Teaching Literature through Comics: An Innovative Pedagogical Tool

Abstract

This paper tackles the usage of comics in classrooms. Today’s proliferation of teaching literature through graphic novels proves to create better learning methods and motivating learning environment. Based on classroom actual practice, the paper demonstrates the benefit of the visual aspect of the graphic novel in enhancing ELT learning and teaching process. The paper exposes a modern alternative that solves the traditional literacy obstacles faced in literature classes. Adaptations of literary works in comic version have proved to be useful teaching tools in Arts classrooms. Graphic novels today offer new pedagogical methods that foster students’ involvement and motivation in the learning process. The originality of the study emanates from the analysis of a literary extract in the context of a literature class through its graphic adaptation as part of an innovative teaching experience that ensures better reception and understanding of a classical American Novel. The paper focuses on the development of the graphic novel from a juvenile medium to a serious means of teaching in order to overcome the difficulties of teaching literary texts in classroom. It also sheds light on the various devices of graphic novels as adaptable key aspects of the genre to classroom teaching and as innovative and motivating teaching material.