Pale Fire Lesson Plan

King Charles's Shadow

Kind of Activity:

Individual Writing

Objective:

Students will write a brief scene from a different character's point-of-view

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.B

Structure:

Of the three main characters, we spend the least amount of time with Gradus, the Zemblan assassin. Of course, we may question whether Gradus actually exists, given how unreliable Kinbote proves to be as a narrator. For the purposes of this exercise, however, let us assume that Gradus is a real person intent on killing the king of Zembla.

Students will write a brief "chapter" from one portion of Gradus's journey from Zembla to New Wye, from his own...