Lesson Plan: From Roland to Streaming: Adapting French Classics for the Modern Screen

Subject: French Literature & Creative Writing

Grade Level: High School (Approx. Age 15)

Time Allotment: 2.5 - 3 hours (can be split over multiple days)

Lesson Focus: This lesson bridges classic French literature with modern media by challenging the student to creatively adapt a historical text for a contemporary audience. The focus is on application, critical thinking, and creative expression, not rote memorization.

Materials Needed:

• Access to the internet
• A Lingopie subscription (or free trial)
• Access to texts (digital or physical copies). Public domain versions are easily found online:
  • Summary or excerpts from The Song of Roland
  • At least one lai by Marie de France (e.g., Bisclavret or Lanval)
  • Summary or excerpts from a work by Chrétien de Troyes (e.g., Yvain, the Knight of the Lion)
  • Voltaire's Micromégas
• Notebook and pen, or a computer for writing/creating
• Optional: Paper and drawing materials for storyboarding, or presentation software (like Google Slides) for the pitch deck.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Analyze the core themes, characters, and conflicts in a selected work of early French literature.
2. Compare the values and societal norms of the historical text with contemporary culture.
3. Creatively adapt a classic story into a modern format (script, storyboard, or pitch deck).
4. Connect thematic vocabulary from the classic text to modern French usage via Lingopie.

Lesson Activities

Part 1: The Hook - What Makes a Great Story? (15 Minutes)

1. Modern Media First: Log in to Lingopie French. Choose a show that looks interesting (a drama, comedy, or thriller). Watch the first 5 minutes of an episode.
2. Discussion: As you watch, think about these questions:
   • What grabs your attention immediately? Is it the character, the situation, the action?
   • What is the "conflict" or problem introduced in this opening scene?
   • What makes you want to keep watching?
3. The Bridge: The writers and storytellers we are about to study—Marie de France, Voltaire, Chrétien de Troyes—were the "hit showrunners" of their day. They knew how to create stories with epic heroes, shocking twists, and big ideas that captivated their audiences. Our goal today is to see if their powerful stories still work in the 21st century.

Part 2: The Source Material - Choose Your Classic (45 Minutes)

Your task is to become a "producer" looking for an old story to reboot. Spend some time exploring the following four options. Read summaries or key excerpts to get a feel for each one. Choose the one that you find most interesting to work with for the rest of the lesson.

• The Epic Action Blockbuster: The Song of Roland
  • Core DNA: Intense loyalty, heroism, betrayal, epic battles, duty vs. personal feelings.
  • Think: 300, Saving Private Ryan, or a grand political thriller.
• The Supernatural Romance/Fantasy: The Lais of Marie de France
  • Core DNA: Magic, hidden identities (like werewolves!), forbidden love, justice for the overlooked, strong female perspectives.
  • Think: Twilight, The Shape of Water, or an episode of Black Mirror.
• The Adventure Quest: The Romances of Chrétien de Troyes
  • Core DNA: Knights, quests, chivalry, magical creatures, navigating the complex rules of "courtly love."
  • Think: Indiana Jones, Arthurian legends like The Green Knight, or a fantasy video game plot.
• The Sci-Fi Satire: Micromégas by Voltaire
  • Core DNA: Aliens visiting Earth, social commentary, satire, questioning human arrogance, philosophy meets science fiction.
  • Think: Gulliver's Travels, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, or a sharp animated comedy like Rick and Morty.

Analysis: Once you've chosen your text, answer these questions in your notebook to solidify your understanding:

1. What is the main character's primary goal or desire?
2. What is the central conflict or obstacle they face?
3. What is the "big idea" or timeless theme of the story (e.g., love, honor, pride, justice)?
4. Which scene or moment is the most dramatic or memorable?

Part 3: The Creative Workshop - The Modern Adaptation (60-90 Minutes)

Now it's time to bring your chosen story into the present day. Your job is to re-imagine it. How would this story unfold if it happened tomorrow? Brainstorm a modern setting. For example:

• Could The Song of Roland be set in the world of competitive esports, where a star player is "betrayed" by a teammate during a championship?
• Could Marie de France's werewolf lai, Bisclavret, be a story about a high school student with a secret online identity that gets exposed?
• Could Voltaire's Micromégas be about two highly advanced AIs observing the absurdity of human behavior on social media?

Your Task: Choose one of the following formats to create your modern adaptation.

• Option A: The Scene Script
  • Write a 2-3 page script for a key scene from your adapted story. Include character names, dialogue, and brief descriptions of the setting and actions. Focus on making the dialogue sound natural and modern.
• Option B: The Storyboard
  • Visually map out a key scene. Create a sequence of 6-8 simple drawings (stick figures are perfectly fine!) that show the flow of the action. Below each panel, write the important dialogue or a caption describing what's happening.
• Option C: The Pitch Deck
  • Create a 3-5 slide presentation as if you were pitching your idea to a streaming service like Netflix.
    Slide 1: Title, Logline (a one-sentence summary), and a modern "poster" image.
    Slide 2: Main Character descriptions (who they are in your modern version).
    Slide 3: Season 1 Plot Summary (how the classic story's plot would play out in a modern context).

Part 4: Reflection & Language Connection (15 Minutes)

1. Share Your Work: Present your script, storyboard, or pitch deck. Explain the creative choices you made.
2. Critical Reflection: Discuss the following questions:
   • What was the hardest part of the original story to adapt for a modern audience? Why?
   • What themes from the original text felt surprisingly modern or timeless?
   • Did modernizing the story change its original message? How?
3. Return to Lingopie:
   • Based on the main theme of your chosen classic (e.g., l'honneur, l'amour, la justice, la trahison), search for a show or movie on Lingopie that seems to share that theme.
   • Watch a 5-minute clip from that show with the French subtitles active. Your goal is to "word hunt." Identify and write down 5-10 new French vocabulary words or phrases that relate to your theme. This connects the classic ideas to the living language.

Extension Ideas (Optional Challenge)

• Try writing the dialogue for your script or storyboard in French.
• Create a short trailer for your adapted show concept using free video editing software.
• Write a "character bio" for your modernized hero, detailing their backstory, likes, dislikes, and social media presence.