As you read a work of literature from each movement, ask students to track the author(s) and themes. By the end of the year, students will be able to reflect on themes that endured over time and distinguish them from themes that were a direct result of the period.
In the example, a student created an author board for William Shakespeare after reading his works from The Renaissance. Students can extend their storyboards to track one author from each period or to do all the authors read during class. The options are endless!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a large, visible chart in your classroom with columns for each literary period and rows for different authors. This helps students visually track authors, movements, and recurring themes across time.
Divide your class into small groups and assign each a lesser-known author from a specific British literary period. Encourage them to research and present key facts, works, and themes to broaden everyone's understanding.
Have students build a timeline that pairs each author with major historical events from their period. This strengthens connections between literature and history, making both more meaningful.
Lead class discussions where students compare themes that repeat across periods with those unique to a single era. Use guiding questions to deepen their critical thinking about why certain themes endure.
Regularly update the author chart as your class studies new works. Invite students to add their findings, keeping the chart interactive and relevant for everyone.
An author chart for British literary periods is a tool where students track authors, their works, and key themes from different literary movements, helping them see how themes evolve or persist over time.
To create an author chart, have students list each literary movement, add the author’s name with key information, and include illustrations representing both the period and the author. This helps visualize connections between authors and literary eras.
Tracking authors and themes helps students reflect on recurring ideas, understand context, and distinguish between enduring themes and those unique to specific periods, deepening their literary analysis skills.
Yes, students can choose to track one author from each period or include all authors studied in class. This flexibility allows for personalized learning and deeper exploration of literary trends.
Students should: 1) Click 'Start Assignment,' 2) Add headings for 'Literary Movements' and 'Author Example,' 3) Describe the movement with an illustration, 4) Provide author info with another illustration, and finally, 5) Save and exit.