Lesson Plan: From Allegory to Ankh-Morpork—The Architecture of Conceptual Worlds
Materials Needed:
- Familiarity with (or copies of) C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards! (or another Discworld novel), and Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth.
- A notebook or journal for writing.
- Pens or pencils.
- A large piece of paper (or a whiteboard) and markers for brainstorming.
- Optional: Access to a digital tool like Miro or Google Jamboard for the comparative analysis.
1. Learning Objectives (What You'll Be Able to Do)
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Analyze how an author uses a central abstract idea (like theology, satire, or language) to establish the fundamental rules of a fictional world.
- Compare and contrast the world-building techniques of C.S. Lewis, Terry Pratchett, and Norton Juster, identifying commonalities in their use of allegory and metaphor.
- Create the foundational concept for an original fictional world by applying these analytical insights to a new abstract idea.
2. Introduction: The Unifying Idea (15 minutes)
We'll begin with a central question: What do a divine lion, a city powered by storytelling, and a land where words grow on trees have in common?
While they seem vastly different, all three are examples of conceptual world-building. Instead of building a world from geography or history first, these authors start with a "big idea" and let that idea dictate the physics, society, and rules of their universe.
- Discuss: Let's briefly define the "big idea" for each world:
- Narnia (Lewis): A world built upon Christian allegory and a medieval sense of cosmic order.
- Discworld (Pratchett): A world built on the power of human belief and narrative, used to satirize our own reality.
- The Lands Beyond (Juster): A world built on the literal interpretation of language, numbers, and concepts to explore the nature of learning.
3. Guided Discussion: How the Big Idea Creates the Rules (30 minutes)
A strong concept isn't just a theme; it generates the laws of reality for the story. We'll explore this through a guided Socratic discussion. The goal is not to find "right" answers, but to explore the mechanics of these worlds.
Discussion Prompts:
- On Lewis and Divine Order: In Narnia, Aslan's death and resurrection are not just plot points; they are a fulfillment of the "Deep Magic." How does this show that the world's rules are theological, not just physical? How does the presence of "magic" from a divine source differ from the magic in other fantasy worlds?
- On Pratchett and Narrative Causality: In Discworld, things often happen because stories say they should happen (this is called 'narrativium'). A million-to-one chance succeeds nine times out of ten. How does Pratchett use this "rule" to create both humor and profound commentary on human nature? Can you think of an example in Guards! Guards! where the story a character *believes* about themselves or the city changes the outcome?
- On Juster and Linguistic Literalism: In The Phantom Tollbooth, Milo literally jumps to the Island of Conclusions and has to eat his words. How does Juster use these literal rules to teach the reader about the importance of thought, process, and communication? What would a modern version of this look like—a world built on internet slang or emojis?
- On the Protagonist's Role: How does each protagonist's journey serve the world's "big idea"?
- Lucy Pevensie's journey is one of faith.
- Milo's journey is one from boredom to intellectual curiosity.
- Sam Vimes' journey is one of cynical duty confronting ridiculous narrative forces.
4. Activity Part 1: Comparative World-Building Chart (15 minutes)
Let's organize our thoughts visually. On a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, we will create a chart to map the architecture of these worlds. This will help solidify the concepts we've discussed.
| World-Building Element | C.S. Lewis (Narnia) | Norton Juster (Lands Beyond) | Terry Pratchett (Discworld) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core "Big Idea" | (e.g., Christian Allegory) | (e.g., Power of Language/Learning) | (e.g., Satire of Human Narrative) |
| Source of "Magic"/Power | (e.g., Divine will, Deep Magic) | (e.g., Literal interpretation of ideas) | (e.g., Narrativium, belief, weak magic) |
| Author's Primary Goal | (e.g., To instruct, to create a 'supposal') | (e.g., To educate, to inspire curiosity) | (e.g., To satirize, to hold a mirror to reality) |
5. Activity Part 2: Creative Application: The World-Builder's Sketch (45 minutes)
Now it's your turn to be the architect. Your task is to design a new conceptual world based on an abstract idea. This is not about writing a full story, but about creating a compelling and logical foundation for one.
Step 1: Choose Your Concept (5 minutes)
Select one abstract concept to be the "big idea" of your world. Here are some suggestions, but feel free to choose your own:
- Memory
- Justice
- Music
- Bureaucracy
- Ambition
- Secrets
- The Internet
Step 2: Brainstorm the Rules (15 minutes)
Using your notebook, answer the following questions about your new world:
- The Core Logic: How does your concept manifest physically or socially? (e.g., If the concept is "Justice," is it a finite resource that can be mined? Is it a weather system? A currency?)
- The Rules of Reality: What are 3-5 fundamental laws of this world dictated by your concept? (e.g., "1. Every crime creates a literal 'stain' on the landscape. 2. A 'Just' person can cleanse these stains, but it costs them some of their life force. 3. There is a black market for bottled 'injustice' that can be used as a weapon.")
- The Inhabitants: What kind of person or creature would thrive here? Who would suffer? Sketch a brief character concept and their central conflict. (e.g., "An 'Auditor' of Justice who is morally grey and must balance the books of a corrupt city.")
Step 3: Write the Sketch (25 minutes)
Write a one-page "World-Builder's Sketch" that brings your idea to life. It should include:
- A Title for your world concept.
- A short, evocative description (2-3 sentences) of the world.
- Your list of 3-5 core rules.
- A brief character profile and their central problem.
- An opening paragraph of a story set in this world, to establish the tone.
6. Reflection and Wrap-Up (10 minutes)
Share your World-Builder's Sketch. As we review it, consider the following:
- Which author's style (Lewis, Pratchett, or Juster) did you find yourself leaning toward the most, and why?
- What was the most challenging part of turning an abstract idea into a set of concrete rules?
- How does this exercise change the way you might read or analyze other works of fantasy in the future?
Assessment Criteria for the "World-Builder's Sketch"
Your creative piece will be viewed as successful if it demonstrates:
- Conceptual Clarity: The central abstract idea is clear and consistently applied.
- Logical Consistency: The "rules" of the world logically flow from the central concept.
- Creative Application: The sketch shows originality in how the concept is interpreted and in the character/conflict presented.
- Evocative Voice: The writing style and opening paragraph effectively establish a distinct tone for the world.