Seeds of Vengeance: A Poetry, Short Film, and Nonfiction Comparison

The Seeds of Vengeance: Exploring Anger and Revenge

Explore the complex themes of revenge and the psychological implications of anger with this literary, short film, and nonfiction analysis unit. This resource is designed to engage students in grades 9-12 through a series of structured activities that explore the emotional and rational responses to wrongdoing as depicted in literature, film, and psychology research. Whether you're teaching standard level students or advanced classes, this unit is fully adaptable to suit a variety of educational needs and levels. 

Students will read and analyze “A Poison Tree” by William Blake and compare it with the short film “Real Rabbit.” For more advanced learners, you may wish to loop in the article “The Complicated Psychology of Revenge.”

The texts explored include: 

• Poem: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake
• Animated Short: “Real Rabbit” by Eoin Duffy (YouTube)
• Optional Non Fiction: “The Complicated Psychology of Revenge” from the Association for Psychological Science

This product includes, in print and digital:

• Vocabulary Activity - Students start by defining key terms related to the themes of revenge and justice, preparing them for deeper text engagement and discussion.
• Pre-Reading/Quick Write Prompts - Engage students with thought-provoking prompts to elicit their initial thoughts about revenge, setting the stage for thematic exploration.
• Four Corners Activity with Prepared statements - An interactive classroom discussion tool that explores diverse viewpoints on revenge, enhancing critical thinking and debate skills.
• Guided Reading of “The Complicated Psychology of Revenge” - Includes detailed comprehension questions to help students analyze and understand the psychological aspects of revenge.
• Analysis of “A Poison Tree” by William Blake - Facilitated reading and annotation session to dissect the poem's themes and symbolism.
• Film Viewing and Analysis - “Regular Rabbit” - Students watch and discuss an animated short film, comparing its portrayal of revenge.
• Analysis Tracker - Includes a column for each text to help students organize their thoughts, compare themes, and prepare for the culminating writing task. There are two options: 2 or 3 text analysis.
• Writing Prompts and Essay Planning - Multiple essay prompts are included, catering to various levels of student ability, alongside planning guides to support essay structuring.
• Student-facing slide decks with interactivity to assign and assess digitally.
• Teacher Guidance and Answer Keys - Comprehensive instructions and answer keys for all activities to facilitate smooth implementation and grading.

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