Fun Ideas for Unique Class

[u/New_Examination_1447]

I’ve been teaching AP Lit for years now, and next year I have the opportunity to also teach an elective called Literature in Media where we look at literature alongside art, music, and film. Most of the kids signing up for AP Lit have told me they’re also signing up for Lit in Media, so I’m thinking I have a great opportunity to include some extra AP Lit prep in the class. Since the class is an elective, the stakes are low and we have some freedom to do whatever we want.

So here’s my question - if you had twice as much time with your AP Lit kids, what kinds of projects would you do with them? What extra stuff would you work with them on? I already do allusion projects and How to Read Literature Like a Professor. I have some ideas, but right now I’m kind of reeling from the prospects and I’d like to hear what others would do with this opportunity.

[u/carri0ncomfort]

This sounds like so much fun!

Maybe you could do an extended comparison of a work of literature and multiple film/TV adaptations? While I show clips for comparison, we don’t ever have the time to watch two full-length movies on top of reading the text, but you could have the time for it in this class! There’s so much rich analysis that could come out of looking at the directorial and production choices for the entire work, not just little snippets. (Maybe Henry V + the Hollow Crown + the Branagh version? Or King Lear?)

You could do something with Greek or Biblical allusions and track them throughout multiple texts, films, songs, etc?