Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Literature: Symbolist and Parnassian

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives phase is essential to direct the focus of students and the teacher towards the essential skills that must be developed during the lesson. By clearly establishing what is expected to be achieved, both the students and the instructor can guide their activities and discussions to meet these specific objectives. This approach helps maximize the efficiency of time in the classroom and ensures that students leave the lesson with a robust understanding of the themes addressed.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to analyze literary texts from the Symbolist and Parnassian movements, discerning their main characteristics and how they distinguish themselves from other literary currents.

2. Familiarize students with the main authors and works of Symbolism and Parnassianism, allowing them to identify and contextualize the individual contributions of each writer.

Side Objectives:

1. Develop skills in argumentation and literary critique by comparing and contrasting the styles of different authors and movements.

Introduction

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The Introduction phase serves to engage students with the content they have studied previously, using problem situations that prompt them to apply their knowledge practically and critically. Furthermore, the contextualization aims to connect literary movements with the historical and social context, increasing the relevance of the study for students and facilitating the understanding of the motivations and characteristics of these styles. This initial approach prepares the ground for a deeper and more meaningful analysis during the lesson.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are an editor at the end of the 19th century, tasked with selecting poems for an anthology. You have works by Cruz e Sousa and Olavo Bilac. How would you recognize, by their literary characteristics, to which movement each belongs?

2. Suppose you are studying for a literature exam and have received an anonymous poem to analyze. The themes addressed are escape from reality, melancholy, and an intense use of metaphors. How could you determine if this poem is more likely Symbolist or Parnassian?

Contextualization

Symbolism and Parnassianism are not just literary movements, but also reflections of a period of transition and challenge to social, cultural, and aesthetic values. Symbolism, with its emphasis on subjectivity, dreams, and mysticism, emerges as a response to the increasing objectivity and rationality of industrial society at the end of the 19th century. On the other hand, Parnassianism, with its aesthetic of formal perfection and rejection of sentimentality, reflects the search for a more objective and technical art, aligned with the scientific worldview of the time. This contextualization helps to understand not only the literary characteristics of these movements but also what they represent within a broader panorama of history and culture.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development phase is designed to allow students to apply and deepen the knowledge acquired about Symbolism and Parnassianism through practical and interactive activities. These activities aim to strengthen the students' ability to analyze, compare, and create literary texts, as well as promote presentation and debate skills. By choosing one of the proposed activities, students will be able to explore literary movements in an engaging and meaningful manner, ensuring a deeper and more lasting understanding of the topic.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Literary Café: A Meeting of Movements

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop the students' ability to analyze and compare literary texts, as well as improve presentation and argumentation skills.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people to prepare and present a 'Literary Café' that symbolizes a meeting between the Symbolist and Parnassian movements. Each group must select and analyze a poem by a representative author from each movement, identifying the main characteristics of each. Students must prepare a presentation that includes reciting the poems, a brief explanation of the characteristics of the movement they belong to, and a justification of how these movements relate or oppose each other.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Assign each group a Symbolist poem and a Parnassian poem, both by recognized authors.

• Students must analyze the poems, identifying characteristic elements of each movement (symbolism, use of imagery, objectivity, etc.).

• Prepare a presentation that includes the recitation of the poems, an explanation of the characteristics of each movement, and a reflection on how they relate or contrast.

• Each group will have 20 minutes to present their work, followed by 10 minutes for questions and discussion with the class.

Activity 2 - Master Duel: Literary Battle

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Review and deepen students' knowledge about Symbolism and Parnassianism in a dynamic and competitive manner.

- Description: Students will participate in a competition of literary knowledge and skill. The teacher will ask questions about the characteristics, authors, and works of Symbolism and Parnassianism. Each group will respond to the questions, earning points for correct answers and well-founded justifications. The style of the game is inspired by 'quiz shows', with multiple-choice questions and argumentative answers.

- Instructions:

• Organize the room in auditorium format, with tables for the groups.

• The teacher will ask questions about the Symbolist and Parnassian movements, alternating between groups.

• Each group will have a limited time to discuss the answer before responding.

• Score the correct answers and the justifications presented.

• At the end, the group with the most points is declared the winner.

Activity 3 - Universe Builders: Literary Creation Workshop

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Encourage creativity and deepen students' understanding of the characteristics and differences between Symbolism and Parnassianism.

- Description: In this creative activity, students, in groups, will create a poem or short story that mixes elements of Symbolism and Parnassianism. They must use the aesthetic tools of both movements to build a unique and coherent narrative, which will be presented to the class at the end. The objective is to demonstrate understanding of the characteristics of each movement and their ability to integrate them originally.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group chooses a theme for the poem or story.

• Students must integrate Symbolist and Parnassian elements into their creation.

• Prepare the presentation of the poem or story, explaining how each element used relates to the literary movements.

• Present the work to the class, followed by a discussion about the aesthetic and poetic choices.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback stage is to consolidate the knowledge acquired by the students, allowing them to articulate what they learned and reflect on the learning process. By sharing their experiences and insights, students can gain a broader understanding of the themes discussed, as well as develop communication and argumentation skills. This moment also allows the teacher to assess the students' understanding and clarify any remaining doubts, ensuring that the learning objectives have been met.

Group Discussion

To conclude the lesson, organize a group discussion with all students. Start the conversation by recalling the main points addressed in the activities and asking each group to share their discoveries and difficulties encountered. Use guiding questions to promote collective reflection and a healthy debate about the differences and similarities between Symbolism and Parnassianism. Encourage students to express how the practical activity helped solidify their prior theoretical knowledge.

Key Questions

1. What were the most notable characteristics that differentiated Symbolism from Parnassianism in the poems you analyzed?

2. How did the integration of elements from both movements help enrich the creation of the poems or stories?

3. Was there any point during the presentations that generated controversy or debate within the group? How did you resolve it?

4. In what way do today's activities contribute to a deeper understanding of Symbolist and Parnassian literature?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion phase serves to solidify the students' learning, ensuring that they can clearly articulate the concepts learned and understand their applicability. In addition, it helps to reinforce the connection between theory and practice, which is essential for a deep understanding of the subject. This final section also aims to motivate students to continue exploring and appreciating the literary movements discussed, both in the classroom and in their own readings.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher should summarize and recap the main points discussed about the Symbolist and Parnassian literary movements. They should emphasize the distinct characteristics of each movement, the main authors and works, as well as the activities carried out that allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge in practice.

Theory Connection

Explain how today's lesson connected theory with practice, highlighting the importance of understanding not only the historical context and literary characteristics, but also the ability to apply this knowledge in creative and analytical activities. Show how activities like the 'Literary Café' and 'Literary Battle' allowed students to use theoretical knowledge for analysis and literary creation.

Closing

Finally, reinforce the relevance of the Symbolist and Parnassian movements, both historically and in contemporary literature. Discuss how understanding these movements enriches the reading and appreciation of current literary texts, in addition to enhancing the critical and analytical capabilities of students. Encourage them to continue exploring these styles in their personal and academic readings.