Toni Morrison
Lesson plans and teaching ideas

|Biography & Background| |Beloved| |The Bluest Eye| |Song of Solomon| |Sula, Paradise and Other Works|

Biography & Background

10 Questions for Toni Morrison
Text of a 2008 interview. Follow links for audio, video.

The History of Jim Crow
The resources at this site explore segregation in America from 1870s to 1950s. Check out both the American Literature and Teacher Resources at the bottom of the opening page.

Toni Morrison
Morrison's site at the Nobel Prize archives. A variety of informational links; be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom.

Toni Morrison Nobel Lecture 1993
This page includes the text of Morrison's speech.

Beloved

Beloved by Toni Morrison
This site contains a Morrison biography, a plot summary, and links to criticism, symbolism, and censorship. Its strongest point is the wealth and variety of background information: African myths and folklore, slavery, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, Ohio during and after the Civil War, and more. This extensive site was created by AP English students.

Beloved
This unit addresses the novel and its historical context. It is intended for upper-level high school students.

Beloved
Summary, character analysis, theme, symbols and motifs, style and structure, and a list of key quotations.

Beloved
Nine questions for discussion and/or writing.

Beloved
Suggestions for analyzing the prose style, and 3 reading quizzes.

Beloved: A Unit Plan
This humanities unit gives students the opportunity to respond to the history of slavery's deeper context and its aftermath by creating plays and other writings. This unit is intended for an upper-level high school class of above average ability, possibly AP

Facing the Ghosts of Our Past: Writing Narrative Reflections on the Civil War and Slavery
Students read a review of the movie Beloved as a starting-point for discussion and research focused on how the Civil War affected a variety of different people. Students then write a first-person narrative from the perspective of one of those people.

This is Not a Story to Pass On: Teaching Toni Morrison's Beloved
This unit approaches the novel as both history and literature. It includes ideas for journal entries, word logs, and a final activity, a mock trial of Sethe.

Toni Morrison, Beloved
More than 100 questions for reading and discussion, some out of order.

Why Is Beloved Beloved?
An insightful review of the novel.

The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye
Discussion questions, writing and other activities.

The Bluest Eye
Commentary and discussion questions, with emphasis on the character Cholly. This resource is designed for use with male students.

The Bluest Eye
Summary, prereading and postreading discussion questions.

The Bluest Eye Study Guide
Insights into the play, including issues related to adapting it for the stage. This 44-page document includes several illustrations. Adobe Reader required for access.

Project: The Bluest Eye
In this WebQuest students examine "the real-world implications of the beauty culture issues Morrison raises" and suggest a new public policy.

Reading Guide for The Bluest Eye and Paradise
This page contains material related to several of Morrison's novels. Scroll down to find 8 discussion questions related to The Bluest Eye.

Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye
Background and extensive discussion of themes in the novel.

Song of Solomon

Toni Morrison and Song of Solomon
Possible essay topics, critical commentaries, and related links.

Song of Solomon
Scroll down on the page to find a post-reading writing assignment.

Other works by Morrison

Reading Guide for The Bluest Eye and Paradise
This page contains material related to several of Morrison's novels, including Paradise, Sula, Tar Baby, Jazz and others. Scroll down to find 11 discussion questions related to Paradise.

Remember: The Journey to School Integration
Activities to support the study of this book.