Lesson 8 | Beyond the Boundaries: Intersectionality, Nonconformity, and Female Friendship in Sula | 12th Grade English

Lesson Overview

Objective

Analyze the poem "Black Mother Woman" by Audre Lorde for messages about maternal love and the influence of mothers on their daughters.

Readings and Materials

Poem: “Black Mother Woman” by Audre Lorde

Lesson Notes

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Lesson Map

Lesson

Understand intersectionality and its importance.

Materials

“The urgency of intersectionality”

Standards

RI.11-12.2RI.11-12.4RI.11-12.6

Lesson

Gain background knowledge about Sula by exploring a text set on The Great Migration, Jim Crow laws in the North, urban renewal, African American service during WWI, and Toni Morrison's legacy.

Materials

“Visualizing the Great Migration”
“The Forgotten Northern Origins of Jim Crow”
“Urban renewal destroyed a Black neighborhood. Now, former residents are keeping its memory alive”
Renewing Inequality: Urban Renewal, Family Displacements, and Race 1950-1966
“African Americans and World War I | The Great War”
“Remembering Toni Morrison, An Iconic American Author | NYT News”
Are they equal in the eyes of the law?
Please let your light shine on me
“The Radical Vision of Toni Morrison”
Sula Background Knowledge Text Set Handout (G12, U3, L2)

Standards

RI.11-12.7SL.11-12.2

Lesson

Analyze the narrator's tone in the prologue of Sula.

Materials

Sula pp. 3–6 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Morrison uses diction and point of view to illustrate Shadrack's state of mind.

Materials

Sula pp. 7–16 — Part One
Language Sensitivity Analysis Handout (G12, U3, L4)

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze the impact of warfare in the poem "Facing It" and make connections to Sula.

Materials

“Facing It”

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze the impact of mothers on their daughters in Sula.

Materials

Sula pp. 17–29 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3

Lesson

Analyze how Morrison develops themes about motherhood in Sula.

Materials

Sula pp. 30–48 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze the poem "Black Mother Woman" by Audre Lorde for messages about maternal love and the influence of mothers on their daughters.

Materials

“Black Mother Woman”

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze Nel and Sula's friendship.

Materials

Sula pp. 49–57 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze the impact of Chicken Little's death on Nel and Sula.

Materials

Sula pp. 57–66 — Part One
Language Sensitivity Analysis Handout (G12, U3, L10)

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze themes about love or order in Sula.

Materials

Sula pp. 67–78 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Writing

Brainstorm a scene's vivid details for a vignette writing exercise.

Materials

Sula
Vignette Prompt and Criteria for Success (G12, U3)
Vignette Prewriting Graphic Organizer (G12, U3, L12)

Standards

RL.11-12.4W.11-12.3.dW.11-12.5

Lesson

Writing

Draft a vignette about a real or fictional moment using imagery and sensory details.

Materials

Vignette Prompt and Criteria for Success (G12, U3)

Standards

L.11-12.3W.11-12.10W.11-12.3.dW.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze the connection between identity and marriage.

Materials

Sula pp. 79–85 — Part One

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Analyze bell hooks's ideas about the importance of loving friendships and make connections to Sula.

Materials

All About Love pp. 133–138

Standards

RI.11-12.2

Lesson

Assessment

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic seminar about Part One of Sula by supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

Materials

Sula — Part One
Sentence Stems for Academic Discourse

Standards

SL.11-12.1.aSL.11-12.1.bSL.11-12.1.cSL.11-12.1.dSL.11-12.4

Lesson

Analyze the development of Sula's character and characters' reactions to Sula.

Materials

Sula pp. 89–104

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Morrison uses structure, point of view, and symbolism to convey Nel's state of mind.

Materials

Sula pp. 104–111 — Part Two

Standards

RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Morrison further develops Sula's character.

Materials

Sula — Part Two, pp. 112–125

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze how Morrison uses figurative language and symbolism to convey the impact of Ajax on Sula.

Materials

Sula — Part Two, pp. 125–137
Ajax's Impact on Sula Graphic Organizer (G12, U3, L20)

Standards

RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze themes about good and evil in Sula.

Materials

Sula — Part Two, pp. 138–149

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Analyze the impact of Sula's death on the townspeople and Shadrack.

Materials

Sula — Part Two, pp. 150–162

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.5

Lesson

Analyze how Morrison uses structure, tone, and symbolism to convey Nel's realizations.

Materials

Sula — Part Two, pp. 163–174

Standards

RL.11-12.2RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.4RL.11-12.5RL.11-12.6

Lesson

Assessment

Performance Task

Engage in a discussion about a character's ways of seeing the world, actions and choices, as well as their role within the novel.

Materials

Sula
Character Analysis Collaborative Conversation Graphic Organizer (G12, U3, L24)
Literary Analysis Writing Rubric (G12, U3)

Standards

RL.11-12.1RL.11-12.3RL.11-12.6SL.11-12.1SL.11-12.1.aSL.11-12.1.bSL.11-12.1.cSL.11-12.6W.11-12.1W.11-12.9

Lesson

Assessment

Performance Task

Write a strong thesis statement that demonstrates a deep understanding of a character from Sula and outline body paragraphs needed to support the thesis statement.

Materials