Introduction
Shingeki no Webquest
A webquest for 9th grade(+) English
Designed by Sarah Kuchar
Attack on Titan (also known in it's Japanese romanji form as Shingeki no Kyojin) is a manga and anime series created by Hajime Isayama. The series follows Eren Jaeger, a young boy living in a world ravaged by near immortal, humanoid creatures known as titans who eat humans for no reason besides killing. It is unknown exactly when the titans came about, but they have driven human beings to near extinction within the likely short time they have existed. They are primarily unintelligent, but their sheer size is enough of an advantage.
The remaining portions of humanity lives surrounded by three walls to protect them from the bloodlust of the titans. The only people who leave the walls are the Survey Corps (also known as the Scouting Legion or simply Scouts). However, the death rate is incredibly high despite the military training the Scouts have gone through to fight and kill the titans.
Now, here is a question for you to ponder throughout the assignment. Would you be able to live inside the walls?
Task
Your task has multiple layers and several questions attached. Using the process given, you are to write one to two paragraph answers/responses to:
- How could the events in the content affect Eren emotionally besides with grief? Is he now more likely to join the Scouts (if he survives) to exact revenge or more likely to do as he was asked and try to survive by avoiding unneccesary danger?
- Do you think you could handle being a Scout? Would facing your biggest fear be worth the cost of even partial freedom in your eyes?
- What would you have done if put in Hannes's position in the end of the content? Would you have made the same decision? Do you believe he made his choice out of cowardice or logic?
- Based on comparing the technology in their world with our own modern day technology, do you believe the story is set pre or post modern day?
Now for the fun part. Create a conversation you believe Eren would have with either Armin, Mikasa, Carla (his mother), Grisha (his father), or Hannes at any point in their lives based on only what you know so far about the characters. Make sure you pay close attention to their interactions, and search for relationship complexities.
You will be given online sources to the content needed to be analyzed for this assignment.
Process
- Know What You're Talking About. Using the links given, you are to a. read chapter 1 and chapter 2 (only until Hannes sets Eren and Mikasa down) and/or b. watch the first episode.
- Analyze. Once you have finished watching or reading, go through again and analyze. This should be similar to analysis you have done in class with prose, fiction, or poetry. Focus on character interactions and the enviroment.
- Answer question sets a and c. These deal more particularly with your character analysis.
- Answer question sets b and d. Refer back to the sources to be sure your understanding is clear to you.
- Write the conversaton. You may write it in a script form, as dialouge, or as a small piece of prose. This is to test your understanding of interactions and personality traits. Each character must have at least eight lines, and the conversation must display one of the aspects of the characters' personalities you observe.
Chapter 1: http://kissmanga.com/Manga/Shingeki-no-Kyojin/Vol-1-Ch-1--To-You--In-2000-Years?id=71479
Chapter 2: http://kissmanga.com/Manga/Shingeki-no-Kyojin/Vol-1-Ch-2--On-That-Day?id=71495
Episode 1: http://kissanime.to/Anime/Shingeki-no-Kyojin-Dub/Episode-001?id=67457
Warning: The anime is rated TV-14 for the American dub and the manga is not rated. There is violence, gore, and language. If you know you cannot handle blood, please read the manga as opposed to watching as blood in manga form is simply black. However, the violence is the same in both. If there is a problem, let me know and another, similar assignment can be worked out.
Additional Infomation:
- I highly suggest writing down things as you analyze them. Perhaps make a list of the main characters introduced and jot down traits for each as you go.
- Manga is read differently from Western literature. Rather than readng from left to right, you will have to read from right to left. Use the example below to guide you.
Evaluation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Character Analysis | Student did little to no analysis of the characters and failed to display any personality traits in the free writing portion. | Student did some analysis or incorrect anaylsis of the characters and only partially displayed any personality traits in the free writing portion. |
Student's analysis of the characters was in depth and clear. Student displayed personality traits they analyzed within the free writing portion. |
Student's analysis was well explained and in depth. Personality traits were displayed very close to the original characters within the free writing portion. |
/4 |
| Relationship Analysis | Student did little to no analysis of the relationships and failed to display relationship close to the original content in the free writing portion. | Student did some analysis of the relationships and only partially displayed a relationship close to the original content in the free writing portion. |
Student's analysis of the relationship was in depth and clear. Student displayed a relationship close to the original within the free writing portion. |
Student's analysis was well explained and in depth. The relationship was displayed very close to the original within the free writing portion. |
/4 |
| Comparison With Real Life | Student struggled to make any connections within their answers about the connections between the content and real life. | Student made some connections which were either few or unclear. | Student made many connections between the content and real life situations. |
Student made many clear connections between the content and real life situations as well as analyzed the connections themselves. |
/4 |
| Originality | Student's work was basic and observations rather than analysis and/or incomplete. | Student's work was some analysis but primarily observation. | Student's work was clear and held an understanding of using their analysis. |
Student's work was unique and held a clear understanding of using their analysis. |
/4 |
Conclusion
Throughout this activity, you should have developed a greater understanding of character analysis and comparing real life to fiction. Perhaps you should ponder on the first question I asked before as well. Would you be able to live inside the walls? Would you be able to stand living without the freedoms you have? How does this lack of freedom compare to situations in contemporary society?
Credits
Images all found at:
- http://shingekinokyojin.wikia.com/wiki/Shingeki_no_Kyojin_Wiki
- http://wingsoffirefanon.wikia.com/wiki/File:Tumblr_static_eren_jaeger_5.gif
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Story_manga
Here's a gigantic thank you to the creator of the series, Hajime Isayama, for making this world we're all glad we don't live in ourselves.
Last update: November 10th, 2015