Le Petit Prince
Leah Crescenzo
EDC 448
19 February, 2015
Le Petit Prince
French III (typically grade 10)
Guiding Questions:
1. How can the ideas and lessons expressed in Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry be
applied to the world in which we live?
2. How is the subjunctive formed and applied in both literature and day-to-day speech?
3. How are the real life experiences of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry expressed through his art?
1. À bord (offline)
Schmitt, Conrad J., and Katia Brilli Lutz. A Bord. Student Edition ed. New York, N.Y.: Glencoe, 1998.
Print.
This 512 page offline text book provides instruction and lessons in French grammar, targeted
towards level 2 and 3 students. The section particularly relevant to Le Petit Prince can be found in
chapters 11 and 12 on pages 279-321 regarding the subjunctive. Throughout the textbook, the chapters
are broken down into 5 sections: vocabulary, grammar, a cultural lesson, a current event, and review,
each with several exercises included. This textbook was used in my high school French III classroom in
2000 and, while some of the cultural and current event pieces are slightly out of date, the grammar is
very clearly and concisely conveyed.
According to the Fry Graph for estimating Reading Ages (grade level), this text is appropriate
for 10th grade. There is a perfect cultural section in English on page 324. The first 100 words contained
4.5 sentences and 149 syllables landing it squarely in the 10th grade range. Additionally, when plugged
into the Flesch-Kincaid readability analyzer at readability-score.com, the result was grade level 10.8.
As this passage is truly rare in the predominately French textbook, I also conducted an analysis of 2
cultural sections written in French. The result, interestingly, came out at a 7th grade reading level
according to both the Fry Graph and Flesch-Kincaid readability analyzer both times. I was actually
surprised that the reading level was that high and imagine that my students would be very proud to be
reading at the same level as a 7th grade French student. However, I do imagine that there may be some
discrepancy as these tests are geared towards English texts.
À bord is a well organized, complete textbook with clearly explained lessons on vocabulary,
grammar and culture. Each chapter incorporates all three into an interesting and applicable unit that
makes lesson planning easy. Following the lead of the authors, Schmitt and Lutz, I can easily expand
upon the book to create a comprehensive lesson that engages and excites my students. The cultural
information reaches beyond France and introduces several French speaking countries in North Africa
and the Caribbean, opening students to the diversity of the language. Furthermore, it is easy to follow
and the directions are clear, making this textbook accessible to students. The subjunctive lessons in the
textbook are a very appropriate pair with Le Petit Prince which employs this complex grammar on
several occasions.
2. Le Petit Prince (offline)
Saint-Exupery, Antoine De. Le Petit Prince. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1943. Print.
Le Petit Prince is an 87 page offline novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is a fictional story
in French about a pilot who meets a little boy from another planet. The book is broken up into 27
“chapters” each no longer than 3 pages (some as short as a half page). There are several
illustrations/watercolors throughout the book created by Saint-Exupéry.
Along with the subjunctive lessons, Le Petit Prince is the core of my text set. This book is one
of the most beloved and respected pieces of French literature to date. The vocabulary and grammar, at
times a bit complex, are never beyond the presumed abilities of students in a French III class. Provided
the correct level of scaffolding, the text will challenge students and advance their ability to read and
comprehend literature in French. The themes are existential and create ample opportunity for open
discussion and interpretation amongst students. Reading and understanding Le Petit Prince is an
important study in French history, culture and language.
3. The Little Prince – Deluxe Pop-up Book (offline)
Saint-Exupery, Antoine De, and Richard Howard. The Little Prince. New York, NY: HMH, 2009. Print.
Deluxe Pop-up Book.
The Deluxe Pop-up version of The Little Prince includes 64 pages of delicate and intricate
paper cutouts and pop-up artistry in an offline hardcover book. It is translated into English but carried
out in the same short-chapter style as the original novella. The artwork is also the original created by
Saint-Exupéry and fashioned into 3d.
This version of The Little Prince is unique and engaging for those students who are visually
inclined. It makes the illustrations and imagery the main focus of the book which will be helpful in
presenting the story to students who may not be as stimulated by reading. Additionally, the mechanics
involved in the design will be exciting for the engineers in the class. Finally, the English translation is
something we can discuss as a group after the French reading is complete.
4. Vol de nuit - excerpt (offline)
Saint-Exupery, Antoine De. "Vol De Nuit." 1999. Cours De Civilisation Francaise De La Sorbonne.
Paris: La Sorbonne, 1999. 43-44. Print. Livre De Textes.
This excerpt of Vol de Nuit is included in a collection of literature compiled by professors of
French civilization at the Sorbonne in Paris. It consists of two pages from the first novel written by
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in 1931. This is an offline text.
Reading a small portion of Saint-Exupéry's first novel is a great exercise to conduct in class
before diving into the main literary focus: Le Petit Prince. As a class, it would be valuable to analyze
the short passage together and discuss. The author was a pilot and includes aviation in most of his
pieces, so the vocabulary introduced in Vol de Nuit will be useful throughout the course of the unit.
Investigating the author's background and interests will give the students more to think about when
constructing their understanding of Le Petit Prince as well. Finally, there are some grammar structures
included in the excerpt that are applicable to the grammar lessons introduced in the section of the À
bord text book.
5. Les Œuvres d'art (offline)
Kiaei, Mahsa Sadat, Aleksandra Rado, Kaila Chan, Cabezade Revolver, Cey Hunsen, Nana Bakrie,
Gary Hija, Elif Eyl, Collin Reiff, and Aly Luy. Le Petit Prince. 2009-2015. Multiple.
www.lepetitprince.com, Online.
This collection of artwork inspired by Le Petit Prince was found on the website,
www.lepetitprince.com, and is a multimedia representation produced by fans of the book. Each of the
10 pieces was created by a different artist - some seasoned and some amateur, some adults and some
children. As the artwork will be printed and physically presented to students, I am considering it an
offline text.
I chose to put this collection of artwork in my text set for several reasons. Initially I just wanted
to include it because there are some incredibly insightful and unique interpretations that I never would
have thought up on my own. The pieces are done by fans from all over the world, as the book has been
interpreted in over 20 languages. The diversity of presentation is a wonderful way to expose students to
several points of view on the same subject. As I narrowed down the selection, I realized the activity
could become one that appeals to kinesthetic learners if I printed out the artwork and hung them,
having students walk around the room to identify their favorite piece. Finally, and most obviously, the
exercise would engage students who are visual learners and may even help them create their own
meaning in Le Petit Prince.
6. Biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (online)
D'Agay, Olivier. "Le Petit Prince » L’auteur." Le Petit Prince » L’auteur. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.lepetitprince.com/oeuvre/lauteur/#fancyboxID-3>.
This biography of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of Le Petit Prince, is an online text in
timeline format. Below the timeline of the author's life is a chronological list with subsequent summary
of each of his works. It is written in French with several photographs and images to enhance the
descriptions.
The format of this website and relative simplicity of the language make it a perfect text for
French III students. It is informational and very interesting, especially since Saint-Exupéry led such an
interesting life. He was a pilot in WWII and included themes of aviation in most of his works. This and
other pertinent information will be a good lead into reading Le Petit Prince. It is important for the class
to build a background on which to build throughout the course of the unit. The biography will also
allow them to understand the perspective of the author at the time of writing his most famous work.
7. l'Aviateur (online)
Saint-Exupery, Antoine De. "L'Aviateur." Trussel. Le Naivre D'Argent, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.trussel.com/saint-ex/navire.htm>.
This is a short story written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is an online version in French. The
story was written in 1926 and published in a French literary magazine called le Navire d'argent.
As the first published work of Saint-Exupéry, it is a quick, relatively easy read that would serve
as a great warm-up before diving into Le Petit Prince. The grammatical structure is simple and the
ideas are clearly expressed. Similarly to Vol de Nuit and the author's biography, it would make for a
great foundation of information for the students to gain better insight into the meanings and themes
expressed in Le Petit Prince, a more difficult and existential piece. As he has done in the majority of his
works, Saint-Exupéry writes about aviation and being a pilot in this short story. There is vocabulary
poignant to the unit.
8. The Little Prince film (online)
The Little Prince. Dir. Stanley Donen. By Antoine De Saint-Exupery. Adapt. Alan Jay Lerner. Perf.
Steven Warner, Richard Kiley, Gene Wilder. Paramount Pictures, 1974. Online. YouTube. Web. 6 Feb.
2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plybb8zn9c&list=PLyNzc9cbF4EUyuiNOgBB67I5APG_XuqSg>.
This film is an 88 minute interpretation of the book by Saint-Exupéry posted on YouTube. It is
mostly live action with some animation and was originally released in 1974 in the United States. It is a
fantasy musical appropriate for all ages with a G rating by the MPAA. The language in the film is
English and the cast is graced with talents such as Gene Wilder and Bob Fosse.
Although there are several film and tv interpretations of Le Petit Prince, the 1974 movie
directed by Stanley Donen is by far my favorite. It is something I watched as a little kid and still
consider to be one of the best movies in my collection. I find the acting and music included to be
engaging and imaginative with beautifully designed sets and cinematography. My visual and auditory
learners will be particularly excited to watch the film. As it is in English, I would probably have them
watch the movie at the end of the unit. It would be a great tool to have them gather their thoughts and
have a class discussion comparing similarities and differences from the book.
9a. Qui à le droit – music video (online)
Patrick Bruel. Qui a Le Droit. 1989. YouTube. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=MfRalwk3LOs>.
This video is a live performance of the song “Qui à le droit” by the songwriter, Patrick Bruel. It
was originally filmed in 1989 during the height of its popularity and was subsequently uploaded to
YouTube. The video is 4:44 long.
A number one hit in France in 1991, this song is a snapshot of French culture and history. It's a
beautiful melody and the lyrics are moving. The most prevalent theme of the song is the question “Who
has the right.” The singer is emphasizing the impact of lying to children, whether the lies are malicious
or not. In Le Petit Prince, this theme is also important and the connection would be a great discussion
topic for my students. Additionally, listening to and singing along with French music is a great way to
practice cadence and accent. I would have my students listen to the song in the language lab (if one is
available) or together in class which will appeal to my auditory and musical learners. The lyrics are
simple with grade level appropriate vocabulary. It's a lovely song and a wonderful addition to the
literary discussion of Le Petit Prince.
9b. Qui a le droit – lyrics (online)
Bruel, Patrick. "Qui a Le Droit." Google Play Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
<https://play.google.com/music/preview/T6neegszto2pnsc6yliivsh3t4i?
lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kplyrics>.
These lyrics accompany the previously cited music video by Patrick Bruel and are listed as an
online text.
In addition to watching the music video and listening to the music, I would have my students
examine the lyrics of “Qui à le droit.” There is vocabulary and sentence structure relevant to the rest of
the unit and, specifically, Le Petit Prince. As mentioned, there are themes that connect to SaintExupery's book making this text a great addition to the set. It will also allow for students who may not
be musical or auditory learners to enjoy the activity.
10a. Je te promets – music video (online)
Zaho. "Je Te Promets." YouTube. YouTube, 1 May 2009. Web. 14 Feb. 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6h3Z-wJvM>.
This music video is a dramatization of the ballad “Je te promets” written and sung by Zaho, a
French musician. The song was a hit in France and released in 2009. It is 4:13 long.
Again, including popular music is a great way to introduce French culture into the curriculum.
This particular song was released recently and will allow students to relate to their francophone peers.
The song is pretty and slow which will make it easier for French III students to understand the lyrics
and sing along. Most of the song is structured in the subjunctive which is perfect for the grammar
component of this unit. Hearing the subjunctive used in popular music and current speech will allow
students to see the connection to their own usage of the grammar and language.
10b. Je te promets – lyrics (online)
Zaho. ""Je Te Promets" Lyrics." ZAHO LYRICS. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/zaho/jetepromets.html>.
These lyrics accompany the previously cited music video by Zaho and are listed as an online
text.
As explained above, the subjunctive tense is prevalent throughout the lyrics of the song “Je te
promets.” The phrases are clear making them a great exercise in identifying the subjunctive and
understanding how they are used in practice. There is some vocabulary that the students may not have
heard and they always love to learn new slang. I think they will really enjoy analyzing these lyrics.
Again, having a visual to accompany the YouTube video will appeal to more learning styles.
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mahsa-Sadat-Kiaei.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Aleksandra-Radoji%C4%8Di%C4%87mali-princ-603x900.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/la_petit_prince__fishing_by_kaila_chan.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/le_petit_prince_by_cabezaderevolverd70qmjj-900x813.png
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/le_petit_prince_by_ceyhunsend5mp5mv.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/nana-bakrie-616x900.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Gary-Go-Sore-Hija.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Elif-Eyl%C3%BCl-675x900.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Collin-Reiff-900x567.jpg
http://www.lepetitprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Aly-Lyu.jpg