friending fiction

Friending Fiction Teaching Character Analysis through Facebook

Facebook is all about identity.

status linesnetworks

groupswall posts

photoslinksads

Students use their understanding of socialnetworking to create a profile page for acharacter.

Brave New World Much Ado About Nothing

No computer required

Relationship to Plot and Setting

John the Savage, Brave New World

“There would definitely be an ad for soma on a Brave New World character’s page.” --Jung K.

“Helmholtz has been tagged in a video playing obstacle golf with a bunch of girls.”

--Bryton Z.

John the Savage, Brave New World

“The ‘Where I’ve Been’ application shows the two places that John the Savage has lived—New Mexico and London.”

--Annalise A.

John the Savage, Brave New World

“One of the main things that the Prince has done is set up Claudio and Hero. This is why we had him tagged in Hero’s photo album of the masquerade party when Claudio and Hero are engaged.”

--Micah W. and Matt V.

Don Pedro, Much Ado About Nothing

Personality Traits

“This is the kind of profile picture an alpha male would have. He also has 2,311 friends.”

--Kristen D.

Helmholtz Watson, Brave New World

“Don John is aloof, not socially active, and enjoys solitude. This is shown in the fact that he only has two friends (his sidekicks) and in that he hasn’t updated his status in three years. He also doesn’t give out contact information. It just simply says ‘don’t’. His inbox is empty, so other people acknowledge these qualities in him, too.”

--David E.

Helmholtz Watson, Brave New World

“The ads that line the side of a FB profile page are geared toward what it thinks the person might be interested in. It seems that Don Pedro is one of those people who might actually take an application such as “match maker” or online dating seriously. “

--Micah W and Matt V. Don Pedro, Much Ado About Nothing

“I chose the profile picture of a clay pot because when Old Mitsima taught him to make them, be began to have confidence in himself. This, to me, is the turning point in his life. He goes from insecure and scared to more confident . He’s still confused by the two worlds surrounding him, his mother and the people on the reservation.”

--Annalise A.

John the Savage, Brave New World

Relationship with Others

“By having John friend many people at the same time, it shows that he is becoming like a celebrity in London. There isn’t much other activity, though, because he doesn’t have relationships with these people.”

--Alyssa V.

John the Savage, Brave New World

“He falls in love with Lenina, but he hesitates to ask her out. This is why the cursor is in mid-search.”

--Jung K.

John the Savage, Brave New World

“Through the ‘Buy Your Friends’ application, Helmholtz buys Bernard Marx for only $10.”

--Kristen D.

Helmholtz Watson, Brave New World

“Within his caste, Bernard is different., leaving him with fewer friends than would be common. He is seeking community by joining many groups, hoping to fit into one of them.”

--Aimee D.

Bernard Marx, Brave New World

Voice

“Benedick always has a comeback for anything anyone says. This is why he has so many comments on everyone’s posts. He can never stay quiet. Also, his responses are witty and he tries to twist people’s responses and gain the upper hand in the conversation.”

--Ally H.Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing

“His quotes are simply hypnopaedic expressions. This hypnopaedia seems to haunt him a bit, since not only is it his job, but whenever he tries to have a meaningful conversations with someone , all they come back with are these expressions.”

--Aimee D.

Bernard Marx, Brave New World

Text to World Connections

“Don John is a classic villain. I made his book and movie choices reflect his maniacal nature.”

--David E.

Don John, Much Ado About Nothing

“His first quote about Chuck Norris is just what I picture him as – indestructible, dominant (Note the ‘Domination!’ application).”

--Kristen D.

Helmholtz Watson, Brave New World