Literature Lovers
May I request you all to recommend the books of your choice for prescription.
The books to be recommended: 1. Novels: one modern and one classic ( British/ American) Original work
2. Plays: one modern and one classic (British/ American) Original work
Number of pages: around 200 to 250 each
The books have to be studied by students of Class XI and Class XII for an Optional Literature course.
Students' age 15 to 17.
English is a second language in the curriculum.
Background: 10 years of study of English as a compulsory subject.
The compulsory course is communication oriented and the coursebook is topic-based.
State: Maharashtra, India
Request for helping the Board to take a decision.
Harsh
- Harsh Kadepurkar's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Log in or register
Follow TeachingEnglish
 |
 |
 |
 |
Comments
Hi Harsh
As far as novels I'd go for the following, which my students have enjoyed a lot.
ANIMAL FARM, THE SHORT HAPPY LIFE OF FRANCIS MACOMBER by Hemingway (a long short-story in fact), THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, THE SILENT BOY (by Louis Lowry).
As for plays, the following have worked well:
AN INSPECTOR CALLS (JB PRIESTLEY), BANG BANG YOU'RE DEAD, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, BETRAYAL (Harold Pinter).
I have the tendency to work more with short stories than with longer pieces, but I usually include at leat one novel and one play in my syllabus together with a dozen of stories, poems and songs.
I hope it helps
Darìo
Dear Dario
Thank you very much for your recommendations. I shall definitely consider your suggestions and shall inform you of the final decision.
These books are in fact meant for non-detailed reading. The Coursebook proper is under preparation. It contains poems, short stories, essays, biographical pieces, a scene from a play,etc. This is for a detailed study. I also wanted a good one act play, but it appears as if the form is dying or may be it is already dead! I just could not find a good one written in the last 30/ 40 years.
Harsh
Hi Harsh
If you're looking for some one-act plays, check THE MAN IN THE BOWLER HAT (I'm not sure this is the right title), but you can try or when I return to Warwick I can give you some other titles that I know I have in digital format.
All the best
Dario
Dear Dario
Thank you very much for your suggestion on the selection of the one act play. I shall see if I can find it. In the meanwhile, if you come across any more plays, please let me know. And what do you have to say about my impression that the form is dying?
With all the best wishes for 2009 and sincere thanks for your suggestions,
Harsh
Hi Harsh
Please, contact me and I'll send you some one-act plays I've got stored in my computer.
"The Man in the Bowler Hat" by Alan Alexander Milne: this is the one I referred to you in my last comment.
As regards your say about this form of play; I have to say that in Spanish we still can find some decent examples and I've come across some others in English but, sad as it may seem, I have a terrible memory and I can´t remember any names.
Looking forward to your e-mail.
Darío
Check the following plays by Alastair Albee:
THE ZOO STORY
THE DEATH OF BESSIE SMITH
THE SANDBOX
Also, check Harold Pinter's plays. I have one stored in my pc.
Hi
I teach my grade 8 students Great Expectations by Dickens, level 5, and they really like it. It is almost the best time we have together.
Regards
Dear Dario
Thanks for your suggestions. I am now looking for these books. I hope I will get the copies. You wanted me to send you an e-mail, but I do not have your mail-id. Please send me a mail on my id harshk@dataone.in
I shall be happy to receive more of your suggestions.
Harsh
Hi The Butterfly
Thanks for your suggestion of prescribing Great Expectations. Do you use the original text or the simplified version?
Harsh