IntroDUction to LIterature II

What is the Earliest Story you remember?

Write Away:
what is A recent book that changed the way you thought about something?

Why is it important to question our assumptions and seek multiple perspectives?

Central Questions

• Why is it important to question the story?
• How are social Hierarchies reflected in literature?
• What is the Danger of a single Story?

Write Away

• Write your name in the center of a page. Then, make five "identity bubbles" around it. In each, write an aspect of yourself that is important in defining who you are.

Now, think of a common assumption associated with one or more of those identity affiliations.

For example: woman, left-hander, runner, vegetarian, mother, teacher, Vermonter

Examples: Vermonters live on farms, women are lousy drivers, left-handers are creative...

The Danger of a Single Story

• Our lives are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

Chimamanda Ngozi

• Ted Talk: The Danger of a single Story

"The single story creates __(1)___s, and the problem with s is not that they are untrue, but that they are (2) . They make one story become the (3) story."

"The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story."

"The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal (4) difficult. It emphasizes how we are (5) rather than how we are (6) ."

"The consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar."

"What if my mother had told us that Fide's family was both (7) and (8)?"

"What if my mother had told us that Fide's family was both poor and hardworking?"

I am BOTH A woman And a Good driver

"Both And"
I am Both a vegetarian and A loveR Of the smell of bacon

"Both And"
I am Both a Soccer mom and a hater of minivans

Now it's your turn:
"I am BOTH... and... _"
(3)

How might we begin to reject "the single story" in our lives to regain Ngozi's so-called "paradise"?

Examples of single stories in your personal life, education, media, news, history?

Now it's your turn:
"I am BOTH... and... _"
(3)

When was a time you discovered There was another side to a story?

What made you realize there was more to the story?
How did your opinion change once you knew the other side?
What would have happened if you hadn’t found out the other side?
Whose perspective was missing at first?
How did you feel when you learned the full story?

How do you think power shapes the stories we hear?

Who usually gets to tell the story in history? In the news? In your family?

Can you think of a time when someone with less power wasn’t heard?
What happens when a powerful person tells a story versus when someone without power tells it?
”

What (Learning Goal):
We will explore how different perspectives and power dynamics shape the stories we hear by discussing multiple viewpoints of familiar narratives.
Why (Rationale):
This matters because when we recognize how power influences storytelling, we become more critical thinkers and can appreciate multiple sides of a story.
How (Success Criteria):
We will know we’re successful when we learn terms and engage in a discussion that questions a traditional narrative from a new angle.

Check out "Reading Against the grain" terms and Definitions

How can we "read against the grain"?

Example: Cinderella

"The dominant reading of Cinderella presents an ideal image of romantic love that survives against the odds. The prevailing message of this story encourages readers to believe that dreams can come true."

"A resistant reading: Prince is a shallow man who judges women solely on the basis of physical attractiveness. A man who will marry a woman on the basis of a few hours of dancing is likely to leave Cinderella if someone with daintier feet comes along".

"The story also represents a woman's physical appearance as a commodity for her to use to gain social status and wealth.

Further, Cinderella's only hope to escape the shackles of domestic bondage relies on her ability to seduce and ensnare a man.

How About a Counter Story? Robert Munch's Paper Bag Princess:

Write Away:
31-40: Goals and Anticipations:
What are you striving for? What are you looking forward to?

"Single Stories"?

America is the land of...

opportunity
plenty
Equality
freedom
upward mobility
"The american Dream"

but, it is also...

Radiolab: Busting the myth of poverty in America

Write Away

• Reflect on the Radiolab podcast: something new you found interesting. A question it left you wondering

Discuss with a "mystery Partner": Save the last word

Respond to your own question...

One takeaway

identify forms of power and privilege in your novel

how might you "read against the grain"?

Write Away

• Why is it important to separate cultural myth from reality?

myth-busting project:
Identify a cultural myth, then try to "bust it" with facts

Choose one of your "stock Stories" to Question

Write away

• 1. "People might assume that if X then Y, but...(example, fact, possibility)"
• 2. Hashtag (optional)

Ex: People might assume that if a dog is a pitbull, then it must be aggressive.

but, it is important to consider the role environment plays in shaping a dog's temperament

hashtag treatyourpuppyright
hashtag
meanownersmakemeandogs
#

Choose one of your "stock Stories" to Question

Write two questions worth asking

Find an image (or 2) that shows the stock story

Find an image (or 2) that shows it is NOT always true
(a concealed story)

Choose one of your "Concealed STORY" IMAGES: What does it show? (fact) Why does it matter? (Analyze, connect to the Stock story)

MYTH-BUSTING PROJECT:

• Choose One Stock story (cultural myth/stereotype)
• 2 images to represent it w/ explanations
• Questions worth asking
• Identify concealed stories (1-2)
• 2 images to represent it w/ explanations
• IMagine or find a counter story (The ideal)

Nuts and Bolts:

• Title page with category, stock story and names
• cite source
• proofread
• plan talking

Write Away:
Using 1 of your "concealed story" images, write from the POV of someone who defies the stereotype. What does s/he want others to understand?

today:
Group Goal:
a cohesive, informative, well-researched, slideshow

Checklist

• STOCK STORY: have we identified a cultural assumption?
• CONCEALED STORY: Do we explain what it gets wrong?
• COUNTER STORY: Have we suggested how the artifact could be changed to Right that wrong?

Write Away:
Choose a line from Your book. THen, use it to jumpstart some of your own creative writing.

Write Away

• List of 100: 51-60
• Gratitude: What in your life, large or small, are you grateful for?

Today

• "Busting Poverty Myths" debrief
• Question the story/ Myth-busting project

Write Away:
Question the Story Project:
Feeling good about...
Wondering about...
A goal...