Literature brings meaning to life
MANY students stay away from literature because they believe it is the study of old English texts. However, literature is so much more than that.
Literature is about both contemporary and old tales from all over the world. Famous writers have emerged from Asian, African and Caribbean backgrounds whose stories are inspired by these landscapes.
Literature is about the study of motives and psyche. It is about the drama, turmoil and triumphs of life. This is why I love literature and why I like teaching literature.
It allows me to delve into the lives of others and to comment and criticise. It also allows me to understand human nature and myself. How often have we turned to literature to find meaning and direction? In a world where we exist mostly as isolated individuals, literature gives us the support and assistance to face our lives.
One of the great joys of teaching literature is to encounter a group of young minds who savour the tales that I like so much or am intrigued by. Many a time, my students will discover a point that I had missed.
We spend hours exploring the potential of the story and discover ourselves in the midst. Inevitably, we learn some lessons in life too. To quote one of my students, “In class, we have learnt not only the literary texts but about life itself too.”
To enjoy literature, one must have a passion for it; one must be able to connect to it and identify with it.
One must love mankind and its intricacies if one wants to enjoy literary texts. Of course, a creative imagination is also crucial to be able to turn words into pictures in one’s mind.
To see my students do well and score high grades in the IGCSE literature is definitely the icing on the cake after weeks and months of discussion and argument regarding certain scenarios. We often go away from a lesson charged and excited to face the next session. Such is literature: it is a bonus subject to take delight in and help us appreciate life.
The study of literature analyses motives and actions and allows one to criticise without fear of retribution. It is easy to condemn and attack a character who is mere fiction yet bears a resemblance to a real person whom one dislikes. It is also heartwarming to celebrate successes and victories of characters whom we have grown to love in reading.
To embrace literature, one must love reading, and to inculcate reading, we must start young. Reading should be seen as pleasure, not a punishment. Schools must be careful to introduce reading as a bonus to work being completed and not as a means to keep students quiet.
Analysing books, characters and motives encourages reading and thinking. Inadvertently, language is learnt as well. Thus, literature plays a dual role of improving thinking and language. From literature, one is able to move on to theatre and drama too. This will keep the kinaesthetic learners occupied and interested.
Literature is about life and it is for life.
This article is written by Nithiya Kala, head of languages and literature at elc International School. For more information, visit www.elc.edu.my