This year in Scholars’ Seminar, one unit’s culminating project assignment asked students to create a customized holiday gift and design thematically appropriate wrapping paper for a character selected from one of the novels studied in class. Students showcased their presents and wrapping papers in class, while their peers guessed the character for whom the items were intended. In addition to the hands-on aspect of designing the gift and wrapping paper and presenting their work in class, each student wrote an essay that included a character analysis as well as the reasoning behind their creative choices. 

Student Chloe M. selected Lawrence Selden from Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth for her project. Chloe went above and beyond in her preparation of wrapping paper and gifts for Lawrence. Of her project, she said “As an avid literature reader and psychology enjoyer, I found this project by Dr. Roudabush a great way to put ourselves in the shoes of literary characters and think about what gifts that would best fit them. For Lawrence Selden from The House of Mirth, I pictured him as a quiet man who likes to keep his emotions buried, replacing said emotions with philosophical pondering about society. Putting myself in his shoes, I thought long and hard about what gifts that I would like to receive and why, making note of where and when these gifts would be useful.” View Chloe’s thoughtful and inspiring presentation below!

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