After completing their reading of Mrs. Dalloway and their essays applying a critical approach to the work, Ms. Evans’ AP Lit students celebrated with a Salon Day in the Vivaldi Room of HOTA. 

Mrs Dalloway, a novel by Virginia Woolf published in 1925, details a day in the life of a fictional London society hostess as she plans a dinner party in post-First World War England. It is one of Woolf's best-known novels, and a classic read in the AP Literature curriculum due to its innovative structure and the complex psychology of its characters.

Students demonstrated their understanding of both Mrs. Dalloway and their critical approaches, articulating their thorough analysis of the text while enjoying English tea, cake, and cookies. “Our Salon Day was amazing, I felt like I was among real authors discussing literature and philosophy,” exclaimed Fiona M., ’23. “It was an authentic literary experience, which I really appreciated.” 

Each student took a turn describing how they applied their critical lens to Mrs. Dalloway, including: Psychoanalytic, Feminist, Queer Theory, Deconstructionist, Archetypal, and Cultural Criticism. “I was impressed with how well the students expressed their analysis of the work through their chosen critical lens,” commented Ms. Evans. “In addition to being a fun way to celebrate the conclusion of a challenging unit, these Salon Days are also an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate that they are well prepared for the expectations of a college seminar.”