Is there a Teacher in the Class? Active Teaching vs. Active Learning of Literature
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Date
2015
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Abstract
Teachers of literature read life in its sundry manifestations. Therefore teachers of literature
know so much. They teach and eventually preach so much. The question is do students of literature
receive that much? And arguably should they 'learn' that much'? Is literature not to be devoured by
the readers themselves? In that case, do the literature classes really induce an interest in the
readers to imbibe the myriad verbal shades painted by the master craftsmen? Can the teachers
really wait for the learners to understand, leave alone enjoying, the prescribed piece of poetry or
prose and respond by themselves? Will such an approach to learning literature cater to the demands
of the exams? And if it cannot do so. is the very purpose of having literature at the degree level not
getting demeaned amongst the rural lot if not everywhere?