Lesson Plan-World Literature
The Other
Jean Arasanayagam (poem)
Charles Rutnam(film director)
On the Sri Lankan Civil War
ü Use Jean Arasanayagam poem (Apocalypse) with Charles Rutnam’s film clips (Road from Elephant Pass)
ü Use Jean Arasanayagam poem (Apocalypse) with Charles Rutnam’s film clips (Road from Elephant Pass)
ü Arasanayagam’s poem-perspective of the voiceless and powerless
ü Arasanayagam’s poem-perspective of the voiceless and powerless
ü Rutnam’s film-perspective of two enemy combatants
ü Rutnam’s film-perspective of two enemy combatants
Lesson Flow
ü -Remind students that they have read and critically analysed the Sri Lankan Civil War in Secondary Three. Show students the Notes on Chapter 4 from their textbooks on Social Studies (Annex 1 ). Show students the article by the BBC (Annex 2)
ü -Remind students that they have read and critically analysed the Sri Lankan Civil War in Secondary Three. Show students the Notes on Chapter 4 from their textbooks on Social Studies (Annex 1 ). Show students the article by the BBC (Annex 2)
ü -Read Arasanayagam’s poem Apocalypse
ü -Read Arasanayagam’s poem Apocalypse
ü -Discuss the following questions based on the poem:
ü -Discuss the following questions based on the poem:
1. Why is the title Apocalypse?
1. Why is the title Apocalypse?
2. How does Arasanayagam depict the apocalyptic landscape? Why use this imagery? How effective is this imagery to discuss issues related to ethnic violence? (use of literary devices)
2. How does Arasanayagam depict the apocalyptic landscape? Why use this imagery? How effective is this imagery to discuss issues related to ethnic violence? (use of literary devices)
3. How does Arasanayagam portray the civil war in Sri Lanka? (use of literary devices to present certain themes)
3. How does Arasanayagam portray the civil war in Sri Lanka? (use of literary devices to present certain themes)
4. What does Arasanayagam mean when she writes ‘…Who know not nor will ever know Each other’s histories…? (Thematic analysis)
4. What does Arasanayagam mean when she writes ‘…Who know not nor will ever know Each other’s histories…? (Thematic analysis)
5. Why does the poet say ‘Even the guilty now absolved…become saints.’?(Thematic Analysis)
5. Why does the poet say ‘Even the guilty now absolved…become saints.’?(Thematic Analysis)
6. How does this poem show suffering?(Thematic analysis)
6. How does this poem show suffering?(Thematic analysis)
Taking Perspectives
ü -After reading and analysing Arasanayagam’s poem, through the viewing of two film clips on the Sri Lankan Civil War, students are introduced to the two warring parties perspectives
ü -After reading and analysing Arasanayagam’s poem, through the viewing of two film clips on the Sri Lankan Civil War, students are introduced to the two warring parties perspectives
ü -This will help students to understand and empathise with both ethnic groups perspectives; important if students are to understand that in every conflict there are two sides to the issue
ü -This will help students to understand and empathise with both ethnic groups perspectives; important if students are to understand that in every conflict there are two sides to the issue
ü -Watch two clips on Charles Rutnam’s “Road From Elephant Pass”
ü -Watch two clips on Charles Rutnam’s “Road From Elephant Pass”
Synopsis
The story is set against the backdrop of the 30 year old bloody ethnic war in Sri Lanka.
The story is set against the backdrop of the 30 year old bloody ethnic war in Sri Lanka.
A Sri Lankan Army Officer’s routine assignment to pick up a woman informant near Jaffna turns into a nightmare when the LTTE – Liberation of Tamil tigers (commonly referred to as the ‘tigers’) launch a massive attack on the peninsula and the camp at Elephant Pass in the year 2000.
A Sri Lankan Army Officer’s routine assignment to pick up a woman informant near Jaffna turns into a nightmare when the LTTE – Liberation of Tamil tigers (commonly referred to as the ‘tigers’) launch a massive attack on the peninsula and the camp at Elephant Pass in the year 2000.
URL of Film Clip
URL of Film Clip
http://www.lankachannels.info/sinhala-movie-film/alimankada-the-road-from-elephant-pass-video_6b16cf69b.html
http://www.lankachannels.info/sinhala-movie-film/alimankada-the-road-from-elephant-pass-video_6b16cf69b.html
-Part 1 of youtube clip: 01.10-05.55, 41.26 till end
-Part 1 of youtube clip: 01.10-05.55, 41.26 till end
-Part 2 of youtube clip: 00.30-04.49
-Part 2 of youtube clip: 00.30-04.49
Film Analysis
Film Analysis
Questions:
Questions:
1. What are the roots of the conflict? (connection across genres)
1. What are the roots of the conflict? (connection across genres)
2. How similar and how different are both Kamala’s and the captain’s perspective on the civil war?(connection across characters)
2. How similar and how different are both Kamala’s and the captain’s perspective on the civil war?(connection across characters)
Questions on recognising the perspective of the Other (World Literature Classroom)
1. How does the poem and the film recognise the other as equally human and deserving of the same fundamental rights to peace and security as citizens of a peaceful nation have? (connection across space)
1. How does the poem and the film recognise the other as equally human and deserving of the same fundamental rights to peace and security as citizens of a peaceful nation have? (connection across space)
2. Does one have an inherent, original right to one’s own land? What is your basis of declaring sovereignty over your land? Did you will yourself to be born here?
2. Does one have an inherent, original right to one’s own land? What is your basis of declaring sovereignty over your land? Did you will yourself to be born here?