A Monster Calls (novel & movie)

Reading/ Discussion

Keywords:
Culture, Discussion, Extensive Reading, Film, Literature, Presentation, Speaking, Vocabulary, Writing

The Fall 2020 semester is fully online.

授業の実施形態/Delivery
完全オンライン/Fully Online

THE MONSTER SHOWED UP AFTER MIDNIGHT. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting, the one from the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, something ancient, something wild. And it wants the truth. [From the back cover of the book]

In this class we will discuss Patrick Ness’s novel A Monster Calls (2011). Students will be given weekly reading assignments from the text, as well as corresponding homework that deals with the vocabulary, cultural aspects, and themes of the book. Class discussions will be based on the readings and a viewing of J. A. Bayona’s (2016) cinematic depiction of the story. Students should be the driving force of these discussions. Enthusiastic class participation is expected. There will be a midterm essay test, and a final presentation.

Students must buy the book (available at Keio Co-op Fujisawa store) for this course. Please buy the Candlewick Press illustrated edition of the novel as we will also discuss Jim Kay’s award-winning illustrations.

Students will

1. gain confidence in their abilities to read and analyze literary works,

2. boost their vocabulary and cultural awareness,

3. further develop the ability to express themselves in written and spoken English,

4. compare and contrast a novel with its cinematic counterpart,

5. identify themes within the work to expand upon in the final presentation.

Attendance/Participation: 30%
Homework: 40%
Midterm essay test: 15%
Presentation: 15%
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1	Introduction Explain syllabus Why A Monster Calls?
2	“A Monster Calls,” “Breakfast,” “School,” “Life Writing” (pg. 1-27)
3	“Three Stories,” “Grandma,” “The Wildness of Stories” (pg. 28-51)
4	“The First Tale,” “The Rest of the First Tale,” “Understanding,” “Little Talk” (pg. 52-79)
5	“Grandma’s House,” “Champ,” “Americans Don’t Get Much Holiday,” “The Second Tale,” “The Rest of the Second Tale” (pg. 80-114)
6	“Destruction,” “Invisible,” “Yew Trees,” “Could It Be?” (pg. 115-135)
7	“No Tale,” “I No Longer See You,” “The Third Tale,” “Punishment,” “A Note” (pg. 136-162)
8	“100 Years,” “What’s the Use of You?” “The Fourth Tale,” “The Rest of the Fourth Tale,” “Life After Death,” “Something in Common,” “The Truth” (pg. 163-205)
9	Week 9: Midterm essay test Submit the test, Discuss final presentations
10	Week 10: (film) A Monster Calls (2016) Discuss the movie
11	Week 11: Final presentations wk. 1
12	Week 12: Final presentations wk. 2
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Please buy the Candlewick Press illustrated edition of the novel as we will also discuss Jim Kay’s award-winning illustrations.