View a FREE sample

Lesson 1 (from Chapters 1-2)

Objective

In Chapters 1 and 2, the reader is introduced to the main characters and the style of the story being told. The author reveals that the book will read more like a magazine than a regular novel, where the action happens in short bursts of visceral description, similar to watching a film or television. A major device of the novel, the phantom photographer bringing Shannon's feelings to light, is also introduced.

Lesson

1) Class Activity: Choose sections of Chapter 1 to read aloud. Focus on the structure of the text. How does the author introduce the characters and the setting?

2) Group Discussion: Based on Chapter 1 alone, what are your impressions of each character? What do you think their relationships are? Whose point of view is describing the first scene?

3) Class Discussion: The opening of the novel is extremely cinematic, which many of Palahniuk's novels tend to be. What elements of...

(read more Daily Lessons)

This section contains 6,890 words (approx. 23 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample