Bringing Symbolism to Life: AI, Creativity, and Literary Analysis in the Classroom
Teaching literature is not just about reading words on a page, it is about helping students connect deeply with themes and symbols in ways that feel meaningful and relevant. Right now, my students are embarking on a multi-layered learning journey that blends AI-generated creativity, literary analysis, and digital storytelling to explore symbolism in Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken.
While we’re currently in Step 1 of this process, I am already seeing how AI can spark creativity and engagement, setting the stage for deeper critical thinking as we move forward.
Step 1: AI-Generated Personal Symbols (Where We Are Now)
Before we even approached The Road Not Taken, I wanted my students to develop a personal connection to symbolism. After all, how can we analyze someone else’s symbols if we have not thought about what symbols mean to us?
To get started, students used generative AI tools to create personal symbols, visual representations of their identities, experiences, or beliefs. Once their symbols were created, they recorded short video explanations, including:
What does my symbol represent?
How does it connect to my personal experiences?
What emotions or ideas do I want it to convey?
This activity has been an incredible first step, prompting deep reflection and creative expression. More importantly, it’s setting the foundation for our next phase: analyzing how Frost uses symbolism in The Road Not Taken.
What’s Coming Next?
Step 2: Analyzing Symbolism in The Road Not Taken
Later this week the class will analyze Frost’s poem, applying the same critical lens we used for personal symbolism. We will explore:
How Frost uses imagery and diction to create layers of meaning (descriptive writing)
The symbolism of the two roads and the poem’s message about choice and consequence
How personal experiences influence literary interpretation
Step 3: Recreating Symbolism in Minecraft
In the final phase, students will bring the poem’s symbolism to life through Minecraft: Education Edition. Working in teams, they will design and build a visual representation of the poem, incorporating key literary elements:
A forest setting with a forked path
Two distinct roads that visually and symbolically contrast
Integrated textual elements, where key lines from the poem guide the experience
Interactive choice mechanics that allow players to experience the traveler’s dilemma
This hands-on, digital approach will help students engage with symbolism in a tangible way, moving beyond traditional literary analysis.
Why This Approach? Authentic Learning in Action
This multi-step lesson is inspired by research on authentic learning and creativity in digital storytelling, particularly:
Di Blas (2022) on authentic learning and collaborative digital storytelling
Fan, Lane, & Delialioğlu (2022) on how open-ended tasks in Minecraft promote creativity
To ensure alignment with academic standards, I used ChatGPT to cross-reference my lesson plans with agency standards, ISTE standards, and Pre-AP guidelines. AI did not create my lesson, it acted as a thinking partner, helping me refine and structure this experience to meet both research-backed best practices and the unique needs of my students.
What I’ve Seen So Far… and What I’m Excited About
As we complete Step 1, I’m already noticing:
Deeper engagement: Students are excited to create and explain their own symbols
Stronger personal connections: They’re thinking critically about how symbols convey meaning
A shift in mindset: Instead of just consuming literature, they are preparing to interpret and create meaning themselves
I am eager to see how this foundation enhances their understanding of Frost’s poem (and in time other literary works) and eventually, how they translate that understanding into a fully realized digital world.
DRAFT Lesson
I am continuing to refine this lesson as I go, exchanging ideas with colleagues, AI (to check for best practices and alignment), and most importantly, my students. Their input and engagement shape how this lesson evolves, making it more dynamic, relevant, and meaningful each time we revisit it.
Your Turn: How Do You Use Digital Tools in Literature?
Have you ever used digital storytelling to teach symbolism or literary analysis? How do you help students make personal connections to literature?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
