LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

English IV

Goal 5: The learner will deepen understanding of British literature through exploration and extended engagement.

Objective 5.02. Extend engagement with selected works of British literature by:
- observing how the imaginative experience of literature broadens and enriches real life.
- relating style, meaning, and genre (including fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry).
- applying literary, grammatical, and rhetorical terms of literature.
- demonstrating in various print and non-print media the significance of works.
-discerning the effect of interpreting literature from various critical perspectives.

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

The Trial of Hamlet
In this lesson students have the chance to research courtroom procedure to try Hamlet for the murder of Polonius. Then, with some students in the roles of characters from the play, the class will conduct the trial of Shakespeare's most famous anti-hero.
Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 English Language Arts)
By Ross White.
Teaching "style"
This exercise works best as a review at the mid-point or end of a literature course. Paired students describe the style of ten authors ranging from "ornate" to "plain," and then compare the authors' styles through a designated series of metaphors.
Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 English Language Arts)
By Charlotte Osterman.
"Sonnet 130": Rude or reality?
This lesson focuses on Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130." It contains a copy of the sonnet, questions to use when discussing and analyzing the sonnet, and a creative component. This lesson has modifications for Novice Low Limited English Proficient students
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and English Language Development)
By Elizabeth Mackie and Vicki Moats.
Listen to a poem
Use the poems "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" and "Sea Fever" to teach the poetic devices of rhythm, meter and scansion.
Format: lesson plan (grade 12 English Language Arts)
The hero connection: From Beowulf to Batman
After reading Beowulf,students will identify Beowulf's heroic traits, generalize from these traits a list of typical traits for heroes, and then use these traits to compare Beowulf with contemporary heroes. As a culminating activity, students will define their concept of hero and then create a booklet of personal heroes from various areas.
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
By Hilda Caldwell.

Resources on the web

Poetry: Sound and sense
In this lesson, students read and evaluate language usage in poetry and write original poems based on the activity. Students will: Use the "question the author" strategy when reading poems to help understand the author's meaning, language,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
An introduction to “Beowulf”: Language and poetics
Students are introduced to the language and poetic devices found in Old English in this study of the epic poem Beowulf. The lesson introduces students to the poem’s original Old English form and explains the relationship... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
"Hamlet" and the Elizabethan revenge ethic in text and film
This EDSITEment lesson contains a set of five activities for students to explore the themes of honor, loyalty, and revenge in selected scenes from Hamlet. These activities involve literary analysis of the text, discussions of characterization... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 12 English Language Arts)
Provided by: EDSITEment