The Scarlet Pimpernel

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 1: “Analyze Biases”

Students research, analyze, and present biases in their own culture or in cultures around the world.

From a modern perspective, Baroness Orczy’s novel is written with a clear cultural bias. However, at the time it was written, many people shared her biased views.

• Review or investigate Baroness Orczy’s bias and how it is reflected in the novel.
• Consider some cultural biases that are common today that many may be unaware of, or biases that many people support.
• Select a culture or cultures to analyze. Research cultural bias(es) for that group, then create a slideshow presentation using the discussion points below.
• Explain how biases shift and change with time and cultural changes.
• Describe the difficulties in overcoming cultural biases.
• Develop a theory on how to effect change on biases.
• Draw comparisons between the cultural biases of Orczy’s novel and the biases that are reflected in the culture you researched.
• Biases may include:
• Attitudes toward types of work
• Religious biases
• Social class biases
• Racial biases
• Extracurricular biases (such as computer gaming vs. sports)
• Gender biases
• Nationality biases

Teaching Suggestion: Students may create their presentations using slideshow software or a similar platform. Students may need assistance in narrowing their topic. Consider asking them either to choose one bias, such as class division, and drawing comparisons around the world, or to choose one culture in which to analyze different biases. This activity relies on students’ sensitivities to other students and their individual differences; establishing guidelines in advance (e.g., they should use research to support their thinking rather than giving opinions) will help in this regard. Another possibility to aid with potential sensitivities might be to address only historical biases commonly discussed and taught.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who require additional assistance, it may be beneficial to work with students to narrow their topic to one bias in their own culture to research, and to supply vetted references. A slideshow template might also be beneficial and more efficient for students.

Activity 2: “A Modern Scarlet Pimpernel”

In this activity, students create their own version of a modern-day character who parallels the Scarlet Pimpernel with regard to saving others.

Make a list of attributes demonstrated by the Scarlet Pimpernel throughout the novel. Consider these questions as you reflect on his character:

• What prompts his actions?
• What methods and special skills does he employ?
• How does he react in the face of challenges and success?

Select 2-3 attributes to serve as a basis for a modern-day hero figure you create who parallels the Scarlet Pimpernel in a variety of ways. Build on this foundation with additional attributes, goals, motivations, and relationships.

Create a slideshow to present your character to the class. Use (and attribute) online images to convey how your modern-day Scarlet Pimpernel might look, what they might wear, how they might act, and situations from which they might save others. Include the character’s traits, goals, motivations, and relationships in captions or bulleted points throughout.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might opt for an original visual display (drawing, painting, sketching) instead of a slideshow. It might be beneficial to determine allowances regarding the inclusion of skills and tools or magic and superpowers before students begin. Other ideas for depicting the created character might include: What would be this person’s signature? Do they have a preferred method of rescue?