Enhancing Literary Analysis with Hands-on Learning
October 6, 2025
Flip through to see more examples of hands-on learning.
Whether it is classic works or a modern novel, Upper School English classes go beyond simply reading the texts through activities, discussions, and visual displays to enhance their literary analysis.
In Alison Roberson’s sophomore English class, students drew pilgrims based on the descriptions in Geoffery Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” and prepared for their essays by creating visual depictions of essay structure using smoothies, burgers, and mountains.
“Drawing helps highlight the artists among us,” Roberson said. “We are always talking about ‘showing vs. telling,’ so sometimes they have to show what they know. Any way students can get their other senses involved as we study literature is a good moment.”
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Students in Mark Beyreis’ AP Language and Composition class used experiential learning to dive deeper into the key motifs in Lisa Ko’s “The Leavers.” The class simulated a nail salon, a poker game, and the experience of synesthesia to better understand how the motifs support the novel’s themes. Down the hall from the English classrooms, ninth grade world history students in Katie Swinford’s class discussed if there is archaeological evidence to prove Homer’s description of the Trojan War in “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” The students read excerpts from Homer’s epics and evaluate artifacts excavated by University of Cincinnati archeologists. The ninth graders will be reading Homer’s full texts in their English classes this year. |
