Presenting the "Hero"-Project-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Driving Questions

Dominic Lieven wrote “The Caucasus had always been a border region between empires” and the novel, either implicitly or explicitly, explores issues of imperial or colonial belonging along those imperial frontiers. In what ways, and to what effect does A Hero of Our Time serve as a critique, ironic or otherwise, of empire?
In an essay, Simon Leys wrote, “When we first enter upon the stage of life, it is as if we were only given masks that correspond to our respective roles. If we act our part well enough, the mask eventually turns into our true face.” As a stranger in a strange land, how does this comment help us understand the psychology of Perchorin during his time in the Caucasus? To what extent is he understood – either by himself or by others?
The novel has important female characters, including Bela, Princess Mary, and Vera. What do their relationships with the men in their lives tell us about themselves (their hopes, their fears, their values), about masculinity, power structures, and agency? Given that they are portrayed by men, (all the narrators are men) what does this tell us about the ability of the narrators to be objective in describing the lives of women?
A Hero of Our Time is considered by many as an ironic critique both of his “time” and of the concept of the hero (“a portrait composed of the sins of our entire generation in full flower.”) What is the nature of Lermontov’s critique, and is it just as applicable to the present day?
Of the stories we’ve read this year, structurally, with its shifting first-person narrations, A Hero of Our Time most resembles ‘In a Bamboo Grove’. Some things make A Hero even more interesting. For example – consider how the first few sections are structured: There is the Author’s Preface (where the author stresses he is not a character in the novel, then the narrator of Bela, who gives the narration over to Maxim Maximich – in other words, narratives within narratives, like a matryoshka nesting doll. On top of that, as you read on, you’ll notice that the chapters are not told in chronological order. Why would Lermontov arrange the chapters in this way? What are the effects of these narrative tricks?

Project Introduction

Disciplines/Subjects: Advanced World Literature

Key Themes: In this study of Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time, we explore how Lermontov's romanticism shapes themes such as "the edges of empire", "agency & fate", and "loyalty & betrayal".

The unit begins with an introduction to imperial Russian history and culture and how these were shaped both by internal and external influences, such as geopolitical, intellectual, and artistic currents. With this base, over a month we explore how Lermontov explored such issues in his classic novel A Hero of Our Time (1841).

The summative assessment for the unit is for learners to plan and perform a presentation that both knowledgeably and creatively explores an artistic or thematic concern that arises from the text.

Core Competency

Habits of mind: Strive for excellence, Continuous learning, Curiosity

Transferable skills: Textual analysis skills, Oral presentation skills

Content Knowledge: Romanticism, 19th century Russian political and cultural history, A Hero of Our Time

Presenting the "Hero"

Douglas Abrahamson

Driving Questions

Project Introduction

Core Competency

Team Members1

Douglas Abrahamson

Deliverables1

A Hero of Our Time

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