Corinth High School Students Step Into Literary History at Rowan Oak

As the culmination of the Corinth High School’s Mississippi Writers class, students traveled to Oxford, Mississippi, to explore Rowan Oak, the historic home of William Faulkner.

New this year at Corinth High School, Mississippi Writers is a half credit English elective for high school students in grades 9-12. Thirty-eight students participated in three sections of Mississippi Writers this fall. 

Throughout the course, students gained a deeper appreciation of their home state’s rich literary heritage. “Mississippi Writers is all about exploring the stories, authors, and history that make Mississippi such a unique place,” said Mrs. Brandi Davis, teacher at Corinth High School. “This term, my students have read works by William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Jesmyn Ward, while exploring topics like family, identity, poverty, resilience, and what it means to grow up in the South.”

The Rowan Oak field trip gave students an interactive connection to the course material. “The trip to Rowan Oak gave students the opportunity to step outside the classroom and experience the world of an author they had been studying,” said Davis. “Visiting Faulkner’s home and exploring Ole Miss helped students make a real-world connection to the literature, history, and Mississippi places we’ve been discussing all term. It was a chance for them to see that the stories we study aren’t just words on a page—they are connected to real people, places, and experiences.” 

The guided house tour was a highlight. “My favorite part of the trip was definitely the tour guide from Rowan Oak!” said Dallas Barnes, 11th grade student. “He, I wish I remembered his name, was very funny in his explanation of Rowan Oak’s history. The way he casually mentioned the haunting was hilarious.”

During the tour, students learned about William Faulkner’s family history, viewed the original wall where he penciled the plot outline for A Fable, tested out an old-fashioned typewriter, toured the stables and admired paintings by his wife and mother. They also enjoyed seeing the transformation of the house throughout the Faulkner family’s 42-year tenure on the estate. 

Other students liked the hands-on exhibits throughout the house. “I really liked that I got to use a typewriter for the first time,” said Robert Gaston, 10th grade student. “It was amazing to type on what my great grandpa used to type on.”

The estate grounds were equally memorable. “I loved the scenery and just how quaint it was,” said Brynlee Mosier, 11th grade student. “The Eastern Red Cedar trees that greet you at the entrance captured my attention. Behind the stable was a lovely little enclosed, grassy area. I had to take my shoes off for a second. The privacy William Faulkner sought out was worth it to be in solitude or with a dear family surrounded by nature.”

Faulkner’s years spent at Rowan Oak were productive as he set stories and novels to paper, ultimately winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949, and the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1954 for A Fable. William Faulkner remains one of the most celebrated and studied authors in the world, with conferences, societies and journals dedicated to his life and work.

While in Oxford, the students toured the nearby University of Mississippi campus and enjoyed lunch at the Rebel Market. “The trip to Ole Miss was also phenomenal and the food was fantastic,” said Gaston. “Ole Miss looked like a little city, and the people were really chill.”

The day was made possible through funding from the Corinth School District Foundation, a 501c3 organization that financially supports the school district to reach every child through funding innovative and creative opportunities and resources that will enhance their future academic achievement. Established in 2015 and directed by a 10-member community board, the Foundation awarded over $35,500 in grants to Corinth teachers and students last year, alongside offering appreciation awards, student incentives, and endowed scholarships.

For both the teacher and students, the Mississippi Writers elective has left a lasting impression. “My favorite part of teaching this class has been watching students engage with both classic and contemporary Mississippi literature and realize that these stories still have something to say to them today,” said Davis. “I’ve especially enjoyed seeing them make connections between the texts we’ve read and the people, places, and culture they see around them. It’s been very rewarding to watch students develop a deeper appreciation for Mississippi’s stories and the many different perspectives that make up our state’s identity.”

The students agree. “The books, the relativity, and the conversations are what made this class and brought it to life,” said Mosier. “This class also gives opportunities for all students to understand culture, human empathy, reality, and gain the open-mindedness these authors can inspire their readers to have because you certainly don’t expect what can come out of them.”

Among the course readings, contemporary author Jesmyn Ward stood out as a clear favorite. “My favorite author we’ve studied is Jesmyn Ward,” said Barnes. “I enjoyed Faulkner’s writing, but the representation of a present Mississippi and the reality a lot of us face was very interesting to read about. Ward’s representation of modern Mississippi is better than any I’ve read.”

The Mississippi Writers class and the trip to Rowan Oak was a unique experience that the students will remember long after the class is over.