English Literature to Encourage Reading

English Literature to Encourage Reading Classic English Literature is a Great Method of Teaching Reading ChaptersWhat Is 'Classic' English Literature?Some Classic Novels At A GlanceClassic Books of The FutureIf you are an English Literature graduate, or if you have attended higher education in the UK for that matter, the chances are that you will have come across a reasonably broad range of so-called  literary classics. Moreover, if you are an avid reader, you might have discovered even more significant works by a range of international authors that have helped shape the different genres of literature over the years.The Oxford Royale Academy has compiled a list of essential English novels that they say everybody should read in their lifetime. The list includes, but is not limited to, the following:'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte'Middlemarch' by George Elliott'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte'Great Expectations' by Charles Dickens'Far from the Madding Crowd' b y Thomas HardyAll of Jane Austen’s novelsWhile the list covers a good range of novels, many of which are indeed recognised as classics by the various English exam boards (including AQA, OCR and Edexcel), who decides which works are labelled classics of the world? Who is qualified enough within the field to have earned the authority to distinguish a classic from a basic piece of prose? Are lists ever reviewed as society moves forward  and the majority's opinions adapt to the times? This is something that will be explored below.In the meantime, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that all of the above featured writers were born in either the 19th century or in the very early 1900s, with the exception of Philip Pullman. Pullman, in fact, is the only 'current' author from the above list, and thus is the only individual who could possibly have drawn anything from modern society during his ongoing writing career.‘His Dark Materials’, is one of just a couple of collection s of works from the list that focuses on relatively modern fantasy elements like witches and mystical creatures, in addition to its scientific and philosophical themes.The other is J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series, with ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ being published in 1954. Looking back, this masterpiece was clearly ahead of its time and marks one of the first times that an author successfully experimented with fantasy fiction, at a time when this was purely imagination-driven.This trilogy was English tutor.The nature of New Zealand has been used to depict fantasy novels 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Game of Thrones'. Photo via VisualHunt.comWith hi-tech gadgets readily available and television programmes being digitally enhanced, sci-fi and fantasy themes seem less far-fetched than in previous decades. Perhaps readers' imaginations are so advanced in this modern technological era that they feel that they can relate to these types of stories, hence their continually growing popularity?Discover how poetry has helped shape the literary landscape!learn how to read faster!F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' gives us a great insight into the atmosphere of the roaring '20s. Photo credit: istolethetv via VisualHuntShakespeare's PlaysFocusing on yet another list compiled by literature enthusiasts, the website Interesting Literature suggests ten plays of Shakespeare that you must read. Top of the list is, by no surprise, the tragic ‘Romeo and Juliet', with its famous balcony scene that captured the hearts of readers from one century to the next.Next, is 'Macbeth', a slightly more sombre play with its themes covering monarchy, conspiracy and deceit. Then, the site suggests ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream' to finish bottom of the podium of Shakespeare greats.The remaining seven texts are 'King Lear', 'Hamlet', 'The Tempest', 'Richard III', 'Othello', 'Henry VIII' and, finally, 'Twelfth Night'. Most, if not all, of these texts are classed as classic tragedies or comedies and appear in secondary school syllabi as well as further education courses where literature is a prime focus.If reading ten plays seems like a bit too much of a challenge, I would encourage you to pick up an anthology of William Shakespeare’s plays and to read even just one of them. Seen as one of the greatest writers of all time, his interesting characters and his timeless themes are why his literary works are still so popular.You could introduce your child to Shakespeare through abridged texts!Jane Austen’s NovelsJane Austen has become world-famous thanks to her six published novels, which have spoken to readers across the globe for more than two centuries. Although they were set during her time, Austen’s characters still display traits that are visible in modern society while highlighting values and circumstances that are eternally in existence.Of the six novels, ‘Northanger Abbey’ is the one that stands out from the rest due to its gothic theme, yet Austen still hangs on to the crucial elements that make her writing so influential: her characters and their sentiments.Her two most famous novels, however, must be ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’, both of which have been adapted for TV many times with a great response from members of the public of all ages. The stories, meanwhile, vividly capture individuals in situations of social and romantic conflict and develop strong relationships between friends and lovers.Did you want to know how Jane Austin texts have been used in classrooms at college and university level?Jane Austen's six novels are ever-popular in today's society. Photo credit: Ben Sutherland via Visualhunt.comClassic Books of The FutureHaving considered some of the recognised literary greats, it begs the question of whether any popular works of our time will eventually enter the esteemed list, or indeed if any of them are already displaying signs of literary grandeur.Books that stand out a s having become inarguably popular amongst people of all ages and of all backgrounds during the 21st century are the 'Twilight' series, written by Stephanie Meyer, the collection of Harry Potter stories by J. K. Rowling and the somewhat controversial erotic 'Fifty Shades of Grey' trilogy by E. L. James.Check for an English tutor London here.Perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves is which novels are classic of their time, as opposed to which texts are examples of classic literature, seeing as what was typical in literature historically may not be as popular today or as we head into the future.Isn't it time you realised the advantages of daily reading?