Ursula Le Guin: Short Stories Lesson Plan

Many critics and literary scholars think of Le Guin’s stories as highly political. What political topics or themes can you identify from the stories you’ve read?

Students will likely point to several stories as examples of characters fighting against widespread oppression. For instance, “The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas” is about a group of people who refuse to be complicit in the abuse of a child. “The Day Before the Revolution” is about the reminiscence of an old anarchist. Within it, Le Guin is able to explore the positives of anarchy and the benefits of a world post-revolution. “Winter’s King” is another story where questions of leadership and power are explored....