Hiroshima, Mon Amour Linda Knoblock World Literature after the Renaissance ENH202 Paradise Valley Community College Phoenix, Arizona

Lesson Plan:

1. Background discussion: World War II

	Events leading to the bombing of Hiroshima

		Bombing of Pearl Harbor Pacific campaign Development of atomic bomb Decision to drop bomb

	Events leading to end of war in Europe

		Balance of power Invasion of Europe: D-Day Change in lines and battles Siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) End of war Actions toward German sympathizers

2. Background discussion: time of writing and filming

	Events and attitudes of 1959

		Cold war Continued nuclear testing Nuclear Fear

3. Background information: screenplay and film

	Marguerite Duras Alain Resnais Purpose of film

		Original intent of Resnais: documentary Duras changed to story

			Let individuals represent cultures Let cultures represent all humanity Let audiences relate to personal stories

4. Study guide for reading screenplay 5. Viewing guide for viewing movie 6. Research articles for use in discussions 7. Class discussion 8. Essay test on meaning of work

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Study Guide for reading screenplay: 1. Be sure to read the stage directions. What is unusual about these? 2. What are the effects used in the opening scene? 3. Why is the woman in Hiroshima and why is it significant? 4. What is the significance of the man’s profession? 5. Why is the second scene one of reality? 6. What is significant about the filming of the movie? 7. Why does he seek to see her again? 8. What has happened to her during the war?

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Viewing guide for film 1. How are juxtapositions used in the opening montage? 2. How is music used to enhance the visual images? 3. How are light and dark used in the film? 4. How are the characters portrayed by the actors? 5. How is time manipulated? 6. What effect does the weather have on the message? 7. How is place manipulated? 8. What is significant about the end of the film?

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Discussion Questions: 1. Why are the people never named? 2. Why does Duras choose Hiroshima for the setting? 3. Why does he tell her she saw nothing? 4. Why is her movie being filmed in Hiroshima? 5. What links do the two lovers have? 6. What levels does the film deal with besides the individual? 7. How does dural juggle several plains of reality? 8. How does the film do this as well? 9. How do her experiences relate to his? 10. What role does memory play in their lives? 11. What guilt do they both feel? 12. What meaning do the interior monologues have? 13. How do they contribute to the film? 14. What does the woman feel she does by telling her story? 15. Why has she never told her story before? 16. What parallels do their stories have? 17. Will she change her mind and stay in Hiroshima? 18. Would it matter to the story if she did? 19. What effects does the mixture of documentary and fiction have? 20. How effective is the film in meeting Resnais’ and Duras’ purpose?

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Sample responses to essay test: (Students were asked to write a brief essay on the meaning of Hiroshima, Mon Amour. Three sample responses follow.)

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Sample research articles: (Students were assigned the task of finding articles on either the script/the film or the author. They brought copies of these articles to class to share with fellow students and to use in the class discussions.)