A.   Movies based on English Literature
B.   Movies based on U.S. Literature
C.   Movies based on the Literature of Other Countries
D.   Movies Analyzed for Their Use of Literary Devices.

The term "SEL" refers to topics relating to Social and Emotional Learning. "Moral-Ethical Emphasis" refers to Character Counts' Six Pillars of Character. The suggested ages for the movie are shown in brackets.

A.   Lesson Plans from Movies Based on the Literature of England

For English Language Arts and Literature Classes (Including the traditional curriculum, Media Literacy, and Multimodal Literacy)

For Shakespeare and other dramatists, see Drama (Stage) Subject Index.


• Animal Farm (Literature/England & Literary Devices; World/Russia; SEL: Rebellion; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [6+; Literary genre: Allegory]
• Emma (Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring) [12+]
• Great Expectations (Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness) [10+]
• The Old Curiosity Shop (Literature/England; SEL: Gambling Addiction; Parenting; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [11+]
• Oliver! (Drama/Musicals; Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Spousal Abuse; Crime; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [8+]
• Oliver Twist (Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Spousal Abuse; Crime; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [10+]
• A Passage To India (World/India & England; Literature/England; SEL: Friendship; Romantic Relationships; Justice; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect) [12+]
• Persuasion (Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [12+]
• Pride and Prejudice (Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Sisters; Humility; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: theme; foils, contrasting characters; character development; subplot; irony; and use of letters read by a character.]
• Sense and Sensibility (Literature/England; World/England; SEL: Romantic Relationships; Sisters; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [12+]
• Tale of Two Cities (Literature/England; World/France & England; Char. Dev: Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Rebellion; Addiction; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [12+]

B.   Lesson Plans from Movies Based on the Literature of the United States

For traditional curriculum in English Language Arts and Literature Classes but also stressing Media Literacy, and Multimodal Literacy

For Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and other dramatists, see Drama (Stage) Subject Index.


• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (U.S./1812 - 1860, Diversity & Missouri; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Breaking Out; Running Away; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [6+]
• All The King's Men (U.S./1913 - 1941, Politics & Louisiana; Literature/U.S.; SEL Ambition; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Fairness) [13+]
• Beautiful Dreamers (Biography/Whitman; Literature/U.S.; World/Canada; Medicine; SEL: Male Role Model; Mental Illness; Breaking Out; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [12+; useful for getting students to read and appreciate the poetry of Walt Whitman]
• Cross Creek (U.S./1865 - 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Female Role Model; Parenting; Friendship; Suicide; Running Away; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [14+; the events that inspired The Yearling]
• For Whom the Bell Tolls (Literature/U.S.; World/Between World Wars & Spain; SEL: Courage in War; Romantic Relationships; Rebellion; Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Citizenship) [12+]
• The Grapes of Wrath (U.S./1929 - 1941; Oklahoma & California; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Families in Crisis; Female Role Model; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness) [12+]
• Little Women (U.S./1860 - 1865 & Massachusetts; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Female Role Model; Families in Crisis; Parenting; Sisters; Coming of Age; Talent; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [6+]
• Moby Dick (Literature/U.S.; Seafaring; U.S./1812 - 1860 & Massachusetts; SEL: Revenge, Humility; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [10+]
• Native Son (U.S./1945 - 1991, Diversity & Illinois; Literature/U.S.; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Justice; Friendship; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Responsibility; Fairness) [15]
• The Outsiders (Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices; U.S./1945 - 1991; SEL: Brothers; Coming of Age; Courage; Fighting; Friendship; Peer Pressure; Redemption; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Caring) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: expository phase; flashback; symbol; foreshadowing; Bildungsroman; irony; protagonist/antagionist confusion and theme.]
• The Red Badge of Courage (U.S./1860 - 1865; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Redemption, Coming of Age; Courage in War; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility) [10+]
• The Scarlet Letter (U.S./1629 - 1750 & Massachusetts; Religions/Christianity; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Redemption; Romantic Relationships; Revenge; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility) [12+]
• To Kill A Mockingbird (U.S./1929 - 1941, the Law & Diversity; Literature/U.S. & Literary Devices; SEL: Justice; Male Role Model; Courage; Mental Illness; Parenting; Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibilility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship) [11+; Literary devices analyzed: symbol; flashback; irony; humor.]
• The Yearling (U.S./1865 - 1913 & Florida; Literature/U.S.; SEL: Male Role Model; Coming of Age; Running Away; Father/Son; Mother/Son; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Responsibility; Caring) [8 - 12 ]

C.    Other Countries -- Lesson Plans from Movies Based on the Literature of Other Countries

English Language Arts, Literature Classes, Media Literacy, and Multimodal Literacy

• Gulliver's Travels (Literature/Ireland; World/Enlightenment; SEL: Peace/Peacemakers; Courage in War; Humility) [7+]
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Literature/France; World/Middle Ages & France; SEL: Disabilities; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect) [10 -12]
• Les Misérables (Literature/France; World/France; SEL: Redemption; Suicide; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Fairness, Caring) [8+]
• The Life of Emile Zola (Biography; World/France; Literature/France; SEL: Justice; Talent; Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Fairness) [10+]
• The Odyssey (World/Ancient Greece; Mythology; Literature & Literary Devices; Seafaring; SEL: Humility; Surviving; Marriage; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility) [14+ for the movie; 11+ for the book. Literary devices analyzed: simile, metaphor, flashback; symbol.]
• The Swiss Family Robinson (Literature/England; World/Indonesia; Science-Technology; SEL: Families in Crisis; Brothers; Surviving; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: General) [6 - 12]
• War and Peace (World/Russia; Literature/Russia) [10+]

D.    Movies Analyzed for Their Use of Literary Devices

For traditional curriculum in English Language Arts and Literature Classes stressing Media Literacy, and Multimodal Literacy

• Behind the Sun (World/Brazil & Albania; Literature/Literary Devices; SEL: Revenge; Breaking Out; Brothers; Romantic Relationships; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring; Responsibility) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: symbols, subplot, flashback, foreshadowing and irony.]
• Stand and Deliver (U.S./1941 - 1996, Diversity & California; Mathematics; Literature/Literary Devices; SEL: Male Role Model; Self-esteem; Education; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Trustworthiness; Responsibility; Citizenship) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony.]
• Swan Lake (Dance/Performance; Literature/Literary Devices; SEL: Romantic Relations; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Caring) [10+; Literary devices analyzed: metaphor; symbol]
• Water (World/India; Religions/Hinduism; Literature/Literary Devices; SEL: Human Rights; Suicide; Breaking Out; Moral-Ethical Emphasis: Respect; Caring; Fairness) [12+; Literary devices analyzed: character, symbols, subplot, foils and irony.]
  
  

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