Lysistrata Lesson Plan

War Humor

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will be able to understand the ways that different societies have used humor to discuss dark subjects

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.4; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1

Structure:

Today's scene was incredibly goofy and lewd, focused on the women's flimsy excuses for leaving the Acropolis and, again, including a barrage of sex jokes. Yet the subject of this play, and Lysistrata's goal, is serious: she wants to stop a war that's killing thousands. Why would Aristophanes write such a funny, goofy play about this grave subject?

Divide students into small groups and have each group read and annotate one of the...