What makes a good story?
Tentative Length: 5 Weeks
Themes and Concepts: 3 Appeals, Symbolism, Literary Devices/Tools, Point of View

Literary elements
Character
Diction
Mood
Syntax
Tone Symbolism Conflict
Figurative Language

What statement does the playwright make about
marriage by allowing Alberta to die? Rose’s and Troy’s
marriage to break up?
Does he applaud or oppose independence in women?
How do Rose and Bonnie illustrate this?