Dawn Lesson Plan

Why do so many newly Awakened people refuse to believe they are really on an alien spaceship? What other adverse reactions do people have to their unfamiliar surroundings and to what Lilith tells them about the Oankali and their situation? What purpose do these reactions serve?

Students may explore what a strategy of denial allows the newly Awakened people to avoid facing, or what more challenging emotions are being avoided (i.e., fear, vulnerability, confusion, chaos, craziness) when people express anger and hostility. Alternatively, they might reflect on the example of Celene, who is paralyzed by anxiety and suicidal depression and ultimately relies on Curt to feel...