Creating parodies and satires, and modern day adaptations are part of a rich literary tradition. They are also valuable tools for teaching students about literature. Through creative writing, students learn to use literary elements in context, committing these terms to memory. Adaptations are also perfect for connecting to themes in stories, as students should mimic the themes they pull from the original material.
Have students create their own modern day adaptation for The Monsters are Due on Maple Street. For this assignment, you can have students rewrite the ending, rewrite the story in a contemporary setting, or choose an event from history that resonates with the themes of the story. Possible historical examples include the Salem Witch Trials, events leading up to the Holocaust, Japanese Internment Camps, and post 9/11 racial profiling.
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Student Instructions
Create a plot diagram for an original story that uses ideas from The Monsters are Due on Maple Street.
Before students get started on their own adaptations, teachers can discuss some examples of historical writings that have been adapted into modern writings or movies/ series. This will give students an idea and act as a sample for guidance.
After telling the objectives of the activity, ask the students to select an old writing that they want to use for their modern adaptation. This modern adaptation can be in any form such as a modern theatre play, a short video, or even a contemporary story.
Once the students have selected their text, talk with them about the classic themes and components that the original book had. These could include justice, social status, love, and power. Encourage them to consider how these ideas could be applicable in a contemporary setting. Explain to the students how these core elements will always remain the same for any adaptation.
Discuss possible contemporary contexts for the adaptation with the students. Encourage experimentation and innovation. For instance, students could think of a contemporary corporate headquarters if the original work is set in a medieval castle. Remind the students to keep the original lesson and essence of the themes in the story despite the time period.
Talk about how the speech and language will be updated for a contemporary audience. Encourage the students to utilize modern vocabulary while adhering to the main ideas of the original work. Students can also discuss adding the role of technology into the narrative and use modern ideas such as social media to enhance their story.
A classic or earlier piece of literature or media is reimagined or reinterpreted in a current context as a modern adaptation. To make the story relevant to a contemporary audience, it requires modernizing components like the setting, characters, and themes. The adaptation serves as a focal point for conveying important themes and ideas from older times to newer audiences according to contemporary changes.
The original story's main themes include anxiety, paranoia, community, trust, and the possibility of armed confrontation among people. These ideas may be smoothly incorporated into a contemporary environment. Students can use the environment of a corporate office to recreate the narrative.