‘After Dark’: exploring Murakami’s extended metaphor
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse Murakami's use of semantic field and extended metaphor.
Key learning points
- A semantic field is a group of words linked together via their meaning.
- Semantic fields can help to create extended metaphors.
- Murakami uses the semantic field of biology in the opening of 'After Dark'.
- Murakami uses the semantic field of biology to characterise the city as a living organism via extended metaphor.
- Murakami emphasises the dynamic, interconnected nature of the city.
Keywords
Cumulative - increasing as new additions are added
Semantic field - a group of words related in meaning
Extended metaphor - a metaphor that extends multiple lines of a text
Dynamic - characterised by constant change or activity
Common misconception
Students may misinterpret Murakami's semantic field and assume the text is a horror, mystery or thriller story.
If you really break down Murakami's use of semantic field, his word choice is more centered around dynamism of a living organism.
Teacher tip
You could use a visualiser to show students how you found the semantic field in the extract when giving feedback for Learning Cycle 1.
Equipment
For this lesson you will need a copy of the opening paragraph from Chapter 1 of Haruki Murakami's 'After Dark'.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which group of words are most related in meaning?
Q2.What theme links all of these words: river, sea, sand, grass?
Q3.What is a metaphor?
Q4.What is a possible meaning of the following metaphor: 'Her voice is sunshine.'?
Q5.What does tone mean?
Q6.What does 'perceptive analysis' mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a semantic field?
Q2.Why might a writer use a semantic field?
Q3.In 'Ozymandias', Shelley uses the semantic field of ...
Q4.Why might Murakami have used the semantic field of biology in 'After Dark'?
Q5.Through the use of an extended metaphor, what effect does Murakami create in 'After Dark'?
Q6.Which word adds to the image of the city as dynamic in Murakami's 'After Dark'?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: ‘After Dark’: exploring Murakami’s extended metaphor, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: ‘After Dark’: exploring Murakami’s extended metaphor, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Fiction: read around the world unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.