Modern Literary References to the Emperor's New Clothes?
April 7, 2008 7:01 PM Subscribe
Looking for modern, easy-to-understand references to The Emperor's New Clothes that would help 5th graders understand what a literary reference is (and why it's useful to have a more-than-passing familiarity with source material that writers tend to reference.)
I'm an elementary school librarian, and today was surprised to find that nearly half the kids in a fifth grade class had never heard Anderson's classic story about a vain emperor being swindled by a pair of clever rogues. I read the story, which they loved, but was not particularly successful in my attempt to explain that writers and speakers frequently reference this story in the expectation that readers/listeners will understand their allusions.
I'm very open to suggestions about how best to teach this idea (briefly- this is a five minute lesson) but would most appreciate modern references that would make the concept clear (extra points for quotes slamming our current president- most of my students would love it...)
I'm an elementary school librarian, and today was surprised to find that nearly half the kids in a fifth grade class had never heard Anderson's classic story about a vain emperor being swindled by a pair of clever rogues. I read the story, which they loved, but was not particularly successful in my attempt to explain that writers and speakers frequently reference this story in the expectation that readers/listeners will understand their allusions.
I'm very open to suggestions about how best to teach this idea (briefly- this is a five minute lesson) but would most appreciate modern references that would make the concept clear (extra points for quotes slamming our current president- most of my students would love it...)
How about pop musicians, that the kids would be familiar with, who still think that they're "all that" but are obviously now unpopular?
posted by porpoise at 8:25 PM on April 7, 2008
posted by porpoise at 8:25 PM on April 7, 2008
Response by poster: Right, exactly- except I want to *show* them a literary reference, not make one. My google, ah, fu hasn't turned up a decent quote, was hoping that someone here could point me at one. Anyway, thanks.
posted by carterk at 9:49 PM on April 7, 2008
posted by carterk at 9:49 PM on April 7, 2008
from wiki:
In the Halo video game series by Bungie Entertainment, the high prophets refuse to accept the obvious facts that the rings are actually massive superweapons capable of exterminating life throughout the galaxy, instead believing that the rings are capable of launching them towards their great journey. In one scene Master Chief alludes to the story.
posted by jpdoane at 10:03 PM on April 7, 2008
In the Halo video game series by Bungie Entertainment, the high prophets refuse to accept the obvious facts that the rings are actually massive superweapons capable of exterminating life throughout the galaxy, instead believing that the rings are capable of launching them towards their great journey. In one scene Master Chief alludes to the story.
posted by jpdoane at 10:03 PM on April 7, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by alteredcarbon at 8:19 PM on April 7, 2008