Focusing on the historical controversies of English Literature as an academic discipline, this book utilizes archival sources to explore its origins and identity. It sheds light on the crises that have shaped modern English studies and engages with current debates surrounding literary criticism education, including recent reforms to A-Level literature. Through this examination, it highlights the evolving nature of the discipline and its significance in contemporary academia.
An English Teacher's Love Letter to the Books that Shape Us
320 pages
12 hours of reading
Exploring the transformative power of literature, Carol Atherton reflects on how classic texts like Victorian poems and characters such as Jane Eyre and Lady Macbeth can resonate with contemporary issues, including misogyny and empathy. Drawing from her extensive teaching experience, she highlights the evolving significance of these works and their role in shaping beliefs and values. Each chapter invites readers to appreciate literature's impact on society and underscores the crucial role of teachers in fostering a love for reading and critical thought.
Targeting English educators and trainees, this guide offers a blend of reflection and practical resources tailored for teaching English literature in sixth form settings. It encourages discussions on essential teaching strategies and knowledge for effectively delivering courses like A Level, I.B, Pre-U, and Highers. The book serves as a valuable tool for enhancing pedagogical practices and fostering deeper engagement with literature among students.
An English teacher's love letter to reading and the many ways literature can make us, and our lives, better. What we do in English often borders on an act of resistance, an attempt to make students think more carefully not just about the texts we read but about the world we live in. In her twenty-five years as a secondary school English teacher, Carol Atherton has taught students of all abilities, from all walks of life. But the common thread to her lessons has been the books which have appeared on syllabuses year after year. But what is it about these books that sparks conversations? And why do they still matter? From Macbeth to Lord of the Flies, and from An Inspector Calls to Noughts and Crosses, each chapter invites us to take a fresh look at the novels, plays and poems we studied at school, revealing how they have shaped our beliefs, our values, and how we interact as a society. Atherton's love for literature shines through on every page, but there's more to her passion than being a bibliophile. As she reflects on her career, her experiences as a pupil, and her journey to becoming an adoptive parent, Atherton emphasises the vital, undervalued role teachers play, illustrates how essential reading is for developing our empathy, and makes a passionate case for the enduring power of literature.
