Billy Budd Lesson Plan

Understanding Allusions I

Kind of Activity:

Group Work

Objective:

Students gain an understanding of the many allusions Melville makes.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.6, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.10, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.1.A, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.B, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.2.D, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9

Structure:

Allusions appear in nearly every chapter of Billy Budd, but they are particularly frequent in chapters 6 – 10. To many students, these allusions are both confusing and unnecessary, references that seem to...