Activity: Analyzing Economic Themes in Literature UFC first lesson 2024

Activity: Analyzing Economic Themes in Literature

Objective: To explore and analyze the representation of economic themes in literary works, understanding their impact on characters, societies, and the overall narrative.

Instructions:

1. Pre-Activity Reading:

• Read the provided introductory text on the relationship between literature and economics.
• Familiarize yourself with Text A from "Economics and Literature" by Akdere and Baron and Text B from "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith.

2. Activity - Text Analysis:

A. Economic Themes in Text A: - Identify key economic themes mentioned in Text A. - Discuss how the "economic novel" is described and its role in portraying economic choices and events. - Explore the connection between literature and economic development mentioned in the text. - Share your thoughts on how literature can express critical viewpoints about economic development.

B. Excerpt Analysis from "The Wealth of Nations" (Text B): - Summarize the main points in the excerpt from Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations." - Reflect on how the division of labor is portrayed and its implications for society. - Connect the economic concepts discussed in the excerpt to the broader themes of literature.

3. Activity - Literary Works Analysis:

A. Analyzing Industrial Settings in Text A and Text B: - Read Text A from "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens. - Analyze how the industrial setting is portrayed in the text. - Discuss the impact of machinery and industrialization on the environment and society. - Connect the themes in Text A to the economic concepts discussed in Lesson 1.

B. Exploring Economic Realities in Text B and Text C: - Read Text B from "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair and Text C from "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. - Identify instances of economic struggles and challenges faced by characters. - Discuss how economic conditions contribute to the development of the narrative. - Compare and contrast the economic themes in Text B and Text C.

C. Wealth and Social Status in Text D: - Read the excerpt from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen (Text D). - Explore how wealth and social status are portrayed in the text. - Discuss the impact of economic factors on the characters' lives and relationships. - Connect the representation of wealth in literature to broader economic ideologies.

4. Post-Activity Discussion:

• Share your findings and insights with the class.
• Discuss the commonalities and differences in the representation of economic themes across the analyzed texts.
• Reflect on how literature serves as a medium for exploring and critiquing economic concepts.

5. Homework Assignment:

• Read additional literary works that explore economic themes.
• Write a short essay analyzing how economic concepts are portrayed in one of the selected works, drawing parallels to real-world economic situations.

This activity aims to engage students in a thoughtful analysis of how literature reflects and critiques economic themes, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between literature and economic concepts.

Answers:

2. Activity - Text Analysis:

A. Economic Themes in Text A: - Key economic themes in Text A include the portrayal of economic choices, events, and the emergence of the "economic novel." - The "economic novel" is described as a genre that uses economic elements to narrate social behavior, individual desires, and non-economic decisions. - Literature serves as a means to express critical viewpoints about economic development, including ecological and social ramifications.

B. Excerpt Analysis from "The Wealth of Nations" (Text B): - The excerpt discusses the positive effects of the division of labor on the productive powers of labor. - It emphasizes that the division of labor is most obvious in smaller, specialized manufactures, impacting the overall business of society. - Connects economic concepts (division of labor) to broader literary themes, showcasing how economic ideas shape narrative structure.

3. Activity - Literary Works Analysis:

A. Analyzing Industrial Settings in Text A and Text B: - In Text A ("Hard Times" by Charles Dickens), the industrial setting is portrayed negatively, emphasizing pollution, tall chimneys, and a monotonous steam-engine. - The impact of machinery and industrialization on the environment and society is evident, aligning with economic themes explored in Lesson 1.

B. Exploring Economic Realities in Text B and Text C: - Text B ("The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair) depicts economic struggles, such as unsanitary meat processing, reflecting real-world issues. - Text C ("Animal Farm" by George Orwell) explores economic disparities through the depiction of a pig walking on hind legs, symbolizing corruption. - Both texts highlight how economic conditions contribute to the narrative and social dynamics.

C. Wealth and Social Status in Text D: - The excerpt from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen (Text D) highlights the importance of wealth and social status. - Economic factors shape characters' lives and relationships, aligning with the broader economic ideologies explored in the lesson.

4. Post-Activity Discussion:

• Students can share their insights on the representation of economic themes in literature.
• Discuss commonalities and differences in how economic concepts are portrayed across the analyzed texts.
• Reflect on the role of literature as a medium for critiquing and understanding economic ideologies.

True or False Activity: Economic Themes in Literature

Instructions: Indicate whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) based on the information provided in the introductory lesson and the selected texts.

1. The "economic novel" is a new genre that puts forth economic choices and events but does not impact the portrayal of social behavior or individual desires.
2. The division of labor, according to Adam Smith's excerpt from "The Wealth of Nations," has the greatest impact on smaller, specialized manufactures.
3. In "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens, the industrial setting is portrayed positively, emphasizing the advancements brought about by machinery and tall chimneys.
4. Text B from "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair describes the meat processing industry in a sanitized and hygienic manner, reflecting ideal working conditions.
5. The excerpt from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen suggests that wealth and social status have no influence on characters' lives or relationships.
6. According to Akdere and Baron, literature provides a means to express critical viewpoints about economic development, including ecological and social ramifications.

Difficult True or False Activity: Literary Critique

Instructions: Evaluate the following statements regarding the representation of economic themes in literature. Determine whether each statement is true (T) or false (F) based on a nuanced understanding of the texts and the introductory lesson.

1. The portrayal of economic struggles in "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair is solely intended to criticize the meat processing industry, without broader implications for societal issues.
2. In "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, the depiction of a pig walking on hind legs is a straightforward symbol of economic corruption, with no deeper political or social meaning.
3. The division of labor, as discussed in Adam Smith's excerpt, is presented as an inherently positive force without consideration for potential drawbacks or negative consequences.
4. The representation of industrial settings in "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens serves as a cautionary tale against the unchecked growth of industrialization, highlighting its negative impact on both the environment and society.
5. The concept of the "economic novel," according to Akdere and Baron, primarily focuses on economic choices and events, neglecting its potential to narrate non-economic decisions or social behavior.
6. Literature's role in expressing critical viewpoints about economic development, as suggested by Akdere and Baron, is limited to ecological concerns and does not extend to social or political ramifications.

These challenging true or false statements aim to test students' deeper comprehension and critical thinking skills regarding the nuanced portrayal of economic themes in literature.

True or False Activity: Economic Themes in Literature

1. False - The "economic novel" is described as a genre that puts forth economic choices and events and also narrates social behavior, individual desires, and non-economic decisions.
2. True - According to Adam Smith's excerpt, the division of labor is commonly supposed to be carried furthest in smaller, specialized manufactures.
3. False - In "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens, the industrial setting is portrayed negatively, emphasizing pollution, tall chimneys, and a monotonous steam-engine.
4. False - Text B from "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair describes unsanitary conditions in the meat processing industry, reflecting real-world issues.
5. False - The excerpt from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen suggests that wealth and social status do influence characters' lives and relationships.
6. True - Akdere and Baron suggest that literature provides a means to express critical viewpoints about economic development, including ecological and social ramifications.

Difficult True or False Activity: Literary Critique

1. False - The portrayal of economic struggles in "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair has broader implications for societal issues, criticizing not only the meat processing industry but also the exploitation of workers and unsanitary conditions.
2. False - In "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, the depiction of a pig walking on hind legs symbolizes political corruption, serving as an allegory for the abuse of power in the Soviet Union.
3. False - The division of labor, as discussed in Adam Smith's excerpt, is presented with an understanding of potential drawbacks, such as the difficulty in observing its effects in large manufactures.
4. True - The representation of industrial settings in "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens serves as a cautionary tale against the unchecked growth of industrialization, highlighting its negative impact on both the environment and society.
5. False - The concept of the "economic novel" focuses on economic choices and events but also narrates non-economic decisions and social behavior, as described by Akdere and Baron.
6. False - Literature's role in expressing critical viewpoints about economic development, as suggested by Akdere and Baron, extends beyond ecological concerns to include social, political, and moral ramifications.

Match Table: Economic Terms in Literature

Instructions: Match the economic terms in the left column with their corresponding definitions or descriptions in the right column.

Answers:

1. Division of Labor - E. The process of breaking down a production process into smaller tasks to increase efficiency.
2. Economic Novel - A. A genre that narrates social behavior and individual desires through economic events.
3. Industrialization - D. A system where society or a country transforms from an agrarian-based economy to an industrial one.
4. Economic Realities - F. The analysis of how economic factors drive individual ambitions, societal changes, and moral dilemmas in literature.
5. Social and Political Ramifications - C. The portrayal of societal and individual consequences of economic interests and choices.
6. Capitalism - G. An economic system where private individuals and businesses own and control the means of production.
7. Wealth and Social Status - H. A measure of an individual's or society's financial and material well-being.
8. Economic Development - J. The economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the pursuit of profit.
9. Consumerism - I. The study of the distribution, production, and consumption of goods and services.
10. Socio-economic Dynamics - B. The effects of this concept are more evident in smaller, specialized manufactures.

Fill in the Gaps: Complete the Sentences

1. Since the Middle Ages, literature has portrayed the economic world in poetry, drama, stories, and novels. The nexus linking characters to their economic environment is central in a new genre, the "economic novel," that puts forth ______________.

Answer: economic choices and events to narrate social behavior, individual desires, and even non-economic decisions.

2. In those great manufactures, on the contrary, which are destined to supply the great wants of the great body of the people, every different branch of the work employs so great a number of workmen that it is impossible to collect them all into the same workhouse. We can seldom see more, at one time, than those employed in one single branch. Though in such manufactures, therefore, the work may really be divided into a much greater number of parts than in those of a more trifling nature, the division is not near so obvious, and has accordingly been much less observed. This passage from Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" emphasizes the challenges in observing the division of labor in large manufactures due to the ______________.

Answer: impossibility of collecting all workmen from different branches into the same workhouse, making the division less obvious.

3. In "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens, the industrial setting is portrayed as a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents of smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever. This negative portrayal serves as a cautionary tale against the unchecked growth of industrialization, highlighting its negative impact on ______________.

Answer: both the environment and society.

4. Text B from "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair describes meat stored in great piles in rooms, with water from leaky roofs dripping over it and rats racing about. This depiction reflects real-world issues and emphasizes the unsanitary conditions in the meat processing industry, contributing to the overall critique of ______________.

Answer: the exploitation of workers and unhealthy practices in the industry.

5. The concept of the "economic novel" is a new genre that emerged to narrate social behavior, individual desires, and even non-economic decisions through economic choices and events. This genre provides a means for authors to express critical viewpoints about economic development, including its ______________.

Answer: ecological or social ramifications.

6. The representation of wealth and social status in "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen highlights their influence on characters' lives and relationships. The character exclaims, "Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!" This emphasizes the societal importance placed on ______________.

Answer: the financial status and wealth of individuals, especially in the context of marriage prospects for young women.

7. The terrified neighing of a horse in "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, followed by the discovery of a pig walking on his hind legs, symbolizes a pivotal moment in the narrative. This event signifies the ______________.

Answer: corruption and abuse of power, drawing parallels to political realities.

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