Mahasweta Devi: Short Stories Lesson Plan

Caste, market, and voice

Kind of Activity:

Role Play

Objective:

Students will explore the Hindu caste system in “Breast-giver” and the possibilities and limitations it imposes on an individual’s life.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.6

Structure:

To begin the activity, students may participate in a classwide discussion about the Hindu caste system in India as depicted in Mahasweta Devi’s work. Prompts might include:

-Compare how the caste system...