Through an episode from the popular television series, The Simpsons, this lesson modernizes Ray Bradbury classical science fiction short story, "A Sound of Thunder" through parody. By mapping out the cause and effect text structure in the episode through a flow chart, we compared and contrasted both texts' portrayal of "chaos theory." Then we took a look at accountability - one of this unit's key themes - by writing about a key difference between the parody and the Bradbury's original: the characters' ability to go back in time after the initial mistake to try to rectify it. Using text details from both the short story and the television episode, we contemplated how Eckels should have been held accountable - a second chance in the past like Homer or "a sound of thunder" like Travis decided?
The requirements of a final short story project were also introduced today. Inspired by The Simpsons but also bringing in your knowledge of short story genre (because this interdisciplinary unit is embedded as the conclusion of the full short story unit) and biomes from science class, the collaborative creative writing project revolves around a piecemeal short story blog. In groups of four, you will be creating your own "chaos theory" short stories in the genre and biome of your choice. You will be writing independently several times on an online blog, but you will be adding paragraphs related and connected to your group members.
Treehouse of Horror V: "Time and Punishment" Season 6, Episode 6 In this episode of the TV series, The Simpsons parodies Ray Bradbury's science fiction short story, "A Sound of Thunder." Complete with time travel (via a malfunctioning toaster), comical mishaps in the Jurassic past, and present-day catastrophic consequences, "Time and Punishment" casts Homer Simpson in the role of Eckels as he frantically scrambles to reverse his mistakes by navigating the past and present. As you watch the episode, fill in the Cause & Effect flow chart to map out the episode's text structure. To find on the Season 6 DVD: It begins at the episode's 3rd chapter and lasts from 1:15 to 1:22, making it a 7 minute video. |
Parody: A work created to mock, comment on, or trivialize an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of comic, satiric, or ironic imitation. Accountability: to be held responsible for something; to accept the consequences and/or responsibilities of an action or decision.
|
Text-to-Text Connections: Writing Assignment Accountability: Should Eckels's Have Been Allowed to Go Back? A major difference between The Simpsons parody and Bradbury's original "A Sound of Thunder" lies in the characters' ability to go back in time after the initial mistake. In the television episode, Homer Simpson travels back and forth multiple times after the first offense to try to rectify the mosquito squash. However, if read from the viewpoint that the concluding "sound of thunder" signaled Travis's murder of Eckels, Travis deprived Eckels of a similar opportunity. Your task, therefore, is to determine whether Eckels's inability to go back in time to try to rectify his mistake was fair. In a well-developed paragraph, weigh the two paths - Homer's and Eckels's - to determine the "best" consequences for Eckels given the circumstances. Think about what it means to be held accountable. What would have been the best way for Eckels to be held accountable for his misstep - a second chance in the past or "a sound of thunder"? Please be sure to use text details from both the short story and the television episode to support your reasoning. |
Collaborative Creative Writing Project: Piecemeal "Chaos Theory" Blog Short Story As an out-of-class final project, you will be working in groups of four to write a "chaos theory" short story on an online blog. As a collaborative creative writing assignment, you will be designing a setting, exposition, and inciting incident (the loss of a specific animal species) together. However, based on a homework chart you jointly agree on, each of you will be contributing several paragraphs to the short story independently. Since you will not be adding your sections sequentially, your contributions will build on and add to your group member's paragraphs in a coherent, believable manner. So you will need to read what your group members have added before you write any of your paragraph contributions. Although it is a creative writing assignment, you will need to demonstrate your general knowledge of literary genres/elements and biomes, and your specific knowledge of chaos theory and a character from Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder." An outline of the requirements are provided below. |
PICK A. . .
Collaborative Creative Writing Project: Key Requirements The requirement sheet is provided to the right for a complete explanation of the project. Below is an overview:
|
|
Color-Coded Directions:
Adding a Post Please follow these directions carefully so your work will be visible to your group. Step 1: Title your blog posts: Date, Name, Contribution # - Group Category. Step 2: Copy and paste your paragraph(s) in the blank box. Step 3: Check the box for your group's assigned category. Step 4: Click the button to submit. |