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Literature on Film 4 - High School ELA
Courtney Runchey
Star Educator
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(37)
In this 14-week class students will explore literature through film commonly taught in American high schools. Students will be expected to watch each movie before class each week. All abilities welcome and accommodated.
Class experience
US Grade 9 - 12
In this 14-week ELA class High School students will explore literature through film. Students will be expected to watch each movie before class each week. During each class we will cover major differences between the book and movie, themes, symbolism, genre and discuss the plot. Students should be comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas about the works. Students of all abilities are able to be successful in this class. Class Format: Welcome - Introduction to movie and overall...
Students will gain a base knowledge of the literature covered in class. Including overall plot, themes, major characters, and what was exceptional about this to make it a staple of high schools.
I have worked in education for over 15 years, the last 9 as a homeschool parent. My passion is helping students create a deeper understanding of complex material by examining different perspectives. The stories that are told matter, even more in today's world. Understanding another perspective and story can help us relate. I love sharing new diverse literature that is engaging and expands students' understanding. History can come alive using both novels and primary source materials in my classes. When examining history there are many factors that we will discuss including socioeconomic, religious, bias in narration and understanding who the narrator is. Critical thinking is a skill that all students will work on, while we engage in discussions about the topics covered students will be questioned to consider different perspectives and reasons for events or choices. I have taught at a local homeschool co-op for over 7 years (in person and online) During that time one of my favorite classes has been running the middle and high school book clubs. Beside introducing books to students; I have been facilitating the discussions around difficult topics. I have attended many teacher professional developments over the years focusing on how to handle these difficult topics with sensitivity and care. I started my schooling with a B.B.A. from Northwood University. After several years in the corporate climate I decided to go back to school to get a teaching degree. I attended Eastern Michigan University and finished my classes and testing required for the teaching degree. The semester I was to start student teaching one of my children became seriously ill. Once they were recovered I was starting to homeschool my children and never went back to finish the program. While I have taught at several homeschool groups and co-ops. My experience at the high school has focused on several topics: English, History, Finance, and Engineering. With my love of books I ran the middle and high school book clubs for over 5 years. During this time I have also taught classes on essay writing, short stories, grammar and mechanics of writing and novel analysis. I ran the book club and novel analysis class together exploring a new book each month. The class was split into two, one with a middle grade selection and one with a YA book selection. I worked hard to select new books that were diverse, own voices, and covered many genres.(24 books a year) I facilitated discussions about the books we read. This included plot, themes, symbolism, character development, and more. My students have also participated in NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo. I created the Literature through film series at the request of students. While we were reading excellent books and engaging with the primary source material. Students, especially my reluctant or slow readers, wanted to learn about the "classics" without giving up the book club. Some of these students had just started to enjoy reading or couldn't complete 2 novels a month. By using film students were exposed to 14 book-to-film adaptations in one semester. We were able to still discuss all the major elements of our novel analysis. I used passages from the text to discuss unique grammar usage. Some students enjoyed it so much they even read a book or two after watching the movies. With my History classes I use a combination of primary sources, articles, reference materials, and videos to teach students. I teach students to evaluate the bias of the author, the purpose of the piece of writing, and who's points of views are put forth. We were often trying to look at marginalized peoples stories that may not always be highlighted. I have taught both Howard Zinn's History for Young People, Big History Project, and History through film. The classes I taught under Finance, Entrepreneurship and Accounting. While covering the topics themselves I find that students do well with hands-on application of studies. For example my Finance class besides learning the basics of finance. Students researched careers, living locations, wages, housing expenses, job growth or decline projections in the area of their chosen field and living location. With that information they made a budget, calculated mortgage rates, loan interest rates, amount of student loan debt they anticipated and payment schedules. They considered the impact of credit scores and of credit card debt at different interest rates. We also did a class long mock investment tracking, investments over time, and retirement series. Our group was lucky enough to have access to Lego Education Kits. I taught several classes with engineering challenges and using the kits materials. My Outschool engineering classes are based on those I taught at the homeschool groups but do not require a kit.
Homework Offered
Students need to watch the movie for that week before class. For graded students they will have 4 projects of their choice to complete by the end of the class. Depending on the project time required will vary.2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
For students who request grades. Students are graded 20% per project (80% total), 20% class participation. Students only need to do 4 projects. If you have any questions or need accommodations please contact me. Everyone can be successful in my classes.Grades Offered
Students are required to watch each movie before class. All are available online (many for free on streaming services) or at a library.
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
One of the ways we introduce challenging topics and criticle thinking skills in ELA is through literature. While in this class we will be looking at the film adaptations and remakes this can make the topics harder to encounter. Instead of a sentince or two in a book the film can show the difficult material. Several of the films are rated R and many have violence and war depections. That includes language, smoking, drugs, drinking, nudity, the holocaust, rape, unplanned pregnancy, guns, war, and more. Please review the movies, parent "need to knows", and suggested ages from Common Sense Media listed under each film in the before registering for class. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Week Movie
1 The Half of It 2020
Rated PG-13 103 Min.
Common Sense 13+, Parents 12+
Parents need to know that The Half of It is a teen romcom with wry humor and serious themes set in a small-town high school in the Pacific Northwest. It centers on Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a bright teen who writes a letter on behalf of a smitten but not very articulate boy to the girl of his dreams. Complicating matters is the fact that Ellie has her own crush on the same dream girl. Teen couples kiss, a potential relationship emerges, and conversations about sexuality take place. At a high school party with underage drinking, Ellie drinks too much and then vomits. The next morning, when she wakes up with a hangover, she takes two pills (presumed to be aspirin). Expect a bit of mild cursing like "crap," "damn," "s--t," and "hell." A teen falls from her bike, and someone is slapped. There's some talk about God, beliefs, and values, as well as positive cultural exchanges between White and Taiwanese characters. With its sly comedy and shrewd take on relevant issues, the movie should appeal to teens and their families.
2 Rustic Oracle 2021
Rated NR 101 Min.
Common Sense 15+, Parents 14+
Parents need to know that Rustic Oracle is a Canadian drama set in the 1990s about a young Mohawk girl whose teen sister goes missing, sending her family and community into turmoil. The film, written and directed by Canadian First Nations filmmaker Sonia Bonspille Boileau, is a tribute to the many missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) across Canada. Families should expect moments of brief violence, strong language (including "f--k" and "s--t"), and intense conversations about the possible outcomes for girls and women who disappear. Adults drink in a bar, and there are conversations about dealing drugs (in particular, marijuana). Characters grieve and speak emotionally about a missing teen.
3 King Lear 2018
Rated NR TV
Common Sense 14+
Parents need to know that King Lear is a film of one of Shakespeare's greatest and toughest plays that stars Anthony Hopkins in the title role. The amazing cast makes the Elizabethan text accessible and contemporary, and director Richard Eyre does an excellent job of telling the story visually. The film is set in modern London, but it is a heavily-militarized London. As the film progresses, France and England go to war, and there are other violent incidents, including torture and murder. Beyond that, there is little objectionable material for younger viewers, though the subject matter can feel very heavy at times. King Lear would be an excellent introduction to Shakespeare or Lear for those who might feel alienated by his dense language and complex plotting.
4 The Joy Luck Club 1993
Rated R 139 Min
Common Sense 16+, Parents 17+
Parents need to know that The Joy Luck Club, based on Amy Tan's novel of the same name, includes scenes of family expulsion and conflict, rape, child abandonment, parental death, spousal abuse (both physical and mental), and suicide. While not actually very racy, raunchy, or violent by today's standards, each story includes extremely upsetting material. This warning is more about emotional content than any graphic sex, violence, or language.
5 War and Peace 2016
Rated NR TV 354 Min
Common Sense 14+, Parents 17+
Parents need to know that War and Peace, a BBC period drama based on Leo Tolstoy's epic novel of the same name, is a solid interpretation of the dense classic. It contains some moments of sexuality, including an incestuous relationship and brief nudity (partial breasts). War scenes also feature lots of bloodshed and bloody corpses, and there's lots of drinking and scenes of drunken revelry. Wealth, marriage, and Russian politics all come into play throughout the twisty plot. Teens should be able to handle it but most probably won't be too interested.
6 The Maze Runner 2014
Rated PG-13 114 Min.
Common Sense 13+ Parents 12+
Parents need to know that The Maze Runner is based on the first novel in James Dashner's best-selling young adult trilogy. The movie, like the book, is a cross between Lord of the Flies, Ender's Game, and The Hunger Games and should appeal to fans of the books and of star Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf). There's more strong language ("s--t," "a--hole," "bitch") in the movie than in the book, which featured mostly made up curse words like "shuck" and "klunk." Unlike many other popular teen movies, The Maze Runner doesn't highlight a central romance (at least in this installment), but it definitely includes the same amount of intense violence -- some of it teen on teen, some of it creature on teen, and much of it weapons based. Characters die, and the scenes in which the mechanized Grievers kill the boys are particularly disturbing. Main character Thomas is a strong role model, helping his friends and standing up to authority when necessary. And there are clear themes of teamwork, courage, and friendship.
7 Women Talking 2022
Rated PG-13 104 Min.
Common Sense 15+, Parents 15+
Parents need to know that Women Talking is writer-director Sarah Polley's intense adaptation of Miriam Toews' novel. The story follows a group of devout Mennonite women who must decide what to do after men in their isolated community are found to have drugged (with a powerful cow tranquilizer) and sexually assaulted girls and women for years. The actual assaults aren't shown, but some of the violent consequences are, including bloody sheets, bruised and bloody thighs, teeth that fall out, a young girl who needs medication, and a miscarriage. One of the women smokes cigarettes on camera, and a man is known to get drunk and beat his wife/children (off camera), but otherwise no substances are used or discussed. The religious women only curse a few times, and their use of "f--k" is presented in a comedic way, since they don't really know how to swear. "S--t" is also said, as are insults like "whore," "spinster," "lunatic," and more. Due to the insular nature of the community in which the movie is set, the cast isn't diverse. But it is notable that the movie focuses on women, both in front of and behind the camera. The cast includes Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, and Judith Ivey, and themes involve communication, courage, empathy, and more.
8 Fences 2016
Rated PG-13 132 Min
Common Sense 14+, Parents 16+
Parents need to know that Denzel Washington and Viola Davis star in Fences, which was adapted by playwright August Wilson from his own play. It's a powerful drama that deals with intense subjects including infidelity, prejudice, crime and punishment, father/son anger, and forgiveness -- as well as perseverance. So, while things like sexual and violent content aren't graphic, the film is still likely too intense for younger viewers. You can expect infrequent swearing (including "s--t") and very frequent use of the "N" word, as well as drinking, verbal and physical confrontations, the description of a murder, and a frank conversation about an affair.
9 Schindler's List 1993
Rated R 196 Min
Common Sense 15+, Parents 15+
Parents need to know that Schindler's List is a brutal, emotionally devastating three-hour drama that won several Oscars and has a powerful message about the human spirit -- but it pulls absolutely no punches when depicting the Holocaust. There are arbitrary murders and mass killings, Nazi commanders compare Jews to rats, children are killed, and there are scenes of shocking, grisly violence. There's also plenty of smoking and drinking, and several scenes of nakedness. In two of them, a woman is naked from the waist up in bed and in sexual situations. But in the rest, nakedness is used to humiliate and harass Jewish residents of concentration camps. There's full-frontal nudity of Jewish prisoners in the shower, when they are being stripped and examined, etc. There are anti-Semitic epithets as well as words such as "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "damn," and "ass."
10 Interstellar 2014
Rated PG-13 169 Min.
Common Sense 12+, Parents 13+
Parents need to know that Interstellar is a compelling sci-fi thriller/poignant family drama directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) and starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. As in Gravity, there are nail-bitingly intense (and life-threatening) sequences that take place in space, but this is more than a survival tale: It's a relationship story about a father who has made a promise to his children to return to them, no matter what. The layered themes, intergalactic peril, and references to astrophysics may prove too dark and complicated for elementary school-aged tweens, but middle-schoolers and up will be drawn in by both the science and the parent-child bond that guides the central characters to keep searching for a way to reunite. Characters do die (both in space and on Earth), and there's some language ("s--t," one "f--king," etc.).
11 The Hate U Give 2018
Rated PG-13 172 Min
Common Sense 13+, Parents 12+
Parents need to know that The Hate U Give is based on Angie Thomas' award-winning book about Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), a black teen who witnesses the fatal police shooting of a close friend. Like the acclaimed novel, the movie deals frankly and powerfully with race and racism. It also addresses the tension between the police and the communities they're supposed to serve and protect and the differences between teens growing up in predominantly African American neighborhoods and those from affluent white neighborhoods. Moments of violence are realistic and often upsetting: A cop shoots an unarmed teen (some blood is shown), gunshots break out at a party, characters brandish and fire guns and get into a tense confrontation with the police, tear gas is deployed during a peaceful protest, two classmates push each other, a stepfather beats his stepson, a store is set on fire with people inside, and more. Language isn't constant but includes one "f--k," a few uses of "s--t," etc. Teens talk about sex, but no more than kissing is shown; there's also a little bit of drinking by both teens and adults, smoking by minor characters, and discussion of drug dealing. Families who watch will have plenty of big issues to discuss afterward; hopefully teens will also appreciate the movie's messages about standing up for what you believe in, being proud of who you are, and communicating honestly with your parents and friends
12 Macbeth 2015
Rated R 113 Min
Common Sense 16+, Parents 14 +
Parents need to know that Macbeth brings Shakespeare's epic tale of betrayal and madness to life, with Michael Fassbender playing the lead role. Because the movie is faithful to the Bard's original text, there's no foul language and little sexual content (a couple is shown kissing and presumably having sex, but nothing graphic is seen). But the violence is frequent and brutal. Battle/fight scenes are prolonged, gory, and painstaking; sometimes it feels unrelenting. Men, women, and children die in horrible ways (burning, beheading, stabbing, and more). Plus, mature themes like marital manipulation, mental illness, and corrupting power are all part of the cocktail.
13 Easy A 2010
Rated PG-13 100 Min.
Common Sense 15+, Parents 14+
Parents need to know that Easy A is a smart teen comedy inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic novel The Scarlet Letter. It centers on a straight-laced teen (Emma Stone) who gets caught up in the school rumor mill (partly thanks to gossip spreading via Facebook and texting) -- a situation that many teens will be able to identify with. Labeled promiscuous after she tells a white lie and, later, exacerbates that lie with another, she quickly loses control of the situation (though, because this is a movie, she manages to cope with poise and wit). Although little action is shown, the subject of sex permeates the whole film, and there are lots of innuendoes/references and situations (including talk about losing virginity), as well as incidents in which kids judge one another. There's also some swearing (including "s--t") and allusions to underage drinking.
14 The Princess Bride 1987
Rated PG 98 min
Common Sense 8+, Parents 8+
Parents need to know that The Princess Bride is a quirky, funny fairy tale with quite a bit of action-style violence, including a torture machine, sword fights (one to the death), a death by poisoning, quicksand, fire pits, ROUSes (rodents of unusual size), and giant shrieking eels that attack main characters. But the movie's skewed humor and its storybook feel lessen some of the impact of the violent scenes. There's also drinking -- in one scene a drunken character is revived in a barrel of water -- and some kissing, as well as a bit of language ("son of a bitch," "Jesus!" as an exclamation) and a reference to a character's "perfect breasts."
Gaining access to the movies is up to each student. I will provide resources from: LitCharts (Teacher resource for teaching ELA) https://www.litcharts.com/ PDF book page excerpts (This is several pages of the written work to discuss unique or interesting grammar used by author) video clips (this will be a screen share from films listed to discuss non-sensational scenes to orient the class for discussions)
Star Educator
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(37)
For more than 15 years, I've been deeply involved in education, spending the last 9 years as a homeschooling parent. My greatest joy lies in helping students delve into complex subjects by exploring various perspectives. In today's world,...
Group Class
$15
weekly or $200 for 14 classes1x per week, 14 weeks
50 min
Completed by 4 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 16-18
3-12 learners per class
