Lesson Plan: "A Tragic Story"
1. Learning Objectives
To understand the humor and irony in Thackeray’s poetry.
To identify the central conflict (the sage vs. his pigtail).
To recognize the use of repetition and rhythm in creating a comedic effect.
2. Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to identify that some problems cannot be solved by overthinking or physical effort alone.
Students will apply the concept of logical reasoning to daily challenges, recognizing when a "solution" is physically impossible.
3. Introduction
"Have you ever tried to see your own back without a mirror? What happened?"
"If someone is called a 'sage' or a 'wise man,' do you expect them to act silly or smart?"
"Can you change the position of your shadow by running away from it?"
4. Reading and Understanding
Students will read the poem aloud, focusing on the following vocabulary:
Sage: A very wise person.
Yore: Time long past.
Mused: Thought deeply or dreamed about something.
Stout: Strong, thick, or firm.
Tack: To change direction (like a ship).
5. Mind Map
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| Action Taken | Direction | Result |
| The Turn | Round and round | Still behind him |
| The Spin | Out and in | Still behind him |
| The Twist | Right and left / Up and down | Still behind him |
6. Consolidation and Presentation
The poem tells the story of a "wise" sage from long ago who is deeply upset that his pigtail hangs behind his back. He spends his entire day spinning, twisting, and turning in every possible direction to get the pigtail to hang in front of his face. Despite his "wisdom" and his relentless physical efforts, the laws of geometry prevail: the pigtail remains "faithful to his back."
7. Reinforcement
The teacher explains that the poem is a parody of logic. While the sage is technically "wise," he lacks common sense. The teacher will also point out the Rhyme Scheme (AABB/AAB C) and how the repetition of "behind him" emphasizes the futility of his actions.
8. Evaluation
a) Lower Order (Recall): What was the sage’s main problem in the poem?
b) Middle Order (Understanding): Why did the sage’s plan to "turn round" fail to move the pigtail to the front?
c) Higher Order (Analysis): Thackeray calls this a "Tragic Story." Is it actually tragic, or is the title ironic? Explain your view.
9. Remedial Teaching
For students struggling with the abstract humor, the teacher will use a physical demonstration. A student can wear a "tail" (a ribbon) on their back and try to "outrun" it by spinning, visually proving why the sage's effort was doomed from the start.
10. Writing
Write a short paragraph (50 words) describing a time you tried to solve a problem in a way that didn't make sense, or describe what the sage should have done instead to see his pigtail.
11. Follow Up
Assignment: Draw a three-panel comic strip showing the sage's different attempts to move the pigtail (Spinning, Jumping, Twisting). Label the panels with lines from the poem.
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