Id, ego, and superego in Dr. Seuss's “Cat in the Hat”
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=800
A lesson plan for grade 9 English Language Arts
In this lesson, The Cat in the Hat is used as a primer to teach students how to analyze a literary work using the literary tools of plot, theme, characterization, and psychoanalytical criticism. After a read-aloud of children’s book, students work in groups to discuss the setting, plot, characters, and conflict in the story. Then students diagram the plot structure of the text using a graphic organizer or an online interactive tool. Once the teacher has introduced the concept of theme, students work in groups to evaluate the theme of the story. Students then read an introduction to psychoanalytic criticism and, using examples from literature, the teacher explains the id, ego, and superego. When students understand the concept, they identify these parts in the text and discuss the use of id, ego, and superego to determine each character’s psychological personality. After the class is familiar with id, ego, and superego, students complete a three-part Venn diagram comparing those characters they have identified. Students participate in a variety of activities exploring the author’s methods of characterization and then use this information to develop an argument about the role that one of the characters plays in the story. Once students have written, revised, and finalized their essay analyzing the characters from the story, they submit their work for assessment. Readwritethink provides several helpful print and web resources for evaluating characterization, plot, and psychoanalytical criticism. This lesson plan also suggests extension activities and provides links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 9
- Goal 5: The learner will demonstrate understanding of various literary genres, concepts, elements, and terms.
- Objective 5.01: Read and analyze various literary works by:
- using effective reading strategies for preparation, engagement, reflection.
- recognizing and analyzing the characteristics of literary genres, including fiction (e.g., myths, legends, short stories, novels), non-fiction (e.g., essays, biographies, autobiographies, historical documents), poetry (e.g., epics, sonnets, lyric poetry, ballads) and drama (e.g., tragedy, comedy).
- interpreting literary devices such as allusion, symbolism, figurative language, flashback, dramatic irony, dialogue, diction, and imagery.
- understanding the importance of tone, mood, diction, and style.
- explaining and interpreting archetypal characters, themes, settings.
- explaining how point of view is developed and its effect on literary texts.
- determining a character's traits from his/her actions, speech, appearance, or what others say about him or her.
- explaining how the writer creates character, setting, motif, theme, and other elements.
- making thematic connections among literary texts and media and contemporary issues.
- understanding the importance of cultural and historical impact on literary texts.
- producing creative responses that follow the conventions of a specific genre and using appropriate literary devices for that genre.
- Objective 5.01: Read and analyze various literary works by:
