As I walk through the corridor making my way towards my Literature class, my mind is resonating with various aspects of the poem that I have to teach. I am thinking of ways to make it easier for these millennials to connect to a poem written by a poet who died four centuries ago. Yet when the lesson begins, we discover that while science and technology has advanced by leaps and bounds, the human emotions and experiences that are expressed in literature are universal. They transcend beyond the boundaries of time and are not restricted to specific societies or cultures. As we read and discuss the poem, every student has a personal experience to share. It is no longer a tale ‘full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’ but something everyone can relate to. And this is what makes teaching literature to students such an enriching experience. At Beaconhouse, English literature is embedded into the curriculum and taught at every level. Students get a taste of classics like ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens and ‘Valley of Fear’ by Arthur Conan Doyle as well as poetry in Middle School. This enriches their language and enhances their ability to critically analyze and comment.
English Literature is an optional subject in A levels. Students who are interested in reading and writing generally opt for it as it enriches vocabulary and improves writing skills, however the benefits of literature are much more than language development. Studying English literature opens up a world of inspiration and creativity, while also developing skills that are essential for today’s global environment. It is a chance to discover how literature makes sense of the world through stories, poems, novels and plays. It develops a tolerance and understanding of other cultures and races as students get a chance to read texts written by authors from around the World.
One of the greatest benefits that I have observed as we discuss and analyze a text is that this subject instills a confidence in even the shyest students to share their thoughts and ideas with confidence. This is due to the fact that literature is essentially subjective and there can be a number of interpretations of any work of literature. So ‘to be or not to be’ is entirely your choice and based on your opinion! Literature also develops a humane and tolerant approach as we are able to understand that ‘heroes’ are ordinary human beings who were able to do something extraordinary at the right time and ‘villains’ are a product of adversity and an unjust society. Suddenly, the world is no longer black and white but rather a myriad of colors and shades. Hence class discussions on a character from Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ can go beyond the realms of the Elizabethan era with some students making comparisons with characters and situations from contemporary movies and novels and even cartoons!
So if you want to explore a world of human ideas, emotions and experiences, opt for English Literature. It will definitely be a fulfilling experience!