We're excited to share a new set of free lesson plans for The Nose by Kit Goldstein Grant, designed for flexible classroom use in ELA, theatre, and music courses.
Download the free lesson plans using the button above!
The Nose is a one-act musical comedy based on Nikolai Gogol's beloved 1836 short story about a petty bureaucrat who wakes up to find his nose has gone missing...and is now wandering the streets of St. Petersburg disguised as a high-ranking official. Beneath the slapstick and wordplay is a surprisingly earnest story about vanity, status, and empathy.
What's Included in the Free Lesson Plans
- Pre-reading and post-reading discussion questions focused on status, appearance, humiliation, and what we build our identities aroundĀ
- Character analysis activities exploring Kovalyov's transformation, Matroyshka's moral clarity, and the Nose's irresistible pomposityĀ
- Cultural and historical activities introducing students to imperial Russia and the life and work of Nikolai GogolĀ
- Creative activities including costume and set design, wanted poster creation, monologue performance, and music video conceptsĀ
- Personal reflection prompts inviting students to consider their own experiences with status, cruelty, empathy, and changeĀ
- Assessment options for analytical writing, comparative essays, research, creative monologues, and design presentationsĀ
- Text connections to novels, plays, and films that explore satire, absurdist comedy, and the gap between appearance and reality
These materials are designed to help teachers facilitate thoughtful discussion, critical thinking, and meaningful personal connections to the play.
