Frankenstein: A visual analysis

How can we make literary analysis more engaging and accessible? In this project, students analyze any novel by visually interpreting key themes and symbols using only Keynote shapes. This method transforms traditional text-based analysis into a creative, multimodal experience that enhances both critical thinking and digital literacy.

While we used Frankenstein as an example, this approach works with any literary work, including contemporary novels, classic literature, poetry, or plays. Currently, my students are applying this method to The Kite Runner to explore themes like guilt, redemption, and friendship.

The goal is for students to develop deeper analytical skills by visually representing literary themes, motifs, and symbols. They can achieve this by:

• Identifying central themes and motifs in a novel.
• Translating these ideas into symbolic representations using Keynote shapes.
• Applying visual storytelling techniques such as layering, subtraction, and composition.
• Presenting their analyses orally, explaining their design choices and how they connect to the text.

This project bridges literature and digital storytelling, making complex literary concepts more tangible.

Students begin by selecting a novel or literary text and identifying key themes. They then represent these themes visually using symbolism and composition in Keynote. For example:

In Frankenstein:

⚡ Lightning – Creation and power

💔 A broken heart – Rejection and loneliness

☁️ Dark clouds – The Gothic atmosphere

👁️ A watchful eye – Surveillance and moral dilemmas

In The Kite Runner:

🪁 A kite – innocence, betrayal, and redemption

🚛 A fuel truck – escape, desperation, and danger

🏚️ Simple housing – exile, alienation, and a new life

🏜️ A desert-like landscape – the long journey, emptiness, and vulnerability

By manipulating Keynote shapes, students create layered compositions that visually express the novel’s deeper meanings. They then present their work, explaining their design choices and how they connect to literary themes.

This approach made literary analysis more engaging, especially for students who struggle with traditional essays. Some key takeaways:

• Symbolic thinking deepened students’ textual understanding and improved their ability to discuss abstract concepts.
• The project encouraged creativity and collaboration, as students discussed and refined their interpretations.
• If repeated, I’d provide more scaffolding for students less familiar with Keynote’s shape tools.
• This method is adaptable—it works for any novel, poem, or play, making it a valuable tool across different texts and grade levels.

This project encouraged students to think critically about literature in a new way. It’s a flexible method that can be applied to any literary text, making it a valuable tool across different subjects and levels.

My students loved bringing literature to life through visual analysis, and I’m excited to explore even more ways to integrate multimodal learning into literature studies.

 https://education.apple.com/learning-center/T058245A?cid=pm-enus-for-na-edu-eccreate-adewcid25