Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Realist Literature

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 stage serves to clearly establish what is expected of students to learn and achieve by the end of the lesson. In this case, the goal is for students to be able to identify and differentiate Realism from other literary movements, as well as recognize the main authors and characteristics of Realism. This clarity of goals helps both the teacher and the students to focus on the essential points during the lesson, ensuring a deeper understanding of the topic.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to characterize the literary movement of Realism and clearly differentiate it from Romanticism and Naturalism.

2. Develop students' knowledge about the characteristics of the main Realist writers to identify their contributions and literary styles.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage critical analysis of Realist texts, promoting discussion about the application of Realist elements in contemporary literature.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of the Introduction is to engage students with the content they previously studied at home, using problem situations that prompt them to think critically about the characteristics of literary Realism. Moreover, the contextualization aims not only to reinforce prior knowledge but also to demonstrate the relevance of Realism in literature and society, increasing students' interest in the subject.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Ask students to identify characteristics of a text they read at home that lead them to classify it as Realist, Romantic, or Naturalist. This can be done in small groups, where each group will present their conclusions and justifications to the rest of the class.

2. Request that students think of a contemporary scenario that could be described by a Realist author and how that would differ from a description made by a Romantic or Naturalist author. They should justify their choices based on the characteristics of each movement.

Contextualization

To contextualize the importance of Realism, the teacher can relate the movement to relevant historical events of the time, such as the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the middle class, which directly influenced the themes addressed by Realist writers. Additionally, interesting facts about Realist authors and their works can be mentioned, illustrating how the movement reflected and critiqued society and its changes.

Development

Duration: (75 - 85 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to apply and deepen the knowledge they have acquired about Realism through practical and interactive activities. By working in groups, students have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the elements of Realism, reinforcing learning through collaboration and argumentation. The proposed activities also aim to develop critical analysis, argumentation, and creativity skills, which are essential for understanding and appreciating Realist literature.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - Literary Detectives: The Hunt for Realism

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Empower students to identify, through specific excerpts, the characteristics of Realism, Romanticism, and Naturalism, as well as promote skills in argumentation and debate.

- Description: Students, divided into groups of up to 5 people, take on the role of literary detectives who must uncover which excerpts of classic texts are Realist, Romantic, or Naturalist. To do this, they will analyze excerpts from the works of authors such as Machado de Assis, Eça de Queirós, and Gustave Flaubert, previously studied at home.

- Instructions:

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

• Distribute a set of cards, each containing an excerpt from a Realist, Romantic, or Naturalist work.

• Students must classify the excerpts as Realist, Romantic, or Naturalist.

• Each group must justify their choices based on the characteristics studied.

• After classifying all excerpts, each group will present their conclusions to the class.

Activity 2 - Realist Theatre: Staging Society

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop students' ability to apply Realism in the representation of contemporary themes, promoting understanding of the movement's characteristics through a creative approach.

- Description: In this activity, students, divided into groups, select a contemporary theme (e.g., social media, public policies, inequality) and create a short theatrical scene that represents the theme realistically. They must apply the characteristics of Realism in building dialogue and representing characters.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5 participants.

• Each group chooses a contemporary theme that will be approached realistically.

• Groups prepare a short theatrical scene, applying the characteristics of Realism learned.

• Students present their scenes to the class, followed by a brief discussion about the realistic choices made.

Activity 3 - Literary Debate: Romanticism vs. Realism vs. Naturalism

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Foster understanding and the ability of students to argue about the characteristics and importance of each literary movement, as well as promote debate skills and critical thinking.

- Description: Students, organized into groups, participate in a structured debate in which they must defend the characteristics of Realism, Romanticism, and Naturalism using examples from the works studied. The aim is for each group to defend their literary movement as the most relevant and effective in social criticism.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students, each representing a literary movement.

• Each group prepares arguments based on the characteristics of their movement.

• Hold a debate where each group presents their arguments and responds to criticisms from other groups.

• At the end, conduct a vote to decide which movement was the most convincing.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate the knowledge acquired about Realism through reflection and sharing experiences. The group discussion allows students to articulate what they have learned, confront their ideas with those of their peers, and deepen their understanding of the characteristics of Realism and its practical application. Additionally, this stage helps develop argumentation and critical thinking skills, which are essential for literary analysis and the formation of critical opinions in general.

Group Discussion

Start the group discussion with a brief introduction, reviewing the lesson objectives and emphasizing the importance of understanding the differences between Realism, Romanticism, and Naturalism. Then, ask each group to share their main findings and challenges faced during the activities. Encourage students to discuss how the characteristics of Realism apply to the contemporary contexts they explored. Use open questions to facilitate interaction between groups and promote a rich exchange of ideas.

Key Questions

1. What were the characteristics of Realism that you found most easily in the analyzed texts and why?

2. How did the representation of contemporary themes through theatrical scenes help you better understand literary Realism?

3. Was there any difficulty in differentiating the literary movements during the debate? How did you overcome these difficulties?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content addressed, as well as comprehend the applicability of Realism in practical and theoretical contexts. This moment of reflection and summary helps reinforce learning and the relevance of the Realist movement, preparing students for future discussions and studies on literature.

Summary

In the Conclusion phase, it is essential to summarize the key points addressed during the lesson, reinforcing the identification of the characteristics of Realism and distinguishing it from the movements of Romanticism and Naturalism. This summary helps consolidate learning and ensures that students have captured the nuances of literary Realism.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson connected the theory of Realism with practice through various dynamic and interactive activities, such as the debate, analysis of literary excerpts, and theatrical staging. These activities allowed students to apply theoretical concepts in practical situations, reinforcing their understanding of the characteristics of Realism.

Closing

Finally, it is important to highlight the relevance of studying Realism not only as a historical literary movement but also as a tool for understanding and critiquing contemporary society. The skills developed during the lesson, such as critical analysis and argumentation, are fundamental for the formation of conscious and reflective citizens.