ELA 9 Novel Study

W. O. Mitchell’s Who Has Seen The Wind

Mr. Steel

 

In our class, we will be studying the Canadian classic by W. O. Mitchell, Who Has Seen The Wind. During our reading and analysis of the book, students will have the opportunity to gain familiarity with some of Mitchell’s source texts for the novel, and they will gain valuable practice in drawing connections between texts. We will also be engaging as a class in the spiritual and philosophical questions various among the characters in the novel are led to consider.

 

Work and Assessment

 

Daily Reflective Reponses on the Readings:

After each reading session, students will be required to write a double-spaced one page reflective response to the novel. These responses ought not to be simply summaries of what happened. Rather, students are expected to engage critically with the text. They ought to examine, for instance, a particular theme, a question, the development of a character, or perhaps a symbol that arises in the text. Each reflection must end with a question. It is from this pool of questions that we will be drawing for our classroom discussions.

 

Critical Essay:

Students must follow the critical essay format as discussed in class. Papers must be submitted on time or else suffer late penalties. Every student must choose ONE of the following paper topics:

1. Trace the appearances of the wind imagery in the novel, and explain their relation to the title.

2. Trace the development of Brian’s “feeling” throughout the novel. What is the final insight that he comes to understand?

3. Examine the intellectual views of Mr. Digby, Milt Palmer, and Mr. Hislop.

4. Write an essay that critically examines the portrayal of nature in the novel.

5. Write an essay that investigates the manner in which the novel can be viewed as social satire.

6. Research prairie farming problems, and evaluate Sean O’Connal’s ideas in light of your research.

7. Discuss Mitchell’s view of formal religion, as it is seen in the novel.

 

Quiz and Unit Final:

Every student will study for the short quiz and longer test that will be given at the end of the novel. Students should be familiar with events and characters in the book, as well as with the discussions that we have had in class concerning the book’s imagery and symbolism. Knowledge of poetic and literary devices will be important.