This is a teacher’s guide for a Nobel Prize lesson – a complete lesson on the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature, which is awarded to Louise Glück, one of the most important poets in American literature today. The lesson is planned to take about 45 minutes.

Teacher’s guide

A distinctive voice
The 2020 Nobel Laureate in Literature, poet Louise Glück, has written both poetry and essays about poetry. Since her debut in 1968, she has published twelve collections of poetry. Louise Glück is revered for her linguistic precision and for how she engages with exquisite sensitivity in timeless topics such as isolation, relationships and the confrontation with death. Many readers find that her poetry is easy to read but holds great depth as well.

Teacher’s Guide (PDF 60K)

1. Warm-up (5 min)
Ask your students the following questions.

• What is the Nobel Prize?
• Why is it called the Nobel Prize?
• Are you familiar with any Nobel Laureate?

2. Show the video about Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prize (5 min)

3. Slideshow (15 min)
Show the slides, using the speaker’s manuscript.

Slideshow (PDF 2,5 MB)

Speaker’s Manuscript (PDF 300 Kb)

4. Show the video with Anders Olsson, member of the Swedish Academy and Chairman of the Nobel Committee  (3 min)

5. Student worksheet (10-15 min)
Ask your students to work individually with the questions and then discuss their answers with a classmate who has worked on the same author.

Student Worksheet  (PDF 50 Kb)

6. Conclusion (5 min)
Summarise what you and the class have understood, and what you have not understood. You can work with the latter on another occasion.

Links for further information
More about Louise Glück at Nobelprize.org