Creative Approaches to Teaching Literature: Myth or Reality

Of course there is no creative approach to the teaching of literature. Literature is literature and it should be taught in the traditional close reading and explanation way. That's the only way to enjoy the beautiful language of literature.

Afterall the beauty of literature is in its language, right?

creative approaches to teaching literature do exists. it covers teachers' way of teaching creatively, for example, dramatization as well as play. for instance if we want to make the students to have full comprehension towards the topics or on the literary works, we can make or create creative activities that can link to students' interest. thus, students will absorb the contents of the literary works. if a teacher just teach his/her students in conventional ways, it is likely for students to just listen but not absorb the contents. so, if a teacher creates creative approach to teach literature, it might work. and of course, creative approaches to teaching literature is a reality

yes, im agree with whitecoffee
literature can be so much fun, it depends 100% to the teachers to make it fun.
for example,to teach phantom of the opera
maybe you want to teach about plot...you could review the movie rather than just sitting there talking about the plot, schemata is really important though to generate students interest,start with something they familiar with during the set induction
creative approaches to teaching literature is a reality if most of the teachers open up their eyes, searching for new ideas, practicality and do experiments with literature...not just science..literature could be so much fun ..drama..quiz..choral speaking..song(poetry) and so many other things...just go ahead and try you will find so many students have a great time

Creative approaches to teaching literature are already a reality nowadays. You can easily find many examples of the creative approaches used in teaching literature through the internet. Creative approaches are used to enhance students’ understanding of literary texts and to attract their attention and interest in reading and learning literature. Creative approaches like role play and dramatization or even games are created to improve the dull traditional method of teaching literature, which only focus on close reading and explanation of literary texts. Students’ interests need to be capture before they can fully appreciate the beauty of the literature.

Hello,
I’m really a freshie to this field, however, I beg to differ to …….’s opinion that literature should be taught in the old style. Maybe, that could be one of the reasons that literature has become a menacing monster for students. I really think that there should be elements of creativity in teaching literature without going overboard to banishing all the traditional approaches. Just a little injection of creatively designed methods and tools (it makes a big difference, trust me), to maybe catch the attention of the learners first, then by continuing with a mixture of approaches. Sticking to just one method is not wise, moreover with current number of easily bored students now.
Maybe, just maybe, instead of reading out a Shakespeare’s poem and expecting the students to grasp the irony of it, we could just try a better way of inducing the poem into our daily life happenings or just by making learning literature a fun process, with dances, and songs or even drawings.

Exp: –Sonnet 18- “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
1) bring in a rose into class, sing out the poem in the most pleasant voice, and arouse their attention. Ask them to think of someone they admire and write out a few lines of pleasant thoughts about them. Fold the paper to a side. Now ask them to get into the role of Shakespeare himself, read out the poem. Ask them what the thoughts of the poet would
have been when he was penning the verses. Encourage them on all answers. Then ask them to compare their own note with Sonnet 18. at this time they should have been able to make a comprehension on the gist of the poem. All the while, explain to them the meanings of symbolic words( by guessing, making connections and associations). At the end ask them if anyone would volunteer to read out the poem they have written. Congratulate everyone, giving the rose to the winning poem.

2) Use art. Make them draw out everything they thought significant to the poem. Let them understand the poem first before you give an input. Ask them, why the poet would have written it?


After all, literature is life’s history (In a more interesting way). so, back to the topic it is a reality.

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hash

Yes, the beauty of literature is in its language. But for me, literature is not just about the language. It’s a blend of certain values, cultures and ideologies that can provide students with tremendous amount of knowledge, which is definitely beyond the language. Therefore, teachers need to be creative in presenting such knowledge, so that students won’t perceive literature as a boring lesson. It should be fun and motivating. Traditional approach will definitely kill students’ motivation, as the approach is too serious and boring.

One creative approach to teach literature is to use drama. It’s because drama provides chances for our students to explore the story that lies behind a particular literary text. Students will use all of their senses to understand the characters, story line, settings as well as the events happening in the text. They don’t just read, but they feel it. This is definitely much better than sitting and reading the text blindly without being able to visualize the messages that the writer is trying to convey. Perhaps we cannot use this approach in every lesson because it’s surely time consuming, but a drama competition should work well. Apart from that, famous songs can be used to attract students’ attention and like what a very creative person told me, “Multimedia can do a lot of magic that can mesmerize our students.” Obviously, creative approach is not a myth. It’s a reality and it’s like a flavour that will add some ‘taste’ to literature subject.

Well, it won’t cause any harm to us to switch to more creative approaches, right?

Why do you think that there is no creative approach in teaching literature? Well, i'm posing this question to those who think that literature can't be taught in creative ways. I agree with the idea of teaching literature using internet, but, we have to consider those students in a very rural place where there is no electricity, no computers, etc. This approach might be useful for those who study in urban area, and those who are computer literate ONLY! When it comes to teaching literature, it all depends on the teacher itself. For example, "Shall I Compare Thee to A Summers Day?", teacher can ask students to do a 5-10 mins drama based on their understanding of the poem, and this can be done outside the classroom; in the hall, at the SAL Center maybe, and etc. This will make the teaching and learning environment more interesting.

Creative approaches to the teaching of literature is a reality. We must have and create variety techniques of teaching, especially in teaching literature.If we just use the traditional close and explaination way, the students will become bored with the same way of teaching. More over, nowadays the students have been exposed widely to the science computer technology.We as a teacher have to use creative approaches in teaching literature,by applying it in teaching drama,poetry,short stories and novels. We can even asks and shares the teaching materials with the students, but of course the teacher will help their students by giving them more informations on the needed materials. So, the literature subjects will becomes more interesting to the students and the teacher,him/herself. It is the teacher's own job to make either the literature classes wil becomes boring or enjoyful.One of the way to cheer up the literature classroom,was by applying the creative approaches in the classroom teaching.

Creative aproaches to teaching literature are really really reality.Nowadays, it's not difficult to find the information, the technology around us can help it.

There are so many websites that provide ways how to make literature interesting for example through drama, song, art and etc.WE MUST HAVE AND CREATE VARIETY TECHNIQUE OF TEACHING LITERATURE.

Creative approaches are used to help students understand better about literature.It's not easy to understand literature especially poem without have schemata.So teacher can help them, try to relate to their daily life.,i'm sure they can undertand.

The most important things is teacher must be and try to be creative to attract students to learn literature,so the literature can be fun and interesting subject.Teacher should change teaching literature through traditional ways.
Literature is an interesting subject if we appreciate the beauty of the language.