The Bacchae Lesson Plan

The Women's Side

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Students will read a contemporary poem about the women of The Bacchae and write their own poems from the women's perspective.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3

Structure:

Pass out copies of the poem "The Maenads" by Ursula Le Guin and ask a student to read the poem to the aloud. Have a 10- to 15-minute discussion about the poem as a class. How does it relate to Euripides' play? What is the tone of the poem? What does Le Guin say about the Maenads--does she view them with more sympathy than Euripides? Discuss Le Guin's techniques, focusing on the subtlety...