Ladder of Abstraction

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This activity allows students to process the ways in which details from a work might represent larger abstract ideas.

Process

  1. Divide students in groups of 4.
  2. Introduce the concept of the “Ladder of Abstraction” by giving the following definition: 

The “ladder of abstraction” is an image and concept used to illustrate how language and reasoning evolves from concrete to abstract. The ladder should be viewed as ascending:  simple, concrete concepts at the bottom and abstract concepts at the top. 

Hayakawa, Samuel. Language in Thought and Action. Harcourt, 1949.
  • Provide a teacher generated example from a work previously studied in the course.
  • Ask each group to identify the following literal features in a work: 
    • a character
    • a relationship
    • a setting
    • a major event or conflict
    • a significant feeling a character experiences
  • Instruct groups to work through the first literal feature (character), moving beyond the literal to identify three suggested conceptual meanings, working their way up the ladder of abstraction.
  • Ask groups to share out their ladders.
  • Repeat the process until students have worked through an example of each literal feature.
  • Ask students to reflect in their portfolios:  In what ways was this activity helpful?  What questions might you still have about the process of interpreting abstract meaning from concrete choices made in a work?

Examples from Purple Hibiscus

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay