Seventeenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Teaching Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987) to students with no background in literature, or whose reading is limited to comprehension rather than analysis, sounds insane–better to choose an easier text. Despite its difficulty, however, this study shows that Beloved is a uniquely valuable text for students of English pedagogy. First, reading Beloved is challenging for students whose average level is between B1 or B2, since its writing includes a great variety of non-standard vocabulary, metaphors and flashbacks, where an abstract understanding is necessary. Second, Beloved presents the complexities of postmodern literature, African-American history, and feminism, all in one text. Its unique approach towards postmodern literature and African-American history influences the understanding of the English language culture today. Likewise, Feminism is gaining a position in our classrooms but lacks a conspicuous presence in the context of English as a foreign language context. Furthermore, the power of the female discourse is presented through the voice of a female Nobel prize winner that should be included in teacher training programs’ bibliographies. Finally, no alternative seems to fulfill all these characteristics by including them in a single controversial story of a mother killing her little baby for the sake of love. Writings made by the students show surprising results regarding the development of their English language. I claim then, that the novel should become a fundamental tool for future English teachers in Chile, those who are supposed to criticise history, to pursue feminism, and to acquire an advanced understanding of the English language and culture.