Active learning ideas
The concept of the 'self' is a central pillar of the H2 Literature 'Mind and Self' elective. This topic explores how literature reflects and shapes our understanding of identity, from the stable, unified self of earlier periods to the fragmented, postmodern identities of the 20th and 21st centuries. Students examine how memory, social roles, and internal consciousness contribute to a character's sense of who they are.
Activity 01
Groups create a large visual web for a protagonist, connecting internal traits, external influences (family, society), and key memories. They must use different colors to show which parts of the self are 'chosen' versus 'imposed' by others.
How do non-verbal elements contribute to dramatic meaning?
Activity 02
Students take a scene where a character is silent and write/perform the 'internal monologue' that might be happening. This helps them explore the gap between the public self and the private consciousness.
In what ways does spatial arrangement reflect power dynamics?
Activity 03
Stations feature excerpts from different literary periods (e.g., Romantic, Modernist, Post-colonial). Students rotate to identify how each era defines the 'self' and leave comments on the changing nature of identity over time.
How is tension sustained and released across a scene?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Identity is something a character is born with.
Literature often shows identity as a process of 'becoming' or a social performance. Active learning tasks that focus on character development over time help students see identity as dynamic rather than fixed.
The 'self' is always a single, coherent entity.
Many modern texts explore the 'fragmented self.' Using collage-style visual activities can help students represent and understand characters who have conflicting or multiple identities.
Methods used in this brief
Character Arc and Dramatic Conventions
Trace character development against the backdrop of established dramatic conventions and genres.
8 methodologies
Contextualizing the Play
Examine the historical, social, and cultural contexts that inform the play's themes and its reception by different audiences.
8 methodologies