Lesson Objectives (NCSCOS)
Goal 1.02 – The students will respond reflectively after small group discussion in class with an essay (750-1200 words) comparing the novel Night by Eli Wiesel and the movie, Life Is Beautiful, written, directed and produced by Roberto Benigni, the Italian comedian.
Goal 1.03 – The students will demonstrate the ability to read, listen to and view a variety of increasingly complex print and non-print expressive text appropriate for a grade level and course literary focus.
Gold 4 .01-5 – The students will critically interpret and evaluate experiences, literature, languages and ideas by interpreting a real-world event in a way that makes generalizations about the events …show more content…
Night was the 10th grade summer reading selection. It is a dark and soul-searching recollection, told as a first-person narrative of a teenager and his father in the Holocaust of World War II. This short novel is marked by the horrors of concentration camp experience and the inmates’ confrontation with the inhumanity of their jailers.
In a markedly contrasting manner, Life Is Beautiful also treats the experience of Jews in the Holocaust. The setting for Benigni's film is Italy. While German soldiers run the concentration camp, Benigni's exposition of his characters’ experience is comic. Benigni’s mentor is Charlie Chaplin and the influence of this great master is evident.
While comparing and analyzing the Jewish experience of the Holocaust, students will also determine whether or not, comedy is a suitable medium to treat the Holocaust. Additionally, they will research to the Italian experience of World War II, the treatment of Italian Jews, and the comedic style of Charlie Chaplin.
To accomplish these goals, the students will do the following: 1. View the movie in class with their classmates and respond to prompts contained in a viewing