TeacherScribe

I was really hesitant to use "The Yellow Wallpaper" with my Lit and Language class.  My College level classes love it.  But I thought it might be a little too boring and methodical for my juniors. How wrong I was. I had them read it first and complete a series of reader response starters to chronicle their thoughts as they interacted with Gilman's text. A few complained that it was boring. Yet, the next day when we listened to it (I always think re-reading is a rewarding activity), the students were spellbound.  I know this is because a few never read it in the first place, but I think for others, the story just worked its magic (or terror) on them. It was great watching their reactions to the narrator's descent into madness. When she acknowledged to creeping around like the lady in the wallpaper, I literally saw students shudder. Now, that's the power of "The Yellow Wallpaper." Today I have them writing a short essay in which they apply several literary theories to it (feminism, historicism, psychological, and post modernism).  Can't wait to read those and see what they think.