Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024
Death and the King's Horseman by Wole Soyinka
Subject: Drama, World Literature (African Literature) Grade Level: 11-12 (due to mature themes and complex language) Time Allotment: This lesson plan is designed for a unit of 3-4 weeks, with reading assignments, class discussions, and activities.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will analyze the play's exploration of themes like tradition, colonialism, duty, and mortality.
- Students will develop an understanding of Yoruba culture and its significance in the play.
- Students will appreciate the use of dramatic devices (symbolism, character foils, chorus) by Soyinka.
- Students will engage in critical discussions about the play's relevance to contemporary issues.
Materials:
- Copies of "Death and the King's Horseman" by Wole Soyinka
- Whiteboard/Projector
- Markers/Pens
- Chart paper
- Handouts with discussion prompts/analysis worksheets (including a map of Nigeria)
- Access to online resources about Yoruba culture (optional)
Lesson Outline:
Week 1: Introduction & Setting the Stage
- Introduction (Day 1):
✵ Introduce Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Prize-winning playwright, and his context as a Nigerian writer.
✵ Briefly discuss the play's historical setting (colonial Nigeria) and the significance of the Elesin.
✵ Class discussion: What are some potential conflicts that might arise when tradition clashes with modernity?
- Yoruba Culture & Themes (Day 2-3):
✵ Students read the opening scenes, focusing on the introduction of characters and the upcoming ritual.
✵ Class discussion: Introduce key elements of Yoruba culture (ancestor veneration, the concept of "Ori," praise singing).
✵ Analyze the play's early themes: tradition, duty, and the role of the king's horseman.
✵ (Optional Activity) Research and present on a specific aspect of Yoruba culture relevant to the play.
Week 2: Dramatic Devices & Character Analysis
- Symbolism & The Chorus (Day 4-5):
✵ Students delve deeper into Act I, focusing on the use of symbolism (pilgrim staff, the drumming).
✵ Analyze the role of the chorus as commentators and carriers of tradition.
✵ Class discussion: How does Soyinka utilize symbolism to convey meaning?
✵ What is the function of the chorus in the play?
- Elesin & Olunde: Character Foils (Day 6-7):
✵ Students read through Act II, focusing on the contrasting characters of Elesin and his son, Olunde.
✵ Class discussion: Identify how Elesin and Olunde represent different perspectives on tradition.
✵ Analyze them as foils, highlighting their motivations and actions.
Week 3: Conflict & The Cost of Tradition
- The Arrival of Simon Pilkings & Jane (Day 8-9):
✵ Students explore the arrival of the British District Officer and his wife, representing colonial presence.
✵ Class discussion: How does Pilkings' intervention disrupt the play's events?
✵ Analyze the tension between upholding tradition and the influence of colonialism.
- Choices & Consequences (Day 10-11):
✵ Students read through Acts III and IV, focusing on Elesin's internal conflict and tragic choices.
✵ Class discussion: Analyze the ethical dilemma faced by Elesin.
✵ Explore the concept of tragic flaw and its role in the play's climax.
Week 4 (Optional):
- Open Ending & Contemporary Relevance (Day 12-13):
✵ Discuss the play's ambiguous ending and its different interpretations.
✵ Class discussion: How does the play remain relevant to contemporary issues like cultural identity and social change?
✵ What wider themes about duty, mortality, and societal expectations can be drawn from the play?
- Performance & Visual Representation (Day 14):
✵ (Optional) Research and discuss different theatrical productions of "Death and the King's Horseman."
✵ Create a storyboard depicting key scenes or characters from the play.
Assessment:
- Class participation in discussions and presentations
- Written assignments analyzing themes, characters, and dramatic devices
- In-class essays or creative writing pieces inspired by the play
- Optional: Research paper on a specific aspect of Yoruba culture
Differentiation:
- Provide scaffolding for struggling readers by offering summaries of complex passages or annotated scripts.
- Challenge advanced students with research on the historical context of colonialism in Nigeria.