Educator Guide The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
L.A. Theatre Works www.latw.org
Introduction Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, best known for his Sherlock Holmes mysteries, wrote The Lost World as a science fiction novel in 1912. Though not scientifically accurate, The Lost World provides an opportunity to learn about the extinction of dinosaurs and to explore evolution, science, and ethics. Please note: content appropriate for grades 4 and higher. Plot Summary The Lost World features a pair of bickering science professors, Challenger and Summerlee; an explorer, Lord John Ruxton; and a journalist, Edward Malone, who take off on an expedition to the mysterious Lost World, a plateau in the Amazon rainforest. This mythical hidden habitat, where the laws of nature have been miraculously suspended, escaped the effects of the K-T mass extinction that eliminated all dinosaurs 65 million years ago. In addition to several dinosaur species that somehow escaped extinction, a tribe of native Indians and a population of savage ape-men inhabit the plateau and compete for survival. The quest of the expedition—to bring back living proof of dinosaur existence—is narrowly achieved after numerous adventures. A romantic subplot develops between the journalist and the adopted niece of a missionary who leads the expedition to the Lost World. The missionary, Theo Kerr, a strong believer in creationism, finds himself conflicted about letting his adopted niece take the group to find proof of evolution. After a series of struggles with the ape-men and the dinosaurs, they ultimately return with the proof they were after, a living pterosaur. 1 Context: Dinosaurs, Exploration & Imagination Dinosaurs were the dominant species on Earth for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic (230 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous period (65 million years ago), when most of them became extinct in the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) extinction event. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, including when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was writing The Lost World, both scientists and the general public knew very little about dinosaurs, and assumptions depicted them as unintelligent, slow-moving, cold-blooded creatures. However, the bulk of recent research supports the view that they were active animals with elevated metabolisms, often with high intelligence and social interaction. Since the first dinosaur fossils were identified in the early nineteenth century, mounted dinosaur skeletons have become major attractions at museums around the world, and dinosaurs have been the focal point for much research, from fossil expeditions to excavation work to evolutionary science. Inspired by Doyle’s The Lost World, Michael Crichton’s books and films in the Jurassic Park series brought dinosaurs into the modern public’s imagination and sparked new interest in connecting these fascinating creatures with the concepts of exploration, evolution, extinction, and ethics. About the Author Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930) was a Scottish author most noted for his stories about Sherlock Holmes, which modernized crime fiction. His other works include science fiction, historical novels, plays, poetry, and non-fiction. Additionally, Doyle worked as a political writer and ophthalmologist, and was knighted for his achievements as an author.
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A&E Classroom: http://www.aetv.com/class/admin/study_guide/archives/aetv_guide.1414.html
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Activities and Lesson Ideas Before the Visit to the Play: 1) Introduce the concepts of evolution and extinction. 2) Read with students the Introduction and Plot Summary from the Educator Guide 3) Write: There are a number of scientific reasons why the dinosaurs probably would not have survived for any extended period of time, even if they were able to escape the K-T mass extinction. Ask students to research and think about the basic needs of dinosaurs, the physical environment, the competition for survival, and the other challenges that they would have faced not only to survive but also to remain virtually unchanged for more than 65 million years. 4) Connect: The story – of dinosaurs surviving extinction – is considered “science fiction” because it takes elements of our scientific understanding of the world and fictionalizes them, presenting things that have not (or cannot) happen as reality. What examples of science fiction have students read or seen? (e.g., Jurassic Park, stories about zombies, paranormal creatures and activities, space aliens, infectious disease outbreaks, machines overtaking humanity, etc.) Why is this genre of literature/film often appealing? After the Visit to the Play: 1) Write: Have students research the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As students learn about his life and work, ask them to think about why he might have written a book so different from his Sherlock Holmes stories. What do they think inspired him to write about dinosaurs? Ask students to write an interview with Sir Conan Doyle about the scientific ideas explored in his writings. 2) Read the part of the educator guide entitled “Context: Dinosaurs, Exploration & Imagination” and discuss: What are the basic principles that contribute to the current theory of evolution? What kinds of evidence do we have that suggest evolution takes place? How does the introduction of modern-day men and women affect the ecological balance in the Lost World?
3) Write/Draw: Imagine you are a scientist in search of a lost world. What would be your own “Lost World” to discover? What would be there? Where would it be? What event happened to that environment? Write a fictional short story about your own lost world, and include a drawing or collage to illustrate what the world looks like. More information about The Lost World can be found at: E-text of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/139 Additional Information: http://www.online-literature.com/doyle/lost_world/
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