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 __The Shack __ by Wm. Paul Young

__Novel Study Part A__ by Cheri Natale

__Synopsis __ In Wm. Paul Young’s novel The Shack, we are encouraged to uproot convention, turn our paradigms on their ear and ask ourselves who really is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit? The spiritual journey is taken by Mackenzie Phillips a father of five living in the American Northwest. Mackenzie (Mack) takes his 3 young children on a camping trip. While canoeing on Wallowa Lake, Katy, Mack’s daughter and her friend capsize their canoe. He must leave his youngest, Missy, on her own while he saves the other children. Missy is abducted by a man (the “Ladybug Killer”) and murdered in a dilapidated shack two hours away from the campsite. Mack must begin to re- examine his faith in God, his knowledge of good and evil and his understanding of ‘religion’. Four years later Mack receives a ‘secret’ letter from Papa (God) which challenges him to return to The Shack for a weekend and face his fears. We are introduced to a wonderful concept of God in the likenesses of an African American woman, an Asian woman and a Middle Eastern man. The Holy Trinity teach Mack how to face his fears and eventually to triumph. He has different experiences with each facet of the Trinity such as walking on water and deciding which of his children he would send to hell. At the end of the weekend Papa shows him Missy’s remains in a cave. Mack leaves and is almost killed in a car accident. Mystery revolves around when Mack actually did go to the shack and for how long? Eventually he leads the police to the cave where they find Missy’s remains. The killer is arrested and put on trial. The author is Canadian born of missionary parents and was raised among a stone-age tribe in New Guinea. He currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.

__My position, identity and professional abilities in teaching this text __ In teaching a text such as this in a Catholic school English class it begs the question of how strongly I believe in my own faith. It would also challenge the students to consider their own faith journey and the differences they find in the description of the Trinity as opposed to their own idea of God. This novel is considered ‘Christian’ not necessary Catholic. I would have to be prepared to discuss Christianity as it pertains to Catholicism. The culture of a small town American society would also need to be discussed. The larger question is of good and evil and whether Mack should forgive the murderer or not? A discussion of legal vs. moral obligation could also take place. In the end I have a good source of life experience upon which to draw concerning moral issues, life and death, loss and my own faith journey in order to teach the basic themes of the text. We could also discuss the author’s background as a missionary’s child raised in New Guinea and the effects it would have on his writing.

__In what grade level or course would you teach the text? Are there other courses appropriate? __ I would teach this text in Grade 12 University level English. I would also consider this an excellent text for teaching in a Grade 12 Religion course. The novel is written in a conversational format much of it between Mack and the Holy Trinity. At times it is colloquial. The language is simple but the concepts are at times difficult to grasp therefore I would not teach it to the younger grades. Perhaps a high functioning Grade 11 U course would be possible.

__What are the main ideas/issues/teaching points ? Consider social, cultural, topic and textual? __ Main issues teaching points would include who is God? Could he/she possibly be more than one being? What then is the very nature of God? Does culture frame our experience of God? Does frame of reference ? Should you be governed by law or faith? How would you deal with a tragedy like this and could you forgive? Though written by a Canadian the family depicted are American where there tends to be more incidence of missing children, more abductions than in Canada – does this make you question your opinion of Americans and their society?

**Topic ** – The topic knowledge includes taking the traditional conventions of God and the Trinity and shattering the status quo. He uses the history of Christianity to explain some of the dialogue with the Trinity. The topics discussed could include racism – God is African American, Asian and Middle Eastern – why?- and social justice. Another source of information is that of the family unit – the socialization of this family and their stereotypes. **Textual- **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> Interesting use of language- colloquial and two and three way dialogue throughout the book. God is African American and speaks in slang at times, the Holy Spirit is ethereal and speaks in riddles. Third person narrative usually. Written to be easy to read – you feel as if he is writing for you. Descriptions of gardens, people, scenery are breathtaking. **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Cultural- **<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">The book depicts the culture of Christianity with all of its stereotypes and pauses to reflect on large issues of life while working within a social framework. The issues of law in society, how religion is reflected through law and investigating other cultures which follow the Ten Commandments can be discussed.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Social **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">– The question of family and its importance should be discussed. The social interaction of Mack, his wife and his friends and how they are his rock. The importance of social issues when discussing the murder of Missy and how the Trinity approaches the subject of social justice- laws and emotion – forgiveness within society. There is another underlying social theme reflected concerning Mack’s wife and her work as a nurse caring for terminally ill cancer patients. Discussion of how important work such as hers is to a dying person and their families. The Foreword of the book discusses Mack and his early years when he was beaten by his father and the likely outcome of his planting poison all over his home when he ran away. Social issues of alcoholism and how it effects teens and the family unit could also be discussed.

__<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Issues and Challenges in teaching this text? __ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Many challenges! I will be teaching in a Catholic school environment therefore we must teach a faith based curriculum. Do all the students believe in the Trinity and if not, why not? They have a narrow frame of reference from which to view the conversations between God and Mack. We would have to be aware of how well they could understand the answers to some of the questions in view of their limited life experience. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Bad things happen to people who don’t deserve it- dealing with the whys of pain, suffering and forgiveness. Another challenge is how not to alienate the students while trying to convince them of the need for faith within the context of this novel. Why was God African American, Middle Eastern and an Asian woman? Why not blond and blue eyed? How do they view their God? Is God fundamentally good? In the book Jesus states ‘my life was not an example to copy’ -why? Is Jesus the only hope for the world? After reading this book do you think about God differently? Is the novel The Shack great faith or heresy? <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">The students would have taken religion throughout highschool including Grade 11 World Religions and therefore have readiness in terms of understanding other religious cultures. They would have studied Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism among others and could compare the teaching with the trinity conversations.

__<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Activities and Assignments __ <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;">Use the quotes at the beginning of each chapter in the novel to explain how they refer to the fundamental themes of the story –explain who the author of the quote is and why it would be used. Essay format. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">This activity would adhere to the curriculum expectations of the Reading and Writing areas. Developing and organizing content as well as knowledge of form and style would be considered in the assignment.

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