Lasting Legacies

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is centered around the concept of an epitaph, a short text honoring a deceased person, usually inscribed on a tombstone. It begins by asking students to define what an epitaph is. Then, it presents a famous line often associated with epitaphs and asks students to identify whose epitaph it is and the original source of the line. Lastly, it prompts students to contemplate an epitaph for their favorite writer, encouraging them to think about the legacy and the essence of the writer’s work.

The worksheet aims to teach students about the tradition and significance of epitaphs in literature and culture. It encourages them to think critically about the meaning and origin of a well-known epitaph-like phrase. By selecting an epitaph for a writer they admire, students practice expressing what they find most impactful about an author’s work. This task also invites personal reflection, as students consider what messages resonate with them and how they relate to the broader themes of life and death.