Ms. Crandell
AP English Literature
Creating a World Project Directions and Rubric
Who: Your book group
What: Create a three-dimensional representation of the world of your novel, using printed out passages
of the text itself. You can fold, staple, color, glue, cut, etc. but the text should largely be visible, because
the passages you choose will represent what you are creating. (Example: if you are making a paperdoll version of Jane, you might choose a passage that describes her internal state, and for her clothes,
choose a passage that represents her physical appearance.)
When: During class time today and again after the break (for a total of about 5 hours)
Where: In our classroom-turned-workshop
Why: To analyze the text in a creative way instead of writing a formal essay--but my standards are very
high for this project! Everything should look finished and neat. Take risks but do excellent work.
Keep a master list of all the passages and page numbers and what they are being made into.
You will turn this in.
The first passage on your list must be a passage that guides your entire project. Example from Tess
(chapter 1):
“Did you say the stars were worlds, Tess?”
“Yes.”
“All like ours?”
“I don’t know, but I think so. They sometimes seem to be like the apples on our stubbard-tree. Most of
them are splendid and sound--a few blighted.”
“Which do we live on--a splendid one or a blighted one?”
“A blighted one.”
Decide: will your world be inside a house or outside, in nature? (Or you could combine them.)
After the first passage, you must have:
1. ceiling or sky
2. floor/ground/streets
3. landscape features or interior features such as walls, etc.
4. at least two main characters
5. at least 6 symbolic details that represent themes/symbols/motifs in your novel (e.g. gold, bird, books,
horse, family seal and spoon, coach, hearth/fire, portraits and pictures, a harp, etc.)
NB: you may bring small details to add, if the main material you work with is text printed from the book.
Online links to the texts:
Silas Marner: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/550/550-h/550-h.htm
Tess of the d’Urbervilles: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/110/110-h/110-h.htm
Jane Eyre: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1260/1260-h/1260-h.htm
Essential Questions:
 What is the world of this novel?
 How does time behave in this world?
 What is the climate in this world?
 What is the mood of this world?
 What is the language and music of this world?
 What is the social world of this novel?
 Who has power in this world?
 What changes in this world?
 What remains stable in this world?
 How does Formalist literary theory illuminate the world of this novel?
 What themes are revealed through applying Formalist literary theory?
Reflection paper:
After completing the project, each student should write an individual response paper, answering at least
one of the above essential questions and one of the following questions: In what ways did you learn
more about the novel? How does a creative project like this compare to writing a formal academic
essay?
The paper should be one typed page, double-spaced.
Rubric:
5-4
3-2
1-0
Appearance
Materials are comprised mainly
of printed text of the novel that
connects to the object itself;
overall workmanship is of
excellent quality.
Materials may not be
comprised mainly of
printed text of the novel
that connects to the
object itself; overall
workmanship may suffer
in quality.
Materials may not be
comprised mainly of
printed text of the novel
that connects to the
object itself; overall
workmanship is poor in
quality.
Contents
1. ceiling or sky
2. floor/ground/streets
3. landscape features or interior
features such as walls, etc.
4. at least two main characters
5. at least 6 symbolic details that
represent themes/symbols/motifs
in the novel
May be missing one or
two necessary
elements.
Missing three or more
necessary elements.
Master List of
Quotations
Used
Contains at least 12 quotations,
all pertaining to the required list,
in MLA format.
May not contain all the
required quotations or
MLA format may be
incomplete.
May contain few or no
required quotations.
Reflection
paper
One page, typed, double-spaced;
answers one essential question
and one additional prompt;
reflections are deeply considered
and nuanced.
May be of insufficient
length; may not answer
two required questions;
may be less deeply
considered and/or
nuanced.
May be of insufficient
length; may not answer
two required questions;
may be perfunctory.