Sunday, September 30, 2018

AP Lit: Heart of Darkness Mandala Project


Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning center and circle. It conveys the notion that any center is tied to its circumference and any circumference is always determined by its center. Together they represent wholeness. The character mandala project represents the student's analysis of the whole character in The Heart of Darkness.

After choosing your character, consider what traits that character displays and what happens to him/her in the story. Using the color symbolism chart, color the mandala according to the characteristics you have determined about your character. Whichever traits/characteristics are the most important or most evident should be represented by the corresponding colors from the chart and be dominant on the mandala. Any character you choose should have at least three characteristics and/or traits, and those colors should be evident on your mandala. Under the mandala, write the name of your character in big, block letters. On a separate page, type one paragraph about your character by first introducing him/her, followed by an explanation of what each color represents, the significance of their placement, and textual evidence and personal commentary for support of each characteristic you displayed. Conclude your paragraph with a thematic statement of the selection. This paragraph should be in the 175-250 word-range. Be prepared to present your finished product to the class. Yes, you will have to read your paragraph.

The completed project should meet these criteria:

  • a choice of characteristics appropriate to the character showing careful, close reading,
  • a pattern of colors that are pleasing to the eye (or meaningfully harsh) and represent the characteristics the colors symbolize,
  • effective paragraph organization, sentence fluency, word choice, and attention to conventions,
  • and appropriate evidence correctly notated.
This mandala project is due Wednesday (Blue) or Thursday (Silver), October 10/11, 2018 by 4:30pm.