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A 'Brief, Urgent Message': Theme in Slaughterhouse-Five

Classroom Resource Information

Title:

A 'Brief, Urgent Message': Theme in Slaughterhouse-Five

URL:

http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/brief-urgent-message-theme-1164.html?tab=1#tabs

Content Source:

ReadWriteThink

Type:

Lesson/Unit Plan

Overview:

In Slaughterhouse-Five, author Kurt Vonnegut describes Tralfamadorian literature as "brief, urgent message[s]—describing a situation, a scene"; when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep" (111-112). Students use this literary perspective to analyze passages from Slaughterhouse-Five and then apply that perspective by creating a compilation album, CD cover, and liner notes that demonstrate their interpretation, understanding, and evaluation of the themes and ideas in the novel.

Content Standard(s):

English Language Arts ELA2021 (2021) Grade: 9	R2. Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation. Examples: short and long prose texts, poetry, dramas Unpacked Content Teacher Vocabulary: R2. Literary texts Literal understanding Figurative understanding Text Purpose Situation Knowledge: R2. Students know: Necessary skills to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts. Strategies to analyze literary text to develop a literal and figurative understanding. Literary texts have different intended meanings depending on the genre, purpose, and situation. Skills: R2. Students are able to: Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts. Develop literal and figurative understanding of literary texts appropriate to the text, purpose, and situation. Understanding: R2. Students understand that: Literary texts can be understood on both a literal and figurative level.
English Language Arts ELA2021 (2021) Grade: 9	5. Analyze the impact of context and organizational structures on theme, tone, and the meaning of the work as a whole. Unpacked Content Teacher Vocabulary: 5. Context Organizational structure Tone Theme Knowledge: 5. Students know: The context and organizational structure of a text will impact the theme, tone, and meaning of the work. Strategies to identify the theme, tone, and meaning of written work. Skills: 5. Students are able to: Identify the theme, tone, and meaning of written work. Analyze the impact of context and organizational structure on the theme, tone, and meaning of written work. Understanding: 5. Students understand that: A text's context and structure can affect the tone, theme, and meaning of a work as a whole.
English Language Arts ELA2021 (2021) Grade: 10	5. Analyze context and organizational structures to determine theme, tone, and the meaning of the work as a whole. Unpacked Content Teacher Vocabulary: 5. Context Organizational structure Tone Theme Knowledge: 5. Students know: The context and organizational structure of a text will impact the theme, tone, and meaning of the work. Strategies to identify the theme, tone, and meaning of written work. Skills: 5. Students are able to: Identify the theme, tone, and meaning of written work. Analyze the impact of context and organizational structure on the theme, tone, and meaning of written work. Understanding: 5. Students understand that: A text's context and structure can affect the tone, theme, and meaning of a work as a whole.
English Language Arts ELA2021 (2021) Grade: 12	R2. Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts to develop a literal and figurative understanding as appropriate to the type of text, purpose, and situation. Examples: short and long prose texts, poetry, dramas Unpacked Content Teacher Vocabulary: R2. Literary texts Literal understanding Figurative understanding Text Purpose Situation Knowledge: R2. Students know: Necessary skills to read and comprehend a variety of literary texts. Strategies to analyze literary text to develop a literal and figurative understanding. Literary texts have different intended meanings depending on the genre, purpose, and situation. Skills: R2. Students are able to: Read and comprehend a variety of literary texts. Develop literal and figurative understanding of literary texts appropriate to the text, purpose, and situation. Understanding: R2. Students understand that: Literary texts can be understood on both a literal and figurative level.
English Language Arts ELA2021 (2021) Grade: 12	5. Evaluate structural and organizational details in texts to determine the author's purpose, including cases in which the meaning is ironic or satirical. Unpacked Content Teacher Vocabulary: 5. Evaluate Structural details Organizational details Purpose Ironic Satirical Knowledge: 5. Students know: Strategies to evaluate the structure and organization of various texts. Authors choose to write in different genres to support their purpose for writing. Skills: 5. Students are able to: Identify and evaluate structural and organizational details in texts from multiple genres. Determine how the genre of a text supports the author's purpose. Identify irony and satire in text. Understanding: 5. Students understand that: There are a variety of genres of text, and authors choose to write in a particular genre to support their purpose for writing. Different genres of text have different structures and organizations. Authors may choose to include implicit messages within their text, such as irony or satire.

Tags:

analyze, CD Cover, CD Creator, creativity, Kurt Vonnegut, literary perspective, SlaughterhouseFive

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Author:

Cassie Raulston

ALEX Classroom Resource

A 'Brief, Urgent Message': Theme in Slaughterhouse-Five