A Closet of Titles

A Closet of Titles

Language and literature teachers can, in favorable circumstances, help their students to read more widely by setting up a class library of suitable, unabridged literary works. A catalog of titles might indicate approximate difficulty and include synopses designed to whet the readers’ appetite. Occasional visual displays of particular authors and their works- including perhaps photographs, theatre programs, critical reviews, film posters and so on could serve both to encourage interests and to become the basis of class projects. Where the possibility exists, film showings, poetry readings, radio plays, and theatre visits will lend further encouragement to students exploring literature in the target language.

 

Within existing libraries outside the classroom, a list of suitable titles for language learners could be made available to students or displayed to guide their browsing. With strong anticipation that my students will have an eye, I have tried to list some novels and plays to enrich their English and critical judgments.

Novels

SN	Authors & Titles	Brief  Descriptions	General Comments
1	John Fowles, The Collector	A solitary young man kidnaps a girl and holds her captive	Suspense and psychological  interest
2	William Golding, Lord of the Flies	A group of boys stranded on a deserted  island struggles to survive, learning bitter  lessons about human nature in the process	A modern classic – universal themes, simple yet powerful plot
3	Graham Greene Doctor Fischer of Geneva	Men of great wealth play sinister games with his groveling entourage	Economical style a powerful modern fable.
4	Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mr. Ripley	Young American in Italy murders his friend	Gripping psychological thriller
5	Aldous Huxley, Brave New World	Sanitized, life in a futuristic society based on genetic engineering	Intriguing–a buildup of suspense–good discussion potential
6	Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence	Respectable banker deserts home and wife to pursue the Bohemian life of an artist	An interesting theme, sustained by a strong central character in a variety of setting
7	George Orwell, Animal Farm	Animals take over a farm and things gradually go sour	A well-known and well-loved allegory
8	George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four	A gloomy futuristic vision of a totalitarian society	A powerful novel that rewards effort
9	F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby	Love, sex, corruption, and death in a high society setting in 1920s America	A subtle evocative masterpiece
10	R.L Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde	A detective narrative –a strong theme on inevitable human nature	A fine bogy tale- full of suspense and thrill
11	Tony Morrison, Beloved	A novel on the American past slavery- ‘a witness to a history that is unrecorded.’ Morrison	A ghost  story, a political story,  an examination of what it means to ‘be-loved an Afro- American novel, a novel for feminism as well
12	Mary Shelley, Frankenstein	A gothic novel  where a ghost created by a man, destroys all the good things, the civilization of man	An attempt to provide us with a metaphor for the potentially disastrous results of scientific aims pursued with mindless regard to potential human consequences
13	Thomas Hardy, The Mayor Of Caster	A  Victorian man who secretly or deceptively auctions his wife and daughter and the secret is kept for twenty years	A novel  where family disintegration is shown with what is ‘proper’ and ‘improper’ behaviour- also ponders what fate can do

Plays

SN	Playwrights and Title	Brief  Description	General Comments
1	Edward Albee, The Sandbox	American Couple dispose of an elderly mother	Biting satire on modern days
2	Raymond Briggs, When the Wind Blows	A retired couple struggle to survive a nuclear attack on Britain	Controversial topical  theme – knowledge of English culture helpful
3	David Hare, A Map of the World	A play written about real events  satisfies none of its real protagonists	A well-crafted variation on the ‘play within a play’ theme
4	Harold Pinter, Applicant	A bizarre job interview	Good length for class staging, with few props needed - amusing
5	William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet	A young couple’s love is thwarted by their feuding families	Universally loved-surprisingly accessible for students
6	G.B Shaw, Pygmalion	Professor of speech takes the challenge of transforming a poor little Cockney girl to pass her off as a duchess	A period piece that is still witty and entertaining, relevant  to modern concerns about gender and social roles
7	Tom Stoppard, The Real Inspector Hound	A proof on murder mystery plays, which questions of ‘reality versus ‘appearance’	Very enjoyable
8	Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie	A family drama set in the southern USA: A mother’s attempts to marry off her crippled daughter	Moving portrayal of a family relationship
9	Anton Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard	Describes the lives of Russians in the wake of the liberation of the serfs	Symbolism on freedom, change of social order and progress as well

Compiled and edited Version

Credit Source: Collie, J and Slater S (2000) Cambridge Handbook for Language Teachers, CUP