This week on With Honors, Amberlynn and Katie take the mic for a patient, and at times delightfully unexpected, exploration of symbolism in literature. Starting again with Remarkably Bright Creatures, they unpack the deeper meanings behind characters like Tova and Marcellus and explore how age can be a symbolic season of life. From there, the discussion takes a darker turn into Edgar Allan Poe’s cautionary tale "The Masque of the Red Death." They balance Prince Prospero's symbolic role as a corrupt elite celebrity against similar corrupt celebrity figures of today. We discuss how isolation (especially that of the 2020 pandemic) feels eerily relevant to the world today. As students eventually do, they entertain the idea of a class pet. Since one girl is an FFA member working in a vet’s office and the other has experience raising exotic animals for fairs, finding the right symbolic class pet is right in their wheelhouse.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

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In this episode of With Honors, Halle, Maddie, and Riley dive into Shelby Van Pelt’s 2020 novel Remarkably Bright Creatures, the summer read that kicked off their journey into Honors English. They share their reactions to the novel’s remarkable characters, discuss how it compares to other bright works from the class, and reflect on the themes that stuck with these creatures. Along the way, they offer pro-tips for next year’s Honors students, like what to expect, how to approach the summer read, and why it’s more than just another assignment.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, Rhaleigh, Addison, and Taegan open up about the unique challenges of being students balancing Honors English with basketball season. Taegan shares what it's like to juggle intense practices, games, and coursework, while Rhaleigh and Addison reflect on their roles as managers supporting the team while managing school, work, and home responsibilities. The girls get real about handling pressure, mental health struggles, and the value of finding balance. They also share their excitement about the upcoming playoffs, their gratitude for a guidance counselor who feels like family, and their appreciation for teachers who show up to support them outside the classroom. Plus, they have some fun unpacking Gen Z slang — all after powering through an unexpected fire drill.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, Wyatt and Zane join the quest to face down the ultimate literary beast: the dragon. Armed with our knowledge of symbolism, our pop culture expertise, and our love for all things fantasy, we charge headfirst into the legends to unravel why these creatures have captivated us for centuries. From the fire-breathing terrors of Western myths to the wise, celestial beings of Eastern tradition, we battle through layers of symbolism, Biblical lore, character depictions, movie references, and archetypal meaning. In this clash with the great wyrm of literary analysis, we try to uncover what dragons reveal about our fears, our ambitions, and the stories that define us.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, sophs Kylie and Hayley break down their top 10 tips for approaching Honors 10 English. From the reality of Crockett's "half-sheet-of-paper" quizzes to the best strategies for reading and annotating novels outside of class, they share what they’ve learned along the way. Kylie discusses her perspective on balancing classwork against procrastination, while Hayley offers insight into adjusting to a new school and a new Honors arena. Together, they unpack what they wish they had known from day one, offering advice, anecdotes, and a few laughs along the way.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, "Words in Motion," sophomores Mary and Kara explore the art of poetry and how tools like TPCASTT can transform the way we read and analyze verse. As they walk through the TPCASTT process step by step, they discuss how tone, imagery, and structure shape meaning. They also reminisce about previous classes and why poetry isn’t as intimidating as it first seems. Mary shares how her perspective on poetry has evolved through practice, while Kara reflects on both her and her family's attitudes toward poets like Edgar Allan Poe and Will Shakespeare. Together, they show that poetry analysis isn’t about finding a single right answer, but rather about engaging with the text in a meaningful way.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, sophomores Larissa and Wesley dive into Frieda McFadden’s thriller The Housemaid and the unsettling ways it plays with perception and deception. As they discuss the danger of judging a book by its cover—both literally and figuratively—they reflect on how first impressions can be misleading, not just in literature but in life. Wesley shares how his initial assumptions about The Housemaid were completely upended, while Larissa connects the novel’s themes to the misconceptions she had about taking an Honors English class. Together, they unpack why those snap judgments can be limiting, how their perspectives have shifted, and what this class has taught them about looking beyond the surface.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

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In this first episode of With Honors, sophs Mary and Kaylee sit down to reflect on the meaning of birthdays, not just as celebrations but as symbols of fresh starts and second chances. Mary shares why her birthday feels especially significant and how it ties into the lessons she’s learned this year. Kaylee opens up about her regret of staying quiet during Socratic seminars, while Mary wishes she had been more diligent in reading the assigned texts. Together, they explore what they would do differently, why those lessons matter, and how this class has shaped the way they see learning and themselves.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.