Teacher Guide

The Year of Magical Thinking Lesson Plan

Introduction to The Year of Magical Thinking

Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) is the author's memoir of the first year following the death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, in December of 2003. The book chronicle's Didion's experience coming to terms with Dunne's death and dealing with grief, all while tending to her severely ill adult daughter, Quintana Roo, who was hospitalized with septic shock at the time that Dunne died. Didion combines her personal narrative with references to other works of literature and psychology, as well as medical texts, to explore what it means to grieve--an act which, she argues, goes beyond simply feeling sad.

The Year of Magical Thinking was the winner of the National Book Award...

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2368 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11018 literature essays, 2792 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in