Which novels have you least enjoyed studying at school? Give reasons for your choices.

Model Essay

Studying literature is an integral part of a school curriculum, and it enables one to develop critical thinking skills while gaining knowledge about different cultures, societies, and perspectives. While studying literature, students often encounter novels that are difficult to relate to or understand. Some novels may be disliked due to their complexity, lack of relatability, or outdated language. In this essay, we will discuss four novels that were least enjoyable to study in a school setting due to various reasons.

The first novel is “The Great Gatsby” which is a classic novel that is set in the roaring 20s and revolves around the lives of the wealthy elite. The novel portrays the decadence and excesses of the jazz age, and the protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is an enigmatic millionaire who throws lavish parties in his mansion. The Great Gatsby is considered a great American novel due to its lyrical prose and exploration of themes such as the American dream, social class, and love.

However, I found The Great Gatsby quite challenging to study in a school setting due to several reasons. Firstly, the novel’s characters are unlikable and unrelatable, and they lead morally corrupt and superficial lives. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is a self-made man who acquires his wealth through illegal means, and his obsession with the past and the love of his life, Daisy, is unsettling. Furthermore, the novel’s societal context is hard to grasp for students who come from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Despite these challenges, The Great Gatsby can be improved for a more enjoyable learning experience. For instance, teachers can incorporate more interactive and engaging methods of teaching, such as role-play, group discussions, and multimedia presentations. Moreover, teachers can provide historical context and reference materials that enable students to understand the novel’s themes and motifs. Additionally, the novel’s characters can be used as a case study to explore human behavior and character development.

The second novel on my list is “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte, which is a gothic novel that depicts the turbulent and tragic love story between Heathcliff and Catherine, set in the moors of northern England. The novel explores themes of class, gender, and social norms and is written in a complex narrative structure that makes it a challenging read.

I found Wuthering Heights challenging to study due to its complexity, as the novel has multiple narrators, and the story is told through a series of flashbacks and diary entries. The shifting perspectives make it hard to keep track of the events and the characters’ motivations. Also, the novel’s setting and societal norms are dated and may be challenging to relate to for today’s students.

To improve the learning experience, teachers can use visual aids such as maps and timelines to help students understand the novel’s structure and events. Additionally, teachers can provide a historical context and reference materials about the Victorian era and its social norms. Furthermore, the novel’s themes and motifs can be used to initiate classroom debates on relevant topics such as feminism, marriage, and social class.

The third novel, “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad is a novella that is set in the Congo during the peak of colonialism and exposes the dark side of imperialism. The novel follows the journey of Marlow, a steamboat captain who travels through the Congo in search of Kurtz, an ivory trader who has gone rogue.

Although the novel is considered a literary masterpiece, I found it challenging to study due to the outdated language used in the novel’s narration. The novel uses archaic language, such as idioms and complex sentence structures, that can be difficult to understand for non-native English speakers or modern readers. Furthermore, the novel’s exploration of themes such as race, power, and madness can be unsettling for some readers.

To make Heart of Darkness more enjoyable to study, teachers can provide a glossary of archaic terms and use simplified and annotated versions of the novel. The novel’s themes and motifs can be used to initiate classroom discussions on topics such as racism, imperialism, and human rights. Moreover, teachers can use multimedia presentations and visual aids such as maps and images to help students understand the novel’s setting and cultural context.

Finally, “Lord of the Flies” is a novel written by William Golding and published in 1954. The novel is set on a deserted island and follows a group of boys who are trying to survive without any adult supervision. The novel explores themes such as power, leadership, and civilization vs. savagery.

I found Lord of the Flies to be an unenjoyable novel to study in a school setting due to its unrelatable setting and characters. The novel’s portrayal of a group of young boys struggling to survive on a deserted island is difficult to relate to for students who come from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, the novel’s portrayal of violence, cruelty, and savagery can be disturbing for some readers.

To improve the learning experience, teachers can use the novel’s themes and motifs to initiate classroom discussions on relevant topics such as leadership, democracy, and human nature. Furthermore, teachers can use multimedia presentations to help students understand the novel’s setting and cultural context. Additionally, teachers can incorporate more interactive methods of teaching, such as role-play, debates, and collaborative learning, to make the novel more engaging and enjoyable.

In conclusion, studying literature is an essential part of a school curriculum that enables one to gain knowledge about different cultures, societies, and perspectives. However, certain novels may not be enjoyable to study due to their complexity, lack of relatability, or outdated language. The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, Heart of Darkness, and Lord of the Flies are examples of such novels that were challenging to study in a school setting. While they may present challenges to students, these novels can be used as a tool to enhance critical thinking skills, develop empathy, and broaden students’ understanding of the world around them when taught in a thoughtful and engaging way. Therefore, it is crucial that teachers provide the historical and cultural context about the novels’ settings and themes, as this can improve students’ understanding and enable them to relate to the characters and situations portrayed in the novels.