Valgerður Bjarkadóttir

Teaching English Literature to Teenagers in a Foreign Language: Terry Prachett's Discworld Novels As an Introduction to Classic English Literature Valgerður Bjarkadóttir

When looking for a way to motivate students to take an interest in the English language, the literature of the language is a good place to start. This book suggests a way to use the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett to introduce classic English literature, in addition to providing a definition of fantasy and how the Discworld novels fit into that definition. The book focuses on the use of three Discworld novels: Eric, Wyrd Sisters and Lords and Ladies. These three novels are, respectively, parodies of Christopher Marlowe?s The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus and Shakespeare?s The Tragedy of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night?s Dream, and therefore provide an excellent springboard to these three classic plays. Motivational reading activities are used to create instruction guides for teaching each of the three Discworld novels. Additionally there are recommendations for secondary reading of works with plots, themes or subject matter that are similar to the three Discworld novels discussed in the book. The literary analysis of the novels can be helpful to those studying fantasy literature or are interested in teaching literature to teenagers in a foreign language.