Phaedra Lesson Plan

Why So Violent?

Kind of Activity:

Individual Writing

Objective:

Students will be able to evaluate Seneca's use of violence and either justify it as an effective stylistic choice or criticize it as excessive and unnecessary

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.1; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.4; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.3

Structure:

Seneca's plays stand out for their use of violence, a direct contrast to the choices of the Greeks, whose work inspired Seneca's own versions. Whereas the Greek works usually chose to leave violence off-stage, referencing it only with great distance and vague descriptions, Seneca chose to make violence front and center in his own...