Module 1.2 - JULES VERNE

Introduction

You will learn about the Victorian fascination with travel, exotic lands and
peoples, and the concept of the shrinking world.

Introduction
The French writer, Jules Verne (1828-1905), wrote science and adventure stories
that seemed fantastic to his 19th-century contemporaries, but that have proven surprisingly
prophetic. In this module, we will study one of Verne’s best-known stories,
Around the World in Eighty Days. I think you will enjoy following Phileas Fogg and
his valet, Passepartout, as they race against a deadline in order to win a wager.

Something to think about . . .
It was during the Victorian era that travel became increasingly possible for many
people. Railroads reached far into places that seemed exotic, and ships sailed regularly
for faraway lands. Jules Verne looked beyond what was happening, and created
novels that no longer seemed absurdly impossible. If man could travel around the
world in eighty days, why couldn’t he journey to the center of the earth or live 20,000
leagues under the sea?

Be sure to notice . . .
Jules Verne has chosen a special format for his chapter titles. Each title begins
with “In which..” and offers a mini-preview of the chapter. What do you think might
be the purpose of this type of title?

Task
  1. Week 1: Write an Author Profile on Jules Verne.  To prepare yourself for this writing assignment, do all of readings/viewings on the PROCESS tab, taking notes as you go.  Schedule your time so that you will be able to complete ALL the Process tasks AND write the Author Profile by the end of this week.
  2. Week 2: Write the Final draft of your Author Profile AND read Around the World in Eight Days.  Schedule your time so that you will have most or all of the book read by the end of this week.  Remember: Look ahead to Weeks 3 and 4 for your writing assignments, so you can be taking notes as you read in order to speed up the writing process.
  3. Week 3: Write an Approach Paper on the book and watch the movie with Mom & Dad. You will also write the Final draft of your paper.
  4. Week 4: Write a 500-word essay on the following question: Phileas Fogg's valet, Passepartout, is a major source of comedy in the story. Do his actions do more to help or hinder Fogg on his journey? To support your argument, discuss specific events in the story, using appropriate quotes from the text to illustrate your point. Make sure your thesis is clear to the reader and that your essay is well-organized and free from mechanical errors. Use the evaluation rubric (get it from Mom) to check your work.
  5. Weeks 5 & 6: Read the Honors text, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  Write an Approach paper on the book, and type your essay from week 4.
Process
  1. Jules Verne wrote very few short stories, but  “In the Year 2889,” was commissioned in 1889 by an editor who wanted a story about the United States as it would be, one thousand years later. It is fascinating to see how many of Verne’s ideas have become reality!  Read this short story, which has been printed for you and is attached to your assignment list.

  2. These brief quotes are an interesting way to help you get acquainted with Verne and
    his works.  Make sure you read all 31 quotes!   http://www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/listquotes/author/Jules-Verne

  3. Read the biographical information printed for you.  Then watch (and take notes on) this video biography of Jules Verne with Mom.   http://www.biography.com/people/jules-verne-9517579

  4. What did Verne have to say about his own life? In 1894, R. H. Sherard interviewed Jules Verne about his life and work. Read the printed copy included in your assignment sheets.

  5. Jules Verne wrote several poems that were included in his short stories and novels. Read the English translations of a couple of them in your materials.

  6. Jules Verne’s tomb in Amiens, France, features a very odd gravestone:  http://www.julesverne.ca/jvtomb.html
Evaluation
  1. Discuss the "Something to Think About" and "Be Sure to Notice" comments from the Introduction tab with Mom.  Discuss the books, your papers, etc. Which of the Jules Verne books was your favorite? Would you like to read another one in the future, for fun? 

  2. Jules Verne's novels are considered to be not only Science Fiction, but also from the Romantic literary period (1800–1865). Following the French Revolution there was general movement away from the formal literature of the Neoclassical period. Romantic writers believed strongly in mankind’s innate goodness, equality, and potential for achievement, and strongly rejected the Neoclassical view of man as a limited being in a strictly hierarchical society. Nature was rominently featured as a symbol of freedom of the human soul, and scenic beauty as a model for harmony. Emotion, imagination, and intuition were valued above reason and restraint. Authors in this tradition include Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, James Fenimore Cooper, and Henry David Thoreau.  Let's discuss how Verne's novels relate to the above traits of the Romantic literary period.

Conclusion
  1. Any suggestions for making the most of future modules?