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Lesson 1 (from Prologue – Chapter 5)
Objective
This lesson introduces students to Paul Beatty’s satirical novel on race and racism in America, The Sellout. Students will research the author, define the literary genre of satire, read the novel’s Prologue, identify the novel’s narrative style and frame, and discuss the crimes presented against the protagonist. In the Prologue, the unnamed narrator describes his case that is being presented to the U.S. Supreme Court. The narrator, an African American male, reflects on the mottos of different races and asserts that “a little slavery and segregation” never hurt anybody, “and if so, so fucking be it” (23).
Lesson
Research/Independent Activity: Take time in class to conduct research on author Paul Beatty and the publication of The Sellout. When was the novel published? How many other works has Beatty written? What are common themes in the author’s work? How was The Sellout...
Aligned to the following Common Core Standards:
- ELA-Reading: Literature RL.9-10.10, 11-12.3, 11-12.6, 11-12.10
- ELA-Writing W.9-10.8, 11-12.8
This section contains 5,978 words (approx. 20 pages at 300 words per page) |
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