CBSE Lesson Plan: "The Interview" – Umberto Eco
Class: XII
Textbook: Flamingo
Prose Chapter: The Interview (Extract
from interview of Umberto Eco)
Duration: 2 Periods (40
min each)
General Objectives
- To develop
students' understanding of the genre of interview
- To analyze
and appreciate the literary and intellectual persona of Umberto Eco
- To build
critical thinking and interpretation skills
- To improve
comprehension, vocabulary, and communication skills
Specific Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Recall facts about Umberto Eco’s career
and writing (Remembering)
- Interpret the key ideas and tone of the
interview (Understanding)
- Differentiate between journalistic and literary
interviews (Analyzing)
- Critique Eco's views on writing,
semiotics, and fiction (Evaluating)
- Create their own mock interviews based
on a literary persona (Creating)
Teaching Learning Materials (TLM)
- Textbook
(Flamingo)
- Smartboard
or projector (for playing a real author interview)
- Chart
showing Bloom’s Taxonomy
- Handouts
with vocabulary and comprehension questions
- Sample
interview templates
Previous Knowledge/Linkage
Students are already familiar with:
- Literary
genres (fiction, nonfiction, essays)
- Basic
structure and purpose of interviews
- Writers
like Ruskin Bond, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (introduced in earlier classes)
Bloom’s Taxonomy Breakdown
|
Level |
Task/Activity |
|
Remembering |
Identify key facts about Eco’s profession and works |
|
Understanding |
Explain Eco’s views on fiction and academic writing |
|
Applying |
Use his methods of integrating narrative in an original
paragraph |
|
Analyzing |
Compare this interview to others they’ve read (e.g.,
Richard Nixon, APJ Kalam) |
|
Evaluating |
Debate: “Interviews diminish or enhance the author’s
reputation” |
|
Creating |
Draft a fictional interview with a famous
author/character |
Brief Summary of the
Extract
The extract features Indian journalist Mukund Padmanabhan
interviewing renowned Italian writer and academic Umberto Eco. The discussion
revolves around Eco’s diverse interests from semiotics to novels—and how he
balances scholarly work with fiction writing. Eco explains his concept of
"empty spaces" and his approach to writing which combines creativity
with structure.
Poetic/Literary Devices
(Even though it's prose)
- Irony: Eco humorously discusses the
perception of interviews.
- Allusion: Mentions other intellectuals and
concepts in semiotics.
- Anecdotes: Shares personal stories on his
writing process.
- Tone: Conversational, reflective,
witty
Key Vocabulary/Difficult
Words
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Semiotics |
Study of signs and symbols |
|
Narrative |
A spoken or written account of events |
|
Philosophical |
Related to the study of ideas about knowledge |
|
Paradox |
A statement that contradicts itself |
|
Perplexing |
Confusing |
Venn Diagram Activity
Topic: Comparing Two Interviews
|
Feature |
Interview with Umberto
Eco |
Other Literary
Interview (e.g., APJ Abdul Kalam) |
Common |
|
Focus on fiction and academia |
✅ |
❌ |
✅ Both explore personal insights |
|
Use of humor and irony |
✅ |
❌ |
✅ Convey author’s perspective |
|
Style of interviewer |
Conversational |
Formal/Inspirational |
✅ Structured questions |
Classroom Activities
Activity 1: Think-Pair-Share
Question: Why does Umberto Eco
say he has "a secret weapon" in writing fiction?
Activity 2: Role Play
Task: Students form pairs. One becomes a
journalist, the other becomes a famous author (can be fictional). Conduct a
5-minute mock interview in class.
Activity 3: Comprehension Worksheet
Includes MCQs, True/False, and Short Answer Questions
Activity 4: Group Debate
Topic: "Are interviews a reliable
source of knowing a person?"
Assessment Questions
Short Answer:
- What does
Eco mean by "interstices" in time?
- Why does
Eco call himself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays?
Long Answer:
- Discuss
Umberto Eco’s attitude towards interviews.
- How does
this interview reflect Eco’s dual identity as an academic and a novelist?
Home Assignment
- Write a
300-word fictional interview with a famous historical/literary figure of
your choice (e.g., Shakespeare, Einstein, Rani Lakshmi Bai).
- Vocabulary
exercise: Use 5 new words from the lesson in original sentences.
Takeaway / Value Points
- Interviews
provide valuable insight but may also misrepresent personalities
- Time
management and creative use of idle time are key to productivity
- A person's
profession doesn't define the limits of their creativity
