Classroom Happenings: A Classic Tale, Reimagined

How do setting, plot, characters, conflict, and theme contribute to a well-told story? 

Well, if you ask Upper School English Teacher Janel Nellen, she might point to her honors students’ recent projects, which were inspired by “Romeo and Juliet.” On display in her classroom are detailed dioramas, beautifully decorated journals written from Juliet’s point of view … even a coffin made of paper and adorned with elaborate drawings inspired by one of the Bard’s most famous plays. 

After assigning “Romeo and Juliet” and several mentor texts (stories that serve as examples of good writing), Ms. Nellen tasked her students with retelling the story in non-traditional formats. 

“They were incredibly creative and came up with a wide variety of formats, including tarot cards, a 3D floor plan of the Capulet home, scrapbooks, and simulated social media feeds,” said Ms. Nellen.  

Ella Martin ’29 created a full-length gown out of paper, fabric, and ribbons. Each of the dress’s four tiers is covered in letters written in poetic form and in the voice of either Romeo or Juliet. In all, Ella wrote more than 30 letters. 

“There is at least one letter per scene in the play, so I could explore different points of view to interpret the scenes,” shared Ella. “The papers poking out of the top of the bodice are the words of the play’s prologue. I wanted that to be the first thing you see when you look at the dress because it is the first thing you observe when you watch the play.” The bottom of the dress is adorned with dozens of red-stained lip prints. 

Ella was inspired to create the dress in part because “Renaissance fashion is the polar opposite of modern-day fashion. I wanted to intertwine the two to create a modern-day ball gown while incorporating key elements such as a corset bodice and a floor-length tiering effect.” Modern elements include velvet lace fabric borrowed from one of Ella’s childhood Halloween costumes.

The assignment is a great example of how Steward’s core values of individuality and inspiration can play out in unexpected ways. 

“I am inspired by my students’ insight, curiosity, and genuine enthusiasm,” said Ms. Nellen. “Their creativity challenges me to design projects that push them to experiment and take risks.” She added, “When students are given the freedom to make creative choices and play to their strengths, their learning becomes deeper, more meaningful, and joyful.”

The students’ projects will be on display at the English department’s Elizabethan Faire, which takes place during the school day on April 27. This annual Steward tradition, which honors Shakespeare’s birthday, features games, research projects, sonnets, crown making, and more. Students from all divisions will visit the Faire.