The Word for World is Forest : A multidisciplinary approach to teaching about genocide

Sammanfattning: The current position proposed as a possible antidote to future human conflicts is to educate our students about the horrific consequences of past atrocities. To this end, this research paper will examine the possibilities of teaching the students to recognize and reject dehumanizing attitudes in society. The concept of dehumanization and our collective capacity to prevent or resist such attitudes in society will be introduced by reading Ursula K. Le Guin’s novella The Word for World is Forest [Forest] from 1972. The close reading of the novella will be examined in adherence to Suvin’s theory of cognitive estrangement, in which the novella’s ability to act as a mediator for past and current historical events will be explored. The goal is to raise awareness of the many factors that may precede genocide and broadening the students’ capabilities of recognizing historical patterns. The main concepts for this study will primarily be adopted from the academic field of psychology in order to study the social roles each character reflects in relation to the notion of Triangle of Genocide. Secondly, different historical perspectives will be considered to correlate events from the book with historical equivalents. Lastly, from Socratic pedagogy to address complex questions and address them in an educational framework titled Peace Education. This paper aims to contribute with a unique approach to the reading of Le Guin’s novella and suggests didactic methods for implementation focusing primarily on upper secondary students in a Swedish school setting.