The Count of Monte Cristo Mock Trial

Silver level

Published on 4/5/2012

Learning objectives

  • to analyze & synthesize facts in novel, cause & effect of events, & then apply facts to criminal laws of state
  • about the court system (civics) while studying the novel and practicing their oral and written persuasion techniques (language arts & debate
  • collaborate as a team to prepare for the mock trial
Created for

Ages 14 - 18

Subject

Citizenship

Language arts and literacy

Twenty-first century skills

21st Century Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Knowledge building & critical thinking

Global awareness & civic literacy

ICT for learning

Problem solving & innovation (creativity)

Student self-assessment

Required hardware

Tablet

Instructional approach

Project based learning (PBL)

Learning activity details

After reading The Count of Monte Cristo, our class puts the main character, Edmond Dantès aka the Count of Monte Cristo, on trial for murder. In the novel, Dantès seeks revenge on the men who destroyed his life. Although he does not harm anyone directly, Dantès sets events in motion that cause the death of seven people, the kidnapping of two, and the loss of wealth of another. In our study of the novel and the culminating trial, we examine the cause and effect of Dantès’ action and whether he can be held liable for the deaths, kidnappings, and loss of wealth of his enemies and their relations. Students are either given the role of attorney (for the prosecution or defense) or witness (a character from the novel who has knowledge of events that relate to the question of whether Dantès is guilty or innocent). When the trial is finished, every student writes a persuasive essay answering the following prompt: Were the punishments of Danglars, Villefort, and Fernand Mondego really God’s retribution or wholly the cause of Edmond Dantès?

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