Death and the Maiden Lesson Plan

Understanding Schubert

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

To explore the music underlying the play’s title; to relate the meaning of the music to the events of the play

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1

Structure:

Play for the class the second movement of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rB7-JYMrWE), which gave the name to the entire quartet. While it plays, ask them to jot down any emotions it makes them feel. Ask them to imagine they are Paulina and listening to it while in captivity or after having been released. How would it make her feel? Allow students to listen for the entire duration of the...