Studying Culture Through Texts: The Poisonwood Bible (Novel Study)
In this 7-week class, we read and discuss a contemporary fiction work by Barbara Kingsolver book club-style in order to better understand Congolese culture through the points of view of 5 narrators - perfect for World Literature studies.
Victoria Atkinson, M.A.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(123)
What's included
7 live meetings
5 hrs 50 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Students will need to read assigned sections before each meeting. The novel itself is broken up into 7 "books." I know most students get intimidated by the length of the sections, but rest assured, this is a quick read. In my experience, most students have a hard time stopping at the end of the assigned sections because they want to read on to see what happens next.Assessment
There will be a post-meeting discussion post at the end of each class where students are highly encouraged to reflect on what they learned, as well as discuss thoughts that came up along the way. This is a great way to continue the discussion outside of class.Class Experience
US Grade 10 - 12
Literature, especially realistic fiction, has the ability to teach us so much about the world around us. Although the characters are not real, they portray real events and lives that people actually lead. More importantly, though, it gives us new perspectives and an appreciation for people that look or believe differently than we do. It also helps us build empathy and an understanding that we may not have had before. In this interdisciplinary class that combines world literature with cultural geography and history, students will learn through book club-style discussions. Students will need to read and annotate to prepare for each class (an annotation guide will be given to you upon enrollment), and then during class time, I will facilitate a discussion of the assigned material. Towards the end of the class time, I will fill in any gaps that the students may have left open in the discussion, as well as make final conclusions. COURSE OUTLINE Meeting #1 - Introduction to the book Meeting #2 - Book 1: Genesis Meeting #3 - Book 2: Revelation Meeting #4 - Book 3: The Judges Meeting #5 - Book 4: Bel and the Serpent Meeting #6 - Book 5: Exodus Meeting #7 - Book 6: Song of the Three Children + Book 7: The Eyes in the Trees
Learning Goals
Students will learn about Congolese and African culture through the narration of the 5 female characters: Orleanna, Rachel, Leah, Adah, and Ruth May. Each discussion will examine how Congolese and African culture attributes to the protagonists’ character development and overall themes. Students will also examine how Congolese culture and society changed post-colonialism. This will give students a chance to practice their literary analysis skills while also learning more about a culture either unlike or the same as their own.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
War, death, mild violence, divorce, and cultural nudity are all mentioned in this book. It is all written in a way to help depict the turmoil and cultural practices present in the Congo at the time.
Supply List
Students will need to purchase a copy of The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2020
4.9
123reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
South Carolina Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
I have taught this book as part of my AP Literature curriculum for 5 years, and have been approved by the College Board to teach it. My bachelor's degree is in Social Studies Education, which was essentially a double-major in social sciences and secondary education. In order to be awarded that degree, I had to take world religions, cultural anthropology, and sociology courses, and I also took Africa and the Slave Trade for one of my non-western civilization courses. It was in those classes that I learned how to discuss and show the nuances of one's culture with delicacy, respect, and care. Lastly, my master's degree in English and Creative Writing program also helped me learn how to handle teaching sensitive topics in literature.Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly or $125 for 7 classes1x per week, 7 weeks
50 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
2-10 learners per class
