Stories of Your Life and Others

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

ACTIVITY: “Page to Screen: ‘Story of Your Life’ and Arrival”

In this activity, students will synthesize themes from Stories of Your Life and Others, specifically the title story, “Story of Your Life,” and the 2016 Oscar-winning film Arrival.

Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve and adapted by Eric Heisserer, is based on Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life,” the title story of Stories of Your Life and Others. In this activity, you will evaluate how thematic concepts in the story are translated onto the screen. First, read “From Pages to Premiers: The Case for Book to Movie Adaptations” by Vicky Chong and discuss as a class the purpose of film adaptations of books. Then, after you watch the film, complete the following steps in small groups:

• Choose one of the unit themes.
• Analyze its development in the short story and in the film.
• Evaluate how the theme is presented and developed differently in each format.
• Present your information to the class in the form of a slideshow, poster, original artwork, activity, or other appropriate medium.

After group presentations, you will participate in a seminar-style discussion in which you and your peers process the various thematic interpretations presented to the class. Keep in mind that the point of a seminar is to collaboratively uncover meaning in one or more texts and to walk away with a deeper understanding and possibly more (and deeper) questions. To this end, consider drafting comments and questions in advance that may help propel the conversation. Questions and comments should be rooted not only in the film but also in the ways the film interacts with Ted Chiang’s writing.

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to pause the film a few times during viewing or to spread the viewing sessions out over two or three days to allow students to gather their thoughts and process the content with their peers.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who need support with analysis, consider providing a list of themes from this unit with space for students to take notes when they recognize these themes in the movie. It may also be helpful to make note of relevant scenes that demonstrate these themes and their time stamps so that students who miss class or would benefit from additional review may view the film outside of school with guidance. English language learners or students with hearing loss may benefit from closed captions or a transcript of the film in addition to a list or graphic organizer.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The story “Division by Zero” has a very specific and significant structure.

• How is this story structured, and how does this structure convey meaning? (topic sentence)
• Choosing three sections and explain how the structure helps give context and meaning to the corresponding narrative of Renee and Carl’s relationship.
• In your concluding sentences, articulate how the examples you chose also provide a way of understanding Renee’s personal unraveling.

2. Many of the stories in Chiang’s collection explore the connection or disconnection between people.

• How do knowledge or complex understandings either bring people together or drive them apart? (topic sentence)
• Analyze the relationships between characters by choosing three distinct examples from various stories and explore how characters’ knowledge helps forge or break down personal connections.
• In your concluding sentences, articulate how the examples you chose help show the development of the theme The Ethics of New Scientific Discoveries.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the two points of view in “Story of Your Life.” What is the significance of the author’s use of both first- and second-person narration? How do these two narrative perspectives together help convey a message about time and acceptance of the inevitable? As you compose your essay, incorporate at least three direct examples from the story to strengthen your points. Additionally, consider how the dual points of view help develop the theme of Combining the Real With the Metaphorical or Fantastical.

2. The theme of Cultural Paradigms in Alternative Realities is developed in depth in several stories in Ted Chiang’s collection. How is this theme explored, and how does Chiang use it to convey meaning? Choose one story from Stories of Your Life and Others and analyze how this theme is developed. As you compose your essay, incorporate three distinct examples from your chosen story to strengthen your points.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. In “Tower of Babylon,” what best describes the Elamite miners’ experience as they climb higher up the tower?

A) They feel increasingly anxious about the task that awaits them.

B) They become more comfortable and accustomed to the height.

C) Many of them quit along the way and choose to live among the tower-dwellers.

D) Some develop a strange illness and are unable to continue.

2. Which of the following passages from “Tower of Babylon” best shows the theme The Ethics of New Scientific Discoveries?

A) “Men as righteous as we could not be judged harshly.”

B) “The miners lived there at the border of heaven; some married, and raised children.”

C) “Of course, the town was inseparable from the caravan.”

D) “If we are misguided, how can we be sure Yahweh will protect us from our own errors?”

3. In “Understanding,” Leon says to Doctor Hooper, “You’re kidding.” What surprises Leon?

A) Testing in the 99^th percentile

B) The strength of his nightmares

C) His ability to read minds

D) His rapidly expanding creativity

4. Which of the following words best describes the mood of “Understand” in its final scene?

A) Enraged

B) Hopeful

C) Frantic

D) Unsure

5. In “Division by Zero,” which literary device best describes the sections about broader mathematical theory?

A) Anecdote

B) Allegory

C) Metaphor

D) Imagery

6. How does the future continuous tense in “Story of Your Life” best convey meaning?

A) It demonstrates the role that forgetfulness plays in the story.

B) It helps to convey the growing distance between Louise and Gary.

C) It further develops the characters’ desire to see into the future.

D) It helps support the nonlinear concept of time shown by the Heptapods.

7. “Story of Your Life” is in part addressed to Louise’s unborn daughter. What literary device best describes this choice?

A) Alliteration

B) Personification

C) Apostrophe

D) Euphemism

8. The presence of Judaism in “Seventy-Two Letters” best demonstrates which theme?

A) The Ethics of New Scientific Discoveries

B) Combining the Real With the Metaphorical or Fantastical

C) The Danger of Superintelligence

D) Cultural Paradigms in Alternative Realities

9. Which of the following best describes Robert Stratton’s character in “Seventy-Two Letters”?

A) A man blinded by his own greed and ambition who takes advantage of others

B) A man whose excitement over new inventions often makes him blind to their effects

C) A man who is afraid to take risks and lives his life constantly wondering “what if”

D) A man who worries about the impact of scientific discovery on the well-being of others

10. What line from “The Evolution of Human Science” best demonstrates the theme of The Danger of Superintelligence?

A) “One of its costs to human researchers was the realization that they would likely never make an original contribution to science again.”

B) “Without DNT, humans could not fully grasp prior developments nor effectively utilize the new tools needed to conduct research.”

C) “The newest and by far the most speculative mode of inquiry is remote sensing of metahuman research facilities.”

D) “As a result, human culture is likely to survive well into the future, and the scientific tradition is a vital part of that culture.”

11. How does the death of Nick’s wife impact Nick?

A) He begins to build his faith in God.

B) He turns inward and retreats from society.

C) His disbelief in God is deepened.

D) He begins to preach about forgiveness.

12. How does the appearance of Janice’s legs impact her identity as a preacher?

A) She changes the focus of her message to the presence of miracles.

B) She feels guilty because she is no longer similar to her audience.

C) She decides to quit preaching as her circumstances have changed.

D) She feels angry at God for changing the way she was born.

13. Which word best describes Neil’s experience in Hell?

A) Reflective

B) Empty

C) Fulfilling

D) Anguished

14. Why does Tamara want Garrett to turn his calli off?

A) She wants him to see how pretty she is.

B) She wants him to realize that he is attractive.

C) She wants him to be able to find a partner.

D) She wants to punish him for breaking up with her.

15. What is one way that calliagnosia may impact the world of art and expression?

A) People may become more creative as they are freed from traditional beauty standards.

B) People may choose to recreate existing art rather than creating original works.

C) People may produce fewer artists because they are not as attuned to beauty.

D) People may turn away from art altogether and become generally less creative.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. In “Division by Zero,” what is the significance of the title’s mathematical expression?

2. How does “Story of Your Life” explore the theme Combining the Real With the Metaphorical or Fantastical?