
Immerse your students in the unsettling small-town world of Shirley Jackson’s The Possibility of Evil with this set of imaginative, classroom-ready creative activities. These tasks are designed to deepen understanding of key themes—morality, secrecy, hypocrisy, and appearance versus reality—while encouraging empathy, critical thinking, and independent interpretation.
Perfect for KS4 English Literature, this flexible resource fits seamlessly into units on American short fiction, Gothic elements, or the psychology of everyday life. It invites students to explore the contrast between Pleasant Street’s polite façade and the quiet malice lurking beneath.
Students can choose from a range of creative tasks, including:
★ Filming a short TikTok-style review sharing personal responses to the story
★ Recording a podcast debating Miss Strangeworth’s morality and intentions
★ Creating a graphic novel adaptation of key scenes
★ Designing a symbolic rose garden to represent key events and themes
★ Creating set and costume designs for two contrasting scenes
★ Writing a five-minute stage play capturing the story’s turning points
★ Producing a character collage contrasting public image and private identity
★ Writing a sensational newspaper article about the destruction of the roses
★ Curating a movie-style soundtrack to reflect tone and mood shifts
Why use this resource?
✔ Encourages close reading through creative, symbolic interpretation
✔ Provides discussion-rich alternatives to essay-based analysis
✔ Supports a variety of learning styles and abilities
✔ Ideal for literature, Gothic fiction, or American short story lessons
Download today to help your students explore one of Shirley Jackson’s most morally complex and quietly disturbing short stories through imaginative, student-led responses that bring tone, character, and social critique into focus.
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