Literary Analysis Lesson Plans

Eighth graders read the poem "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop and complete poetry activities. In this poetry lesson, 8th graders discuss the poet and her life. Students read the poem and review similes and metaphors. Students use the SWBAT method to analyze the poems and complete questions for the poem.

Students analyze and respond to literary elements in the story, Little Red Riding Hood. They focus on the narrator and his point of view. Additionally, students watch Hoodwinked, which is the Little Red Riding Hood story told from all the characters points of view. Students compare and contrast the variety of points of view presented.

Students analyze writings by Benjamin Franklin. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students discover the pseudonyms under which Franklin used to write. Students compare and contrast 2 selections by Franklin.

Students analyze a book they are reading by holding a Socratic discussion with their classmates.  In this reading comprehension lesson, students create a live blog online in which they can give their opinions and insights into the assigned book they're reading.  Students utilize podcast software to record their oral reports and present it to their classmates.

Young scholars write their own poem about their own values and beliefs toward the environment. In groups, they analyze and interpret their classmate's poems to discover its meaning. They also participate in a think-pair-share activity to end the lesson plan.

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this World War II lesson plan, students analyze photographs, records, diaries, letters, newspapers, and other historic accounts of the Holocaust. Students prepare classroom presentations that feature their impressions of hatred and discrimination.

Students explore and analyze a wide variety of Latin American literature and contemporary writers from Latin America. They embrace the history and cultures of the different countries represented. Each student either makes a presentation of a country's historical profile or an author's profile.

Learners view various pieces of art and sculptures which demonstrates people who are marginalized and invisible. While viewing the art, they are read excerpts of different pieces of literature in which they determine why the author or artists wrote or created for what purpose. To end the instructional activity, they choose one group in America they feel has been invisible and create their own piece of art.

Ninth graders examine how literature connects to real-life and see how irony aids in the development of theme. They read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and discuss elements of foreshadowing and situational irony. Then learners will write a composition explaining how the author uses irony to develop the theme. Next, the class will study a biography of Anne Hutchinson and relate this historical figure to the character Tess Hutchinson through writing a comparative analysis. 

Third graders write a formal letter to an author. For this expansive writing lesson, 3rd graders write a formal letter to an author suggesting an alternate ending for a story the author has written. This lesson requires students to know how to write a formal letter, as well as requiring them to be able to analyze a story.