THIS WEEK, WE WILL FINISH OUR CLOSE READING OF RUSHDIE’S novel, ending our reading of it by delving into some of the novel’s complexity (i.e.: how the novel is an allegory for free speech, against censorship; the role of classical Indian dance; Carl Jung’s psychological concept of “the shadow”). We will end by writing a paper that analyzes ONE of the various stages of J. Campbell’s hero journey. By the way, get your copy of Lombardo’s Essential Odyssey this week. We’re starting it next week.

TUESDAY, January 23

Silent, sustained reading.
Re-reading chapter 11 and reading chapter 12, to the end of our novel.
Small group work on a worksheet on chapter eight.
HW: Finish reading chapter twelve, AND complete the worksheets on chapters 10, 11, and 12.

WEDNESAY, January 24

Silent, sustained reading.
Listening, reading about, and analyzing the Beatles song, “I am the Walrus.”
Creating a plot-line for Haroun’s hero journey, including the phases departure, initiation, and return.
HW: Complete the plot line for Haroun & the Sea of Stories. I’m collecting books on Monday and grading annotations next week.

FRIDAY, January 26

Silent, sustained reading.
6th period: Working on the hero-journey assignment on Haroun.
Write a first draft of your paper connecting our reading with Campbell’s hero journey. How does the main character experience the hero journey? For this assignment, you will focus on ONE of the three aforementioned phases, giving an example of TWO steps within that ONE phase.
Starting the reading of Arabian Nights, covering the introduction.

HW: Reading the “Sindbad the Sailor” journey. As you read, annotate for Sindbad’s hero journey. Where do you see departure, initiation, and return? Where does he make allies? Where does he obtain advice from a mentor? Where is there a symbolic death and rebirth? How does Sindbad manage to survive his final battle and return home? What has Sindbad learned?

NEXT WEEK: We will explore one of the Arabian Nights (aka 1,001 Nights), specifically the third journey of Sindbad the Sailor. It’s these stories that Rushdie models his novel, and we will be able to make connections between Homer’s Odyssey and Haroun.