The Sign of the Four Lesson Plan

Orientalism, by Edward Said

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Students will be able to consider the story through the lens of Edward Said's influential theory of Orientalism.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.2

Structure:

Some students may have noticed the depiction of non-British people and cultures in The Sign of the Four is pretty flagrantly racist, especially the depiction of Asian and indigenous South American people as violent, uncivilized, untrustworthy, and animalistic. Non-white people in this story are portrayed less like fleshed-out characters and more like strange and dangerous creatures.

In...