Lesson Plan for Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "The Thing Around Your Neck" tracing the literal and metaphorical associations of the material objects she depicts.

1. MATERIAL OBJECTS IN
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE’S
“THE THING AROUND YOUR NECK”

2.  Write a list of all the
material objects you
can think of in
Adichie’s story “The
Thing Around Your
Neck,” especially the
ones that seem to
have specific
significance.
 Everyone share one
object you noticed,
creating a collective
list on the board.
LITERARY STRATEGIES AND MATERIAL OBJECTS

3. ANALYZING ADICHIE’S USE OF MATERIAL OBJECTS
 Work in groups of 5.
 Each group should choose one
object from the list on the board.
 Explore what significance that
object has to the story: why does
Adichie include it? How does she
describe it? (Try to include a quote.)
What information does it give us
about a character, or a situation?
What literal and metaphorical
associations does it carry? Think
back to the first week of class and
“twenty questions to ask an object,”
to consider how we can read objects
on a literal and metaphorical level.
 Share your analysis with the class.

4.  What is Adichie trying to say
through this story? How do
these objects help you better
understand her overall point?
 What is “the thing around
your neck”? Why does she
use this image? What are the
different possible
interpretations for this
image?
 Why does Adichie use second
person in the story? What
effect does this achieve, and
how does it contribute to her
overall point?
CONNECT OBJECTS TO LARGER PURPOSE OF THE STORY

5. Provides a strategy
for developing your
essays
Shows there are
many ways of looking
at a text
Illuminates
relationship between
people and things
Offers a method for
active reading
WHY TRACE OBJECTS IN LITERATURE?
Barbara Kruger, “I Shop Therefore I Am,”
1987.

6.  Track an object or series of objects in one of the
texts we’ve read, using its literal and metaphorical
associations to make a claim about the text.
Consider how relationships between people, groups
of people, or nations are formed and negotiated
through objects, paying attention to the strategies
authors use in describing and emphasizing certain
objects. What can writers communicate through
descriptions of material objects that they might not
be able to express through other forms of
description?
ONE POSSIBLE PROMPT FOR ESSAY TWO