Analyzing Literature-Characters and Teaching Concepts
While reading through the NES, I noticed a passage that said characters were meant to to act as representations of ideals or modes of conduct. Well, I don't necessarily think that is true. I go for a more verite form of character writing (a funny thing considering I write mostly in fantasy/sci-fi or horror) that treats the characters as real people whose behavior aligns with something the author wants to point out rather than raw personification.
In truth, I think this might be a point where the teaching establishment is running behind the culture. If a student likes a book, its usually because they like the characters. Aristotle has largely been proven wrong, its not plot that draws people in. One of the worst words a writer can hear (to the point that they're called the seven deadly words) are, "I do not care about these people." So one of the things teachers need to do is give students lessons using stories that have dynamic and interesting (not necessarily likable) characters.
Onto poetry, one of the worst classes I ever had during my first run through of college was my first run through of Intro to Poetry. It was the only class I'd ever had to retake since I entered University. This was because the instructor was obsessed with teaching the most niggling details of mechanics to her students. In comparison, when I retook the class, it was with a teacher more interested in teaching the students how to read and interpret poetry. I think this is a better way to teach students with no background in the subject. A student with no former interest in poetry is going to struggle with all the technical terms poetry has built up over the years. Instead they should be taught how to read and understand it first and be instructed further once they have gained an interest.
In truth, I think this might be a point where the teaching establishment is running behind the culture. If a student likes a book, its usually because they like the characters. Aristotle has largely been proven wrong, its not plot that draws people in. One of the worst words a writer can hear (to the point that they're called the seven deadly words) are, "I do not care about these people." So one of the things teachers need to do is give students lessons using stories that have dynamic and interesting (not necessarily likable) characters.
Onto poetry, one of the worst classes I ever had during my first run through of college was my first run through of Intro to Poetry. It was the only class I'd ever had to retake since I entered University. This was because the instructor was obsessed with teaching the most niggling details of mechanics to her students. In comparison, when I retook the class, it was with a teacher more interested in teaching the students how to read and interpret poetry. I think this is a better way to teach students with no background in the subject. A student with no former interest in poetry is going to struggle with all the technical terms poetry has built up over the years. Instead they should be taught how to read and understand it first and be instructed further once they have gained an interest.
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