Task 1
Analyzing the Influence of Classic Literature on
Contemporary Literature
In this activity, you will create a digital presentation that analyzes the influence of a work of
classic literature on a work of contemporary literature.
In this task, you will prepare for your presentation by analyzing the influence of classic
literature on contemporary world texts.
You will need to analyze the influence of these elements, where possible:
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characters
archetypes
themes
allusions
To be clear, both texts you analyze are your choice. Just make sure one is classic and the
other is contemporary.
TIP: For the purposes of this assignment, a classic text is any work of literature published
before 1946. A contemporary text is any work of literature published from 1946 onward.
Check with your teacher if you're not sure if your texts qualify.
Part A - Compare a Classic and Contemporary Text
Select a classic text and a contemporary text that it has influenced. It's your choice which
texts you analyze. Then, use the table to compare the characters, archetypes, themes, and
allusions in each text. In the last column, analyze the influence of the classic text on the
contemporary one. Remember, you will use this information to create your digital
presentation on how a classic literary text has influenced a contemporary literary text.
Try your best to analyze all four elements listed in the table. However, it's acceptable to
write that no archetypes or allusions could be found if there are no clear examples in one
of the texts. Just make sure you've given the text a thorough search first.
TIP: You may want to choose a text you read in this unit so that you are familiar with its
characters, archetypes, themes, and allusions.