In this installment of stories that examine world changing ideas, we will discover worlds that collide with our own, hopes & fears that mirror our collective dreams, and visions of tomorrow that inspire the actions we take today. This is Speculative Fiction-the fiction of the future. Literature that pushes the boundaries of imagination and urges the reader to uncover the unknown and in the process, gain new insights into human nature.
Dare to Disturb the Universe begins with our Top 10 Ideas that have changed the world and morphs into our personal "What If's. Ultimately, we arrive at the answers-both literary and original-to those highly speculative questions. Throughout the unit you are challenged to consider the Big Questions:
Embedded within our study will be evaluations and investigations of history, art, philosophy, and psychology. Above all, we will use literature as a map to seek our places in the universe as we creatively dare to disturb it. |
"By the Waters of Babylon" by Stephen Vincent Benet
Listen to the story and follow along in your text. See if you can figure out why it is considered a Hero's Journey. What details remind you of Odysseus? You will be surprised by the number of literary devices and Speculative Fiction elements the author uses. "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury
Read the story more than once! Look for literary devices (metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, symbolism...) Think about HOW this story connects to "By the Waters of Babylon". Be ready to discuss how "TWC Soft Rains" exemplifies Science Fiction and Post-Apocalyptic Genre. Listen to actor, Leonard Nimoy read "There will Come Soft Rains." What images come to mind as you listen to the text?
|