Lord Byron's Poems Lesson Plan

Childe Harold and the Napoleonic Wars

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

To better understand the historical context of Canto I

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.7

Structure:

Begin with a class discussion, in which students hone in on passages having to do with the Napoleonic Wars in Canto I. Then have the class develop research questions about the Peninsular War and England's involvement, with an eye towards Byron's text. Some questions might include:

• What/when were the Napoleonic Wars?
• At what point in Napoleon's martial and political life did he begin his campaign in Spain and Portugal?
• What/where/when/why/and who questions for the Peninsular War
...