31st Annual Student Research Conference
What Effects Student Connection to Classic Literature: Incorporating Popular Culture
Sarah Chabot♦
Dr. Rebecca Dierking, Dr. Summer Pennell, and Dr. Sarah Day, Faculty Mentors
Students often have difficulty connecting to classic literature. Unfortunately, young adults are often expected to enjoy reading classic texts although they have nothing in common with the main characters or face challenges understanding the plot. In this case study, I aimed to discover what fosters connection to classic texts. Throughout the study, students were encouraged to imagine what classic texts would be like if they took place in the 21st century. In a class of juniors, students spent several weeks reading classic short stories and completing activities that incorporated popular culture such as Twitter and How to Get Away with Murder. By the end of the study, students rewrote a story from the perspective of a popular villain, new or old. They were allowed to either keep it true its original form or incorporate popular culture that gave life to a classic tale which showed their ability to engage in literature and apply it to their lives in whatever mode they saw fit.
Keywords: popular culture, education, english, classic literature
Topic(s):English
Education
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 201-3
Location: MG 1000
Time: 10:00