1. English 12 / Sem. 1 / Class 6
Unpacking Xun’s “Diary of a Madman” / Mythology overview / Summative Assessment: writing your own mythological tale

2. First, an important aside…Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle
Yay! A film!
Boo! A handout (but it’s not a bad one)!
Yay! A conversation!

3. “Diary of a Madman”
How does it reflect the socio-political commentary on China at the time?
What is the connection between the “iron house” in the Preface and the last diary entry?
Why are the narrators and brothers unnamed?
Why is the point of view important?
Though the story was written long ago, how is the story a commentary on Western ideals?
What symbols are used through the text (and what do they represent)?
Discuss the concept of madness as a means of promoting change or awareness.
Why did Lu Xun decide to study literature?
What is the younger brother’s fearful realization of his own family?
What is the elder brother’s response to the morality of eating human flesh?
Why is the quote “Everything requires careful consideration if one is to understand it.” repeated in the text?

4. Satire: humorous social commentary
Complete a blank Dinosaur comic utilizing “A Madman’s Diary”
Work in groups of 2
Utilize at least:
Two direct quotes
Two summaries
Two paraphrased statements

5. Mythology (we’ll return to China in a few weeks, fear not)
Answer the following questions about myths:
What kind of story is a myth?
Name some myths you know.
What is the difference between a myth, a folktale, and a fairytale?
Does your culture have a special myth of its own? (HOMEWORK)

6. AGREE or DISAGREE? A myth is a story that is not factual.
A myth is a story about princes, princesses, and witches.
A myth is an adventure story about a real person.
A myth may explain how things began.
Many groups have myths about a flood.
Myths are stories about ordinary people.
Most mythological heroes are male.
Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster are myths.

7. Myths (a review) Greek ‘mythos’: to tell a story
Passed on by spoken word
Stories with a message
Explain how life began and how the world of nature behaved
Involves some supernatural power
The story is not real 

8. Creation myths
CHINA:
“In the beginning there was a huge egg that held all the opposites – hot and cold, light and dark, wet and dry. Also inside was Phan Ku, a giant who was covered in hair. He had horns on his head and tusks sprang from his mouth.
Phan Ku broke out of the egg and separated the opposites through all the world. Every day he carved out the mountains and oceans with his chisel and mallet. And every day, for 18,000 years he grew three metres taller.
When Phan Ku died his skull became the sky, his breath, the wind, his flesh, soil, and his blood, rivers. The fleas in his hair became human beings.”
Let’s watch a movie! Yay!

9. HW
Find a myth (of any kind) from the culture you most closely associate with.