Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: First Term
Week: 11
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Literature in English
Curriculum Theme: Literary Analysis (Prose)
Previous Lesson: Character Analysis (Major Characters) in “Native Son”.
Topic: Character Analysis II in “Native Son”
Subject Matter: Minor characters in “Native Son”, roles and significance of minor characters, relationships among characters

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Identify at least three minor characters in “Native Son”.
State the role of at least two minor characters in the novel.

Affective Domain:

Discuss the significance of minor characters to the overall themes of the novel.
Appreciate how minor characters contribute to the protagonist’s development.

Psychomotor Domain:

Analyze the relationships between Bigger Thomas and various minor characters.
Illustrate how minor characters advance the plot of “Native Son”.

Actively participate in group discussions about the roles and interactions of characters.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Wright, R. (1940). Native Son. Harper & Brothers.
Adediran, A. (2018). Effective Literature in English for Senior Secondary Schools 2. Learn Africa Plc.
https://www.literature.org/authors/wright-richard/native-son/index.html
https://www.gradesaver.com/native-son/study-guide/character-list

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Copies of the novel “Native Son” by Richard Wright
Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand that all characters, even minor ones, contribute significantly to the plot, character development, and themes of a novel. Understanding minor characters deepens pupils’ appreciation of “Native Son” and improves their literary analysis skills.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have read the novel “Native Son” and have a basic understanding of its major characters and plot.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Character Analysis II in “Native Son”

Introduction to Minor Characters

Minor characters are supporting figures in a novel who are not the main focus but are essential to the plot, theme development, and the protagonist’s journey. They often serve to highlight aspects of the major characters or provide crucial plot points.

Key Minor Characters, their Roles and Significance

The following are important minor characters in “Native Son”:

Mary Dalton: The rebellious daughter of the wealthy Dalton family, whose accidental death at Bigger’s hands is the catalyst for the entire plot. Her character highlights Bigger’s fear and the racial tension of the time.
Jan Erlone: Mary’s communist boyfriend, who Bigger initially frames for Mary’s disappearance. Jan later becomes a supporter of Bigger, representing a hopeful, albeit limited, bridge across racial divides.
Mrs. Dalton: The blind, philanthropic matriarch of the Dalton family. She embodies a form of well-meaning but ultimately ineffective white liberalism, unaware of the deeper racial injustices.
Bessie Mears: Bigger’s girlfriend and an alcoholic. She is another victim of Bigger’s fear and violence, representing the vulnerability and suffering of black women caught in the oppressive environment.
Boris A. Max: The communist lawyer who defends Bigger during his trial. Max uses Bigger’s case to expose the systemic racism and socioeconomic injustices faced by African Americans, shifting the focus from Bigger’s personal guilt to society’s culpability.

Relationships Among Characters

Minor characters have complex relationships that impact Bigger and the narrative:

Bigger and Mary Dalton: A relationship driven by fear, fascination, and ultimately, accidental violence. Her death propels Bigger into a life of crime and flight.
Bigger and Jan Erlone: Initially one of suspicion and accusation, it evolves into a complex dynamic where Jan, despite being a white man, offers Bigger a measure of understanding and support.
Bigger and Mrs. Dalton: A relationship marked by Bigger’s fear of her blindness and the social distance between them, highlighting his discomfort and anxiety in the white world.
Bigger and Bessie Mears: A relationship of convenience and shared suffering, but also one where Bigger exploits and ultimately murders Bessie in his desperate attempt to escape.
Bigger and Boris A. Max: An adversarial relationship transforms into a unique bond where Max attempts to articulate Bigger’s inner turmoil and the societal forces that shaped him, providing a voice for the voiceless.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and reviews the previous lesson on major characters in “Native Son”. The teacher then introduces the topic of minor characters and their importance.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, recall previous knowledge, and listen attentively to the new topic.
Learning Point: Pupils are reminded of the novel’s context and prepared for the new lesson.

Step 2: Identification of Minor Characters

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Recalling/Brainstorming
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to name some minor characters they remember from “Native Son” and writes their suggestions on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and mention various minor characters from the novel.
Learning Point: Pupils identify key minor characters in the novel.

Step 3: Roles of Minor Characters

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides a discussion on the specific roles and contributions of selected minor characters such as Mary Dalton, Jan Erlone, and Mrs. Dalton, explaining how they impact the plot.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion by explaining what these characters do in the story.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the functional roles of minor characters.

Step 4: Significance of Minor Characters

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Analysis/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how the roles of these minor characters are significant to the themes of the novel (e.g., racism, fear, social injustice) and Bigger’s development.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask questions for clarification regarding the significance of the characters.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the deeper meaning and impact of minor characters.

Step 5: Relationships Among Characters

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Question and Answer/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the relationships between Bigger and these minor characters (e.g., Bigger’s fear of Mrs. Dalton, his complex interactions with Jan, his abusive relationship with Bessie).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss the nature of these relationships and their implications.
Learning Point: Pupils analyze the relational dynamics within the novel.

Step 6: Board Summary

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Writing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the key points of the lesson on the board for pupils to copy into their notes.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the board summary into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning by recording important information.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

List three minor characters in Richard Wright’s “Native Son”.
Explain the role of Bessie Mears in the novel.
How does Jan Erlone’s character contribute to the plot?
Discuss the significance of Mrs. Dalton to the themes explored in “Native Son”.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Recap/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson by reiterating the importance of minor characters. The teacher then gives pupils homework: “Discuss how Boris A. Max’s defense strategy sheds light on the societal issues in ‘Native Son’.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding and are given an opportunity for further reflection.

Lesson Keywords

Minor characters – Supporting characters who are not the main focus but are important to the story.
Significance – The importance or meaning of a character’s role in the novel.
Roles – The specific functions or actions a character performs in the plot.
Relationships – The connections and interactions between characters.
Native Son – The title of the novel by Richard Wright being studied.

Differentiation

For struggling learners, the teacher will provide simplified character summaries and direct questions. Advanced learners will be encouraged to discuss the symbolic significance of minor characters and their contribution to literary naturalism.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that pupils have read the relevant sections of “Native Son” before the lesson. Encourage active participation and a safe space for discussing sensitive themes related to race and social injustice. Use visual aids like a character map if available to help pupils visualize relationships.