ALEX Classroom Resource

  

The Constructed Languages of JRR Tolkien | It's Lit!

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

 The Constructed Languages of JRR Tolkien | It's Lit!

URL:

 https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/the-constructed-languages-of-jrr-tolkien-video/its-lit-season-2/

Content Source:

 PBS
Type: Audio/Video

Overview:

Do you speak Elvish? How about Klingon? Learn about the history of constructed language in literature in this video from It’s Lit! Tolkien is widely regarded as the most influential author of the fantasy genre… period. But one of the less-discussed aspects of his work is the way Tolkien used constructed language in his writing. Nowadays authors are constantly making up words and languages for the worlds they build, but Tolkien was unique in that he constructed languages first, and then created worlds so his fictional languages would have somewhere to live. Support materials include discussion questions, a “construct your own language” activity, and resources on how to learn Elvish.

Students will examine sentence structure and context to create a language. Students will also examine how Tolkien's cultural perspective influenced the languages he created.

Content Standard(s):
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 6
3. Explain how authors use setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view to contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
3.
  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Characters
  • Theme
  • Conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Point of view
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Textual evidence
Knowledge:
3. Students know:
  • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and drive the plot.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.
  • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.
Skills:
3. Students are able to:
  • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view in prose and poetry.
  • Explain how literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry.
  • Support their explanations of literary elements with textual evidence.
Understanding:
3. Students understand that:
  • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
  • Literary elements contribute to the meaning of poetry and prose.
  • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 7
3. Explain how the author's choice of setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry, using textual evidence from the writing.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
3.
  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Characters
  • Theme
  • Conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Point of view
  • Author's purpose
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Textual evidence
Knowledge:
3. Students know:
  • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and/or enhance the meaning of the text.
  • An author's use of literary elements can indicate the author's purpose for writing the text.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.
  • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.
Skills:
3. Students are able to:
  • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view in prose and poetry.
  • Explain how literary elements contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of prose and poetry.
  • Support their explanations of literary elements with textual evidence.
Understanding:
3. Students understand that:
  • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
  • Literary elements contribute to and/or enhance the meaning and purpose of poetry and prose.
  • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 8
3. Analyze how authors use key literary elements, including setting, plot, theme, characters, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view, to contribute to the meaning and purpose of a text, using text evidence as support.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
3.
  • Literary elements
  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Theme
  • Characters
  • Internal conflict
  • External conflict
  • Dialogue
  • Points of view
  • Text evidence
Knowledge:
3. Students know:
  • Authors of prose and poetry use literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view, throughout a text to develop and/or enhance the meaning of the text.
  • An author's use of literary elements can indicate the author's purpose for writing the text.
  • Analysis of a text should be supported with text evidence from the writing.
Skills:
3. Students are able to:
  • Identify the setting, plot, characters, theme, internal and external conflict, dialogue, and point of view in literary text.
  • Analyze how literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of literary text.
  • Support their analysis of literary elements with textual evidence.
Understanding:
3. Students understand that:
  • Prose and poetry contain common literary elements, such as setting, plot, characters, theme, conflict, dialogue, and point of view.
  • Literary elements contribute to the meaning and purpose of literary text.
  • When they analyze a text, they should include text evidence to support their claims.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 9
4. Analyze how authors use characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning in a variety of texts.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
4.
  • Characterization
  • Connotation
  • Denotation
  • Figurative language
  • Literary elements
  • Point of view
Knowledge:
4. Students know:
  • Authors choose to write from a particular point of view and use specific literary elements and vocabulary words to convey their intended meaning.
Skills:
4. Students are able to:
  • Identify characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view in a variety of texts.
  • Analyze how characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view creates and conveys meaning in a variety of texts.
Understanding:
4. Students understand that:
  • Authors select particular literary elements and devices to create and convey meaning within their written work.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 10
4. Interpret an author's use of characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning in a variety of texts.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
4.
  • Characterization
  • Connotation
  • Denotation
  • Figurative language
  • Literary elements
  • Point of view
Knowledge:
4. Students know:
  • Authors choose to write from a particular point of view and use specific literary elements and vocabulary words to convey their intended meaning.
Skills:
4. Students are able to:
  • Identify characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view in a variety of texts.
  • Interpret how characterization, connotation, denotation, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view creates and conveys meaning in a variety of texts.
Understanding:
4. Students understand that:
  • Authors select particular literary elements and devices to create and convey meaning within their written work.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 11
4. Analyze how an author uses characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
4.
  • Analyze
  • Characterization
  • Figurative language
  • Literary elements
  • Point of view
  • Create
  • Convey
Knowledge:
4. Students know:
  • Authors choose to write from a particular point of view and use specific literary elements and vocabulary words to convey their intended meaning.
  • Methods to analyze characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view.
Skills:
4. Students are able to:
  • Identify characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view in a variety of texts.
  • Analyze how characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view creates and conveys meaning in a variety of texts.
Understanding:
4. Students understand that:
  • Authors select particular literary elements and devices to create and convey meaning within their written work.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 12
4. Evaluate an author's use of characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view to create and convey meaning.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
4.
  • Evaluate
  • Characterization
  • Figurative language
  • Literary elements
  • Point of view
  • Create
  • Convey
Knowledge:
4. Students know:
  • Authors choose to write from a particular point of view and use specific literary elements and vocabulary words to convey their intended meaning.
  • Methods to evaluate characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view.
Skills:
4. Students are able to:
  • Identify characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view in a variety of texts.
  • Evaluate how characterization, figurative language, literary elements, and point of view creates and conveys meaning in a variety of texts.
Understanding:
4. Students understand that:
  • Authors select particular literary elements and devices to create and convey meaning within their written work.
Tags: British, grammar, Language, sentence structure, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien
License Type: Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#restrictions
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses
AccessibilityVideo resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
Comments

Handouts and materials associated with this resource can be found to the right of the video under the heading, "Support Materials for Use with Students".

  This resource provided by:  
Author: Jessica Byrd
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