Friday, November 29, 2013

Teaching the "Hedge Knight"

Hi everyone, 

I'm currently preparing a lesson to teach my students the "Hedge Knight" short novels in literature class. They have to read "The Hedge Knight" until next week (first lesson), with the "Sworn Sword" and "Mystery Knight" reserved for later. I already have some ideas about what to do, but if you have any suggestions or advice, I'd be very happy to listen to it. Please give the shoutout to everyone you know who could be interested in the question as well. Thanks in advance! 

Stefan

9 comments:

  1. Great idea!
    The first thing that comes to mind is the contrast between ideal and reality of knighthood, with Dunk being the "truest knight" in the story despite being no knight at all... but you've probably got that on your list.
    It's been a while since I've read the stories, I think it's time for a re-read with the context from my university class on medieval literature :)

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  2. I'm amazed how many people read it and don't realize that Dunk was never knighted, so I'd start there. I'd also look at Egg's lies of omissions, and how intelligently Egg responds to situations, versus Dunk's slightly below average responses. I would also use it as a jumping off point to talk about the rights we enjoy today (a right to trial, freedom of speech, etc.). And that Aerion was not so crazy to imagine that puppeteers might be making a political statement (as Shakespeare often was).

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  3. Maybe you could compare it to the more mainstream novels about knights and medieval fantasy in general, have they read any novels of the like in the past? Like Robin Hood or Ivanhoe?

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    Replies
    1. Unlikely. They run in danger of being interesting, which is the caridinal sin of every literature that's deemed worthy to be taught in literature class, unfortunately.

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    2. It must be agonizing to study literature at University, then... :D

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  4. Stefan, has your friend ghostlovessinger told you when his next "Secrets and Lies" essay will be done? Dying to read it!

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