The Namesake Lesson Plan

The Overcoat

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Students will be able to explore the impact of one literary work on another

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.5; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.7

Structure:

Students should read Nikolai Gogol's short story "The Overcoat" for homework prior to this activity.

Discuss the story as a class. Begin by asking one of the following questions:

• Why does Lahiri make this particular story so significant to her novel?
• Why is the story so important to Ashoke—how does his preference reflect who he is as a character?
• What do you think Gogol will think of the story?
• How does the phrase that Ashoke shared with...