View a FREE sample

Lesson 1 (from Chapter 1)

Objective

The first chapter introduces us to Dostoevsky and his writing style. This lesson discusses Dostoevsky’s writing and how it reveals his strategies for using language to convey meaning.

Lesson

Close Reading: Read the first few paragraphs and analyze the writing style. How does Dostoevsky write? What kinds of words does he use? How are his sentences structured?

Small Group Discussion: Ask students to work together in small groups to characterize Dostoevsky’s style. When or how does he vary from that cadence? What does he lay emphasis on when he varies from his typical sentences? Ask each group to report back to the class after some time for discussion.

Class Discussion: How would you characterize Dostoevsky’s values as a writer? What does he talk about? How does he use language to tell a story and create characters? Is he neutral, partisan, prejudiced? Involved, aloof...

(read more Daily Lessons)

This section contains 5,612 words (approx. 19 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample