On September 5, 1936, James Joyce sent his 4-year-old grandson, Stephen, a story that he had made up about the cats of Copenhagen, Denmark. The story was posthumously published and illustrated. It takes on the style of a modernist Aesop's fable. Aesop was a slave and storyteller from Ancient Greece who was credited with telling easily understood -- almost childish -- stories featuring animals that had real life lessons embedded in them.
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This short story was preceded in August by the gift of a faux cat stuffed with sweets that would get passed the adults like a Trojan Horse.
"The Cats of Copenhagen" was also a Trojan Horse of sorts. Discretely hidden in the subtext of this short children's story was a deeper message about authority and free will.
"The Cats of Copenhagen" was also a Trojan Horse of sorts. Discretely hidden in the subtext of this short children's story was a deeper message about authority and free will.
Assignment:
Part I) Analyze what Joyce could be alluding to in his symbolic and deceptively simple short story. What is Joyce attempting to teach his grandson, Stephen, about authority and free will? What is the likely motive as well as effect of Joyce's decision to write these observations and lessons in this particular format? This should take the form of a short paper utilizing textual evidence from "The Cats of Copenhagen."
Part II) Write your own version of "The Cats of Copenhagen" in an Aesop's fable manner. Consider a life lesson you would like to teach others. Consider an animal (or animals) that would symbolically fit the roles they play in your story. Write it out like a modernist fable in your own words. This should be between one and three pages long. At the end, include a brief analysis of your life lesson as well as choices in characters, style, and plot that allowed the reader to comprehend it.
Part III) Research some of the issues happening either in your own country or others regarding abuse or corruption of authority. This could be in the realm of politics, policing, or any other aspect of authority in your society. Explain how Joyce's "The Cats of Copenhagen" relates to, informs on, and advises handling the issue you have researched. (You may agree or disagree with Joyce.)
Part I) Analyze what Joyce could be alluding to in his symbolic and deceptively simple short story. What is Joyce attempting to teach his grandson, Stephen, about authority and free will? What is the likely motive as well as effect of Joyce's decision to write these observations and lessons in this particular format? This should take the form of a short paper utilizing textual evidence from "The Cats of Copenhagen."
Part II) Write your own version of "The Cats of Copenhagen" in an Aesop's fable manner. Consider a life lesson you would like to teach others. Consider an animal (or animals) that would symbolically fit the roles they play in your story. Write it out like a modernist fable in your own words. This should be between one and three pages long. At the end, include a brief analysis of your life lesson as well as choices in characters, style, and plot that allowed the reader to comprehend it.
Part III) Research some of the issues happening either in your own country or others regarding abuse or corruption of authority. This could be in the realm of politics, policing, or any other aspect of authority in your society. Explain how Joyce's "The Cats of Copenhagen" relates to, informs on, and advises handling the issue you have researched. (You may agree or disagree with Joyce.)
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To download the full assignment with the story and directions, click the file to the right.
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Time Frame:
2-3 days
Standards:
Part I) ELA.10.R.1.1, ELA.10.R.1.2, ELA.10.R.2.1, ELA.10.R.3.1, ELA.10.R.3.2, ELA.10.R.3.3 (if Aesop's fables are included in the lesson), ELA.10.R.3.4
Part II) ELA.10.C.1.2, ELA.10.C.1.5, ELA.10.C.3.1, ELA.10.V.1.1, ELA.10.V.1.2, ELA.10.V.1.3
Part III) ELA.10.C.1.4, ELA.10.C.1.5, ELA.10.C.3.1, ELA.10.V.1.1, ELA.10.V.1.2, ELA.10.V.1.3, ELA.10.C.4.1
2-3 days
Standards:
Part I) ELA.10.R.1.1, ELA.10.R.1.2, ELA.10.R.2.1, ELA.10.R.3.1, ELA.10.R.3.2, ELA.10.R.3.3 (if Aesop's fables are included in the lesson), ELA.10.R.3.4
Part II) ELA.10.C.1.2, ELA.10.C.1.5, ELA.10.C.3.1, ELA.10.V.1.1, ELA.10.V.1.2, ELA.10.V.1.3
Part III) ELA.10.C.1.4, ELA.10.C.1.5, ELA.10.C.3.1, ELA.10.V.1.1, ELA.10.V.1.2, ELA.10.V.1.3, ELA.10.C.4.1
