Many students hate Literature because they hate reading, are unwilling to engage in critical thinking and believe what others say to the effect that Literature is a difficult subject. Others dislike studying English Literature because they cannot pronounce or understand the old English expressions in plays and poems written by William Shakespeare.
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There are other reasons why students hate Literature. In this post, I will discuss why students fear Literature. I will also give you some tips on how to stop hating Literature or significantly reduce your fear of Literature as a school subject.
So if you want to know why there is so much hatred for Literature-in-English among students and how to deal with this fear of Literature, then continue reading.
1. Dislike for Extensive Reading
One of the key reasons why many students hate Literature is their deep-seated hatred for reading. There is an increasing number of students who would rather watch a movie than read a story. This disturbing trend among students makes them see studying Literature as too tedious.
It is difficult for them to take a novel of a couple of hundred pages and finish reading it. Most will proudly tell you reading is too boring.
Since the study of Literature requires that a student must read a selection of novels, plays and poetry, many students would rather have nothing to do with the subject.
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2. It Entails Endless Writing
Another reason why some students hate Literature is that it involves a lot of writing. Literature is an arts subject so we write extensively as we analyse characters in novels or plays and appreciate poetry.
Some students will tell you they hate Literature because it involves too much writing. Trust me, you must always be ready to write a good number of essays in any Literature class. And during external examinations like the WAEC WASSCE, the least number of essays to write under Literature alone is a staggering six (6)!
The constant demand on students in a high school or college Literature class to write all the time forces a lot of them to drop out and find refuge in subjects that are less demanding.
3. Insufficient External Motivation
Some students who initially had the urge to study Literature later abandon it due to the discouragement they get from others. One group of people who love to instil the fear of Literature in students are former Literature students who were unsuccessful. These people are quick to point out to others how ‘tough’ Literature is. They usually cover up their own inadequacies with arguments about how difficult a subject like Literature can be.
Another set of culprits is teachers of Literature who would rather do or say things to dampen students’ instead of motivating them to enjoy learning Literature.
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4. Unwillingness to Engage in Critical Thinking
Is that what some call mental laziness? You see, studying Literature-in-English involves a good deal of critical analysis. There are complex and mono-dimensional characters to analyse. Then there are themes to fish out and discuss. One also has to follow the way the plot of a novel or drama is constructed.
We must not forget the time that needs to be given to identifying varying literary techniques and poetic devices. Style and language is another area that the Literature student has to analyse and interpret.
Sometimes, the student must compare and contrast characters, situations and incidents.
Clearly, these can get overwhelming for students who are not ready to engage in serious, critical thinking hence their hatred for the subject.
5. No Passion for Literature
You cannot force yourself to love studying a school subject you clearly don’t have any natural liking for. This is a fact. Granted, some people who would otherwise have become great Mathematicians, for example, grew up to hate Math due to a lot of factors I cannot enumerate here. Let’s leave that for another time.
The same applies to students who have a natural ability to do well in Literature but, somehow, end up hating the subject. These are not the people I’m referring to here.
I’m talking about that student who is not wired, so to speak, to study Literature. Persons who are naturally gifted to study the sciences, for example, have no time for the arts.
No wonder, many Science and Mathematics students tend to hate Literature a lot. They love calculation subjects to a fault and hate reading subjects with everything there is in them.
But do not forget that there are a few all-round students out there. These people have a passion for each and every subject they encounter. This is why we have successful medical doctors who are also consummate actors, authors and journalists.
6. Shakespeare-Era English
Finally, most students who hate Literature complain bitterly about the difficult nature of the English found in texts written by William Shakespeare. Meeting a couple of archaic English expressions like thou, aye, methinks, thee and thine makes them develop a headache.
For these students, only a Shakespearean language translator can save them. Below is a list of more Shakespeare language examples that scare the life out of students:
prithee,
yonder,
wherefore,
knave,
anon,
dost,
ere,
fain,
doth.
These alone can scare the life out of many newbie Literature students.
Unfortunately, it is rare to study Literature-in-English anywhere in the world without reading at least one tragedy, comedy or Sonnet by William Shakespeare. And this is why some students would rather die than study Literature.
How to Make Studying Literature Interesting
It is possible to make studying Literature interesting. In fact, to study Literature effectively, begin by avoiding the factors that make you dislike the subject.
For teachers of Literature, I want you to pay attention to the points below as you try to help your students find Literature enjoyable.
Who knows, you can even assist your Literature students to begin the process of becoming the best Literature students that ever lived.
Here are some guidelines to help you find the study of Literature much less difficult.
Get Positive
Clear your mind of the false notion that Literature is a difficult subject. No subject is difficult and none is easy. It all depends on your mindset.
Associate with People Who Love Literature
That also means you must avoid the company of people who speak in negative terms about almost every school subject. Trust me, such people are too many to count. But you can avoid them and set yourself free.
Take It Easy on Yourself
Stop burdening yourself unnecessarily. It is not true that the only way to be a good Literature student is to read all your set books at a go.
Read just a few pages of any prescribed Literature textbook at a time. And as you read, note incidents that you find interesting. Incidents are the gateway to an easy appreciation of any novel or play.
Look at Each Character with an Open Mind
Do not judge any character as entirely good or bad. Try to understand the reasons why they behave in the manner they do.
Look out for recurring motifs. I mean you must take note of certain things that keep coming up throughout the story.
Converse Freely with Others
Let them know the sweet progress you’re making studying Literature. We do that with films, right?
Use the same approach for the stories and plays you have read. Seize every opportunity to begin a lively discussion about a character or event with your fellow students.
Introduce your siblings and friends to the interesting things you discover while studying a particular poem or novel. These could be about human behaviour, the ways of the world, life’s ups and downs and so on.
And, make sure not to leave out your parents or older family members if they are available.
Conclusion
The reasons why students hate Literature are many and varied. We have been looking at the commonest factors responsible for the intense hatred some students have for this Humanities subject. Topmost among them is the growing tendency among students to shun reading extensively.
It is important to know, however, that Literature is a subject that prepares the learner for critical, out-of-the-box thinking when the situation demands it. This explains why even science and technology-based educational institutions make Literature a compulsory subject in their Liberal Studies curriculum.
Do you wish to beat all the fears, study and excel in Literature? This post will teach you how to pass any Literature test with relative ease.
You might also want to discover some shocking benefits of studying Literature.
There are other high school Literature study guides here at Cegast Academy. They will guide and encourage you to begin to see the amazing benefits of studying Literature.
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Absolutely right. Nothing in high schools (or the equivalent level) should be taught unless it will make money within ten years at most. Knowing Shakespeare or Dickens or Hardy or Austen will not make money, and making money is the single most important thing in life. Of course, within Shakespeare or Dickens or Hardy or Austen are examples of lives lived only for money, and the corrosive effect thereof. Removal of literature from high schools is imperative, and if the students are bored with composition classes — someone has to hire someone to write annual reports of the illgotten gains — there are countless young people ready to take on the task. And too: if you have not been exposed to literature, what in hell will you talk about in later years?
I am an elderly adult now but hate all classic literature with a passion. I see no practical use for it whatso ever. Literature is the only item taught in out schools that benefits no one unless that entity aspires to be an actor. Literature just got in my way because I do not not understand symbolism or literary themes. I have no desire to understand it either. It took two summers in school for me to pass it. I am bitter now over the time I spent learning something so superfluous. My last two years in high school were the worst part of my life.
Hi Craig, I understand where you’re coming from. Your experience with Literature sounds familiar just that in my case it was a completely different subject. One lesson I’ve learnt over the years is that it doesn’t help anyone when we are forced to do the things we aren’t wired to do. I hope now you’ve found what makes you tick and moved on. Thank you very much for your insightful feedback.
I am an elderly adult now. Looking back, there was no greater waste of time than reading fiction. Fiction does not render anything in return for the effort spent reading it. A “how to” book gets something done is more beneficial and useful. Today I still hate literature with a passion. I am glad my children didn’t have to deal with it.
My problem with literature is it occupies too much space in my head without paying any rent. Knowledge is useless unless you can do something with it. Math, Science, History and Grammar are needed courses needed to exist in the world. Fictional literature is totally superfluous. My entire reason for bothering with am education was to be able to make a living. In no way does Literature put beans in anyone’s pot. With all of the COVID-19 mess we need to make the most of a student’s time and as far as I concerned, Literature should be the first item on the chopping block.
Hi Craig. That sounds quite interesting. Thanks so much for your thoughts.