AP Literature Students Build Gingerbread Houses to Explore Literary Time Periods

Dr. Schmalzle’s Class Gets Creative in Celebrating the Holidays with a Literary Twist

Written by Dr. Schmalzle

In a festive and educational twist, students from Dr. Schmalzle’s AP Literature classes recently came together to build gingerbread houses that represent key literary time periods. The creative endeavor aimed to delve into the essence of various literary movements while spreading holiday cheer throughout the school.

The students were tasked with crafting gingerbread houses that symbolized major literary time periods, including Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Absurdism, Gothicism, and Modernism. Armed with icing, candy, and a plethora of other materials, the students set out to capture the essence of each movement within the sweet confines of their gingerbread creations.

The Romanticism gingerbread house, adorned with nature-inspired elements and vibrant colors, showcased the students’ interpretation of the emotional and imaginative characteristics of the literary movement. In contrast, the Transcendentalism house featured serene landscapes and simple, harmonious designs, mirroring the ideals of self-reliance and individualism.

The Absurdism gingerbread house took a whimsical turn, embracing the unpredictable and illogical elements characteristic of the literary movement. Meanwhile, the Gothicism house delved into the mysterious and eerie, with dark colors and intricate details reflecting the gothic themes prevalent in literature.

For the Modernism gingerbread house, students embraced simplicity and abstraction, mirroring the movement’s rejection of traditional styles and embrace of innovative forms.

The collaborative effort allowed students to express their creativity while gaining a deeper understanding of the literary movements they studied. Dr. Schmalzle emphasized the importance of engaging students in immersive and hands-on activities to enhance their comprehension of complex literary concepts.

As a part of their ongoing exploration of these literary movements, the students will read at least one significant piece of literature from each time period throughout the remainder of the course. The gingerbread houses will serve as a visual reminder of the diverse and rich literary history they are uncovering in their studies.

The project not only brought literature to life but also fostered a sense of camaraderie and holiday spirit among the students. As the semester comes to a close, Dr. Schmalzle’s class can reflect on their unique and festive approach to literary exploration, a testament to the creative and dynamic learning environment at Wallenpaupack.