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Grade Range: 8 - 11
Twain’s unique brand of humor and its effect on the American literary tradition is investigated in this three-part lesson. After examining characteristics of a short story and use of dialect, students are asked to compare and contrast Twain’s "Celebrated Jumping Frog" tale with humorous stories by 19th century writers George Washington Harris and Nathanial Hawthorne to gain a unique perspective on Twain’s influence. Finally, students are asked to rewrite a paragraph from Hawthorne’s story in dialect style, and discuss the possibility of blending these two traditions. Aligned to standards.
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