Assigned reading

[qatarperegrine]

Last night my parents & I talked about the books that our students are reading. It is a rather eclectic list, and I don't think I'm revealing any professional secrets by posting it.

• English 100: a reader of short stories and essays by world English writers
• [English 99: the above, plus Tale of Two Cities]
• English 101: Kafka's Metamorphosis and Magnus Mills' All Quiet on the Orient Express
• Elective: Silas Marner, Babbitt, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Separate Peace.

So, if you were teaching English literature to Arab students -- some of whom had been educated in English for years and who have read all the basic required high school books, and others of whom have not -- what books would you use? What are the classics of English literature that every college student ought to read?

Comments

Re: how do you define English literature?

[qatar.livejournal.com]

You're right, I think that sexuality at least has been considered in deciding the cultural appropriateness of a book. I suspect that's why they ended up with so many old books!