The Age of Innocence Lesson Plan

Truth and Subtext

Kind of Activity:

Performance

Objective:

Students will gain further insight into May's character by identifying a time that they, like she, responded to a lie.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.6

Structure:

One of the most fascinating scenes in the novel is when Newland tells May a lie about going to Washington, and May responds lightheartedly, not explicitly acknowledging the lie. Underneath her response however, there are many implicit messages, which Wharton spells out in extreme detail.

First, in class discussion, have students consider the many ways that people communicate implicitly, e.g. sarcasm, facial expressions,...