Writers & Pseudonyms
This integrated lesson is designed within the frames of the project “Individual and Society’’. The students of grade 10/1 analyze the reasons of taking false names.
For centuries, writers have created pen names to publish their literary works. Adopting a pseudonym grants writers the ability to conceal their true identity for personal, political, and ethical reasons. Some of our literary world’s most beloved, bestselling authors have formulated their entire careers using alternative identities. Female writers, especially during the 19th century, have often used male pen names to combat sexism and prejudice in a traditionally male-dominated craft.
Choosing a pen name is sometimes more than just a marketing strategy, and there are many ways an author decides on a pen name to embody the essence of their chosen alias. The majority of writers adapt them from their birth names—using abbreviations, translations from foreign languages, or variations of nicknames—to mark a personal claim on their chosen pseudonym. Regardless of why or how writers choose their noms de plume, there is no right or wrong way to go about it, for the work is bound to speak for itself.
Teachers: K. Aleksanyan, N. Madatyan
18.02.2022
