Rashomon Lesson Plan

Write your own story!

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

To practice creative writing skills

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3

Structure:

1. Encourage the class to brainstorm common themes of Akutagawa’s stories. Possibilities include poverty, physical deformity, critique of religious figures, human suffering, and so on. Write these on the board and remind students of examples from the stories.

2. Then, tell the class that they will be writing their own stories over the course of the time they study Akutagawa's collection. Give each student 30 minutes or so to map out some ideas for their own stories. Their stories should relate to one of the...