Didactical path „Freedom of thought, expression and information

                                                Polish literature

 

Topics	Contents
1. An individual in a clash with the external world – “The Trial” by F. Kafka	1. Summary of the extracts presenting arresting, description of the court, its functioning and procedures, lawyers and other employees, etc. 2. Interpretation of the parable of the porter and Joseph K.’s opinion that „lies are becoming the essence of the world order”. 3.The novel read as a parable, the foecast of the inhuman totalitarian system, in which the individual doesn’t know what he/ she is accused of, writes explanations, is interrogated but cannot prove his/ her innocence, and finally dies harassed by the officials.
2. Does everybody have the right to the freedom of expression?? - a review of the performance „Accused Joseph K.” based on “The Trial” by F. Kafka	1.Presentation of the stage arrangement, characters, plot in the theatre adaptation of „The Trial” by F. Kafka   2. Pointing out a literary convention of grotesque, absurdity, lack of logic, hyperbole-dressing actors in cardboard boxes as a symbol of ruthlessness of the officials representing bureaucratic killing machine. Explanation why Joseph K. doesn’t have his own box and reference to the title of the performance.   3. Collecting arguments with reference to the topic, discussion showing how current is the problem of the clash of an individual with an impersonal system.
3. Right to express the truth in a poem-legend “Message of Mr. Cogito” by Zbigniew Herbert	1. Presenting the development of Polish literature after 1945, with special emphasis on the situation in the country (to ideology) and in emigration (the importance of „Culture” in Paris). 2. Refusal to accept the binding ideology and dispute about ethical and aesthetic values. Presenting „invincible attitude „adopted by oppositionists against communist authorities. 3.Explanation of the terms such as : panegyric, exhile, alienation, censorship, etc.
4.Participation in an exhibition  „Herbert in second circulation of publications”	1.The exhibition presents the times of the communist regime till 1989 when Herbert’s works were not published officially, but were only published by underground publishing houses, in the “second circulation of publications” as opposed to “the first circulation” (legal, censored publications) It was connected with poor quality of print, paper, etc. These “illegal” publications, however, reached wide groups of readers, passed from hands to hands. 2 The exhibition was organised by „Free Word Society” in Warsaw. 3. Collecting information about the exhibition (newspapers, magazines, the Internet) and writing an essay or a review.
5.Tongue at freedom and tongue imprisoned	1.Defining characteristic features of the language of journalism and propaganda, mechanisms of linguistic manipulation   2Collecting words and idioms with reference to the freedom of thought, expression and information   3. Tongue at freedom – a phrase book of the expressions describing students’ everyday life.

 

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