Film Adaptation as an Instructional Tool in the Teaching of Literature

Abstract

The main thrust of this paper is about the integration of film adaptations as an instructional tool in the teaching of literature. With the ever-involving and ever-expanding world of media, teaching with the help of media in the classroom becomes more of a priority. In the twentieth century, there are two culturally dominant ways of experiencing fiction available: the visual forms of film and the prose forms of the novel. Students, of this generation, are exposed to various types of media and visual culture outside the classroom. This paper throws light on the need for literature teachers to equip their classrooms with film adaptations. It also discusses the differences between film and novel. The sample activity given in the paper highlights the importance of screening film adaptations in the classroom. Thereby, making the students play an active role in the teaching and learning process. Various examples cited, will justify the interplay between literature and film adaptations. Finally, the paper also gives a clear picture of certain limitations a teacher has in implementing it in a classroom.