Themes Covered
- There are stages to each journey
- One’s journey is often cyclical
- Each stage of life brings new choices
- Growth comes as a result of experience
- Cherish the journey rather than the outcome or destination
- Regardless of age, we continue to evolve
- It is never too late to leave the playground.
- Challenging circumstances lead to positive actions.
- Sometimes people are unable to control the directions their lives take.
- People’s lives are enriched by connections with past generations.
- Certain events change our impressions of life.
- Experiences shape relationships.
- Our journey into the future begins in the past.
Texts Covered
- Cavafy- ‘Ithaka’
- Shakespeare- ‘All the World is a Stage’
- Movie- ‘Up’
- Doris Lessing- ‘Flight’
- Ernest Hemingway- ‘The Old Man and the Sea’
Stand Alone Response
Synthesis Response
- In a 4-paragraph composition discuss the stages of life and the hero’s journey in Cavafy’s ‘Ithaka’ and Shakespeare’s ‘All the World is a Stage’.
- Create a poster that teaches fellow students how to write a good synthesis essay. Include hints, tricks, and suggestions.
Original Composition
- Multi-Paragraph Composition- write a narrative inspired by one of the theme prompts above.
- Multi-Paragraph Composition- Write a 5 paragraph superpower essay. See teacher for clarification.
- Single Paragraph or very short story- ‘It is never too late/too early to leave/return to the playground.’
Poem Writing
- Re-write Shakespeare’s ‘All the World is a Stage’. Make it your own. Include a metaphor/analogy, maybe even a motif. Your poem should be of similar length to Shakespeare’s. Be creative and original.
Creative Work
- *OPTIONAL* Create a poster that combines the hero’s journey plot archetype with Shakespeare’s 7 stages of life. Your poster should also reflect how ‘Ithaka’ and ‘Up’ fit into both the hero’s journey and Shakespeare’s 7 stages. Do this is ‘visual art’ form.
Mr. Al-Assadi 