Pastiche Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL.9-10.2

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Pastiche is a piece that is written to honor the work of another author. It often will be used to mimic the work itself in a respectful manner. This is board and all-encompassing literary device that can be applied in many different ways. This may be used in all different types of mediums to brush on a just a theme, character of a work, or even a distinct writing style. A pastiche can contain any number of the elements from the work that it is paying homage to. These worksheets will help students better understand the nature of this literary device and the proper use of it.

Pastiche Worksheets To Print:

Introduction - How is this like a parody? How is it different?

Introduction to Method - What does the author of this work need to understand about the original work?

Sentenced - Use words from the box to complete the sentences. You may use some words more than once.

Parody: Compare and Contrast - How are they alike and where do they part ways.

True or False - Show us what you understand about these concepts and what you don't.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - This is a is a play written by Tom Stoppard and is an excellent example of pastiche.

Close Concepts - We look at some other closely related writing forms.

Application - Write a scene from a short story or a book that admire.

Write One - Can you think of something that you would enjoy practicing this technique on?

Examples - Think of a book you have read, music you have heard, or a film or television program you have seen that uses this technique.

In Popular Culture - Where have you seen this technique used before?

The British Museum is Falling Down - This is a novel written by David Lodge that imitates ten different novelists.

Major Concept - This is an organizer specifically for discussion on this topic.

Locating This - Consider genre conventions, word usage, sentence structure, characters, and the overall feel and rhythm of the work.

Elements - You will read a work and attempt to identify the use of the common features of this technique.

What Is Pastiche in Literature?

The word pastiche originated from the Italian pasticcio, - a pie filling made with lots of ingredients. Pasticcio, however, comes from the Latin word pasticium, which translates to “composed of paste.” A pastiche rightly described as pasticium means a work of literature in which various styles and ideas are pasted together.


This is a type of literary work that borrows heavily from another, usually famous, literary work. They are meant to act as an ode to the original work; it celebrates and pays homage to the source of inspiration. This technique is different from parody, which is meant to mock or ridicule, although both approaches show some level of lightheartedness.


Some writers, poets, artists, and actors use pastiche by combining multiple literary styles in a single piece of work.


The Importance and Function


This type of writing is celebratory in nature. Writers opting for the use of this technqie imitate the style of a literary piece that is widely accepted to have a niche of its own. In this case, imitation is meant to pay homage to the original writer, their work, and their way of storytelling.


In some cases, pastiche is used to finish or build on an actual writer's work, should they have written more, continued a particular story, or further explained certain aspects of their work. Imitative pastiche is light and gentle, without a mean or derisive tone; more often than not, these works of literature are funny and entertaining.


Stylistic pastiche is a type that focuses more on the author of the work and less on the sources of inspiration. In this genre, an author may decide to mix and match certain genres to show their malleability and their own ability to develop original literary works.


The Elements of Pastiche


They can borrow as many elements from the original work as preferred by the writer. Some of the most commonly borrowed elements are:


Characters


The writer may use certain aspects of characters-or they might choose to lift entire characters from the original work.


Ideas


Ideas are usually the main source of inspiration for pastiche work. These could be the plot points, the larger commentary, or even the philosophy implied by the original author.


Styles


Mimicking the voice or the writing style of the original author makes the pastiche feel like a continuation of the source text.


Words


Sometimes, a writer will use the exact words from the original text to show and emphasize the connection between the original and inspired work, further authenticating the extension of the source.


Examples of Pastiche in Literature


Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a contemporary pastiche and an obvious copy of Jane Austen's novel. It starts by copying the title to the exact language. The only difference is the addition of zombies to the strict society and its rules from Austen's novel.


David Lodge's novel The British Museum is Falling Down owes its style to many different writers, including Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and Franz Kafka. He also borrows a quote from James Joyce's Ulysses for his novel Barbara Appleby.


David Mitchell's novel Cloud Atlas owes its style to a lot of sources, including Herman Melville's Moby-Dick.