Lesson Report:
**Title: Exploring Translation and Understanding: Poetry, Language, and Justice**
Synopsis: In this session, students explored the concept of “lost in translation” through poetry, examined philosophical ideas on language and meaning particularly through the lens of Jacques Derrida, and engaged with Martin Luther King’s ideas on law and justice to critically examine the relationship between written law and ethical justice. Students actively participated in translation exercises, poetry readings, and discussions to better understand translation nuances and the deeper meanings that persist or get altered through language.
**Attendance:**
– No students were specifically mentioned as absent.
**Topics Covered:**
1. **Translation Reflection:**
– Students reviewed two different English translations of a poem from their notebooks.
– Discussion focused on the concept of “lost in translation,” analyzing differences, similarities, and potential losses in meaning between translations.
2. **Poetry Reading Circle:**
– Conducted outdoors in a Greek theater setting, students read their selected original poems and English translations.
– Emphasis was placed on understanding the translation process and recognizing the challenges of maintaining a poem’s “soul” through different languages.
3. **Discussion on Meaning and Language:**
– Introduced the philosophical concept by Jacques Derrida, “there is nothing outside of the text,” to discuss the limits of language in conveying meaning.
– Students debated whether something survives translation and the existence of meaning outside textual representation.
4. **Comparative Analysis: Law and Justice:**
– Class discussion expanded to concepts of law and justice, prompted by a reading of Martin Luther King’s text.
– Students discussed what constitutes a just law, MLK’s views on breaking unjust laws, and the moral responsibilities tied to these actions.
5. **Partner Activity:**
– Students paired up to list similarities and differences between law and justice based on MLK’s text.
– Reflections included examples of historical and contemporary applications of justice, providing a framework for understanding civil disobedience.
**Actionable Items:**
– **Follow-up Discussions:**
– Continue exploring philosophical questions about whether a core meaning exists outside language.
– Further examine examples both historical and contemporary related to laws versus justice.
– **Reading Reflection:**
– Encourage students to continue reflecting on MLK’s writings and draw parallels with modern justice issues.
– **Notebook Organization:**
– Ensure students’ notebooks are correctly returned and organized after session activities.
– **Next Session Preparation:**
– Prepare for upcoming activities by revisiting the day’s topics in preparation for future lessons or assignments as needed.
Homework Instructions:
ASSIGNMENT #1: Exploring Lost in Translation
In this assignment, you will explore the concept of ‘lost in translation’ by analyzing two English translations of a poem, aiming to understand the nuances and potential shifts in meaning that occur during translation.
Instructions:
1. Retrieve your original notebook, which contains the two English translations of the poem you found.
2. Read both English translations carefully.
3. Compare the translations by noting down similarities and differences in the interpretations. Focus on aspects such as word choice, tone, and any apparent shifts in meaning.
4. Reflect on the original poem’s essence and consider if anything significant seems lost or altered in the English versions.
5. Write a short paragraph summarizing your thoughts on whether something inherently human or emotional persists or is changed when a poem is translated.
ASSIGNMENT #2: Law vs. Justice
This assignment invites you to reflect on and articulate the differences and similarities between the concepts of law and justice, using ideas discussed in class.
Instructions:
1. Review the section of Martin Luther King’s writing discussed in class that contrasts just and unjust laws.
2. In your notebook, write down your interpretation of Martin Luther King’s perspective on breaking laws and how this ties into the concepts of law and justice.
3. With a partner or independently, list two or three similarities and differences between law and justice.
4. Consider providing examples from personal observations or historical contexts to support your points.
5. Summarize your findings and reflections in a concise paragraph.