Comedy, Taming, and Desirability in The Taming of the Shrew

Lesson 3
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ELA

Unit 17

9th Grade

Lesson 3 of 20

Objective


Analyze Toni Morrison’s purpose for Maureen Peal in her critique of American desirability standards and colorism. 

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison  pp. 62 – 64

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

How does Morrison introduce Maureen Peal and what is the purpose of this section in The Bluest Eye?

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Annotation Focus

What lines, words, and phrases reveal Morrison’s purpose for this section? 

What lines, words, and phrases reveal Morrison’s critique of beauty standards?

Scaffolding Questions

How is Maureen Peal described?

What impact does Maureen Peal have on her school?

How does Morrison describe Pecola and Claudia in this section?

How does Morrision describe American beauty standards and desirability in this section?

Discourse Questions

Why does Morrison introduce the character of Maureen Peal in the text?

What is the impact of desirability and beauty standards on identity?

Homework


Read and annotate pages 12–125 of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison through the following annotation focus.

  • Annotation focus: How does Hollywood connect to the idea of desirability in this section of text?

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Standards


  • LO 1.3B — Analyze how the writer's use of stylistic elements contributes to a work of literature's effects and meaning.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
  • RL.9-10.5 — Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Supporting Standards

LO 2.3A
LO 2.3B
LO 2.3C
LO 5.1A
LO 5.1B
RL.9-10.1
RL.9-10.2
SL.9-10.1
W.9-10.1

Next

Analyze how Toni Morrison uses literary devices to develop her critique of beauty standards.

Lesson 4
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