20th Century

This lesson covers, allegory, bildungsroman, and farce, and it applies these concepts to the novel, making connections to the context in which Salman Rushdie wrote it. Below is the outline of the slides used in the lesson: Haroun and the Sea of Stories Introduction Historical and Political Allegory Bildungsroman Farce Allegory Any story, poem, or other work of art that is highly, or even completely, symbolic or full of symbols Usually symbolic of some psychological or spiritual journey or process Political and Historical Allegory Why Allegory? To represent the abstract, spiritual, or psychological To avoid offending To avoid censorship and/or prosecution Bildungsroman A Coming of Age Narrative Usually a hero or “chosen one” Epiphanies Healing or saving the community Bildungsroman Farce Silly to the point of absurd Can be satirical in nature Exaggerations Allegorical attacks on serious, deadly powerful individuals and groups Putting It All Together 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini ordered a fatwa against Salman Rushdi “The first thing the police officers told me was that I needed an alias in order to make possible certain practical things: secret houses had to be rented, and I needed a fake bank account and had to write checks.” Children’s Book Farce Political allegorical attack on censorship in repressive societies Essential Questions in Haroun and the Sea of Stories “What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?” Where do stories come from? What inspires us? Is there such a thing as toxic culture? How does a hero emerge—what choices do they make? How are egalitarian societies more powerful than repressive, hierarchical ones? Lesson Completed