To tell you the truth, in general, I am not a huge fan of classic literature. ([Insert huge gasp!] But you studied English literature at university!) Yes, true, I love literature, but I don't have to like all of it. I've read some classic books, but mostly because I had to, for school. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed some of them, especially when they were taught well by the professor.
But, when I sat down to write this post, I realized I wasn't quite sure what a "classic book" really was. Did it have to be written in a certain time period? Follow a certain writing style or a genre? I was stumped, but according to Wikipedia, it is "a book that is accepted as exemplary or noteworthy."
So, I went and looked through a few lists of classic books and found that while I had heard of all these books in my life, I had actually read very few of them.
But, when I sat down to write this post, I realized I wasn't quite sure what a "classic book" really was. Did it have to be written in a certain time period? Follow a certain writing style or a genre? I was stumped, but according to Wikipedia, it is "a book that is accepted as exemplary or noteworthy."
So, I went and looked through a few lists of classic books and found that while I had heard of all these books in my life, I had actually read very few of them.
I guess, in the end, I'm going with Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I quite enjoyed this when I read it in school, but some of that enjoyment was dulled by the stack of worksheets that we had fill out. There was very little discussion of the book; my English teacher that year was actually a Science teacher.
Two years ago, I taught the book to my Grade 10 class and it was quite a different perspective being the one teaching it now; there are a lot of tie-ins and great ways to relate this book. I've also read a bit of the literary analysis on how the story would be different if a different group had landed on the island, especially a group from a different socio-economic level. I find the arguments and the discussion on it to be quite interesting!
Two years ago, I taught the book to my Grade 10 class and it was quite a different perspective being the one teaching it now; there are a lot of tie-ins and great ways to relate this book. I've also read a bit of the literary analysis on how the story would be different if a different group had landed on the island, especially a group from a different socio-economic level. I find the arguments and the discussion on it to be quite interesting!