Title
“‘I am an invisible man ... simply because people refuse to see me. When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination--indeed, everything and anything except me.’” Invisible Man is a heavily censored novel; furthermore, the exploration of the effects of racism on the victims and the victimizers provide a historical background for how black people used to be treated like second class citizens. Also, the stark base of reality deters some readers. Although, the novel is on the “Modern Library’s list of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century”, it is unjustly challenged (Zucchino). That novel is not the only work of literature that is wrongfully challenged and banned. Illegitimate censorship, …show more content…
Therefore, teachers do have a duty to ensure their students are exposed to educational and appropriate materials that are useful for the lessons being taught. Some secondary English teachers are bound by curriculum to teach lessons that revolve around classic or, in some cases, great literature that has continued to withstand the test of time and often describes the history of a person or a country. Usually the classic literature taught in class has been approved by the school’s English department; because, great literature is often showcased in a multitude of configurations that often attempt to expand the reader’s mind in order to break down barriers that have been built prior (Chappell). Educators may find opposition with teaching classic literature, because the barricades that were already built were constructed by many students’ parents (Hemingway). For example, the work of John Steinbeck is highly opposed by parents, because of the controversial topics that attempt to destroy any preconceived notions about the world around the reader. In all of his works, there is stark and sobering reality that will leave the reader with a daunting feeling of woe. Greatly conceived and thoroughly written to showcase the world of two migrant ranch hands, Of Mice and Men is an example of Steinbeck’s works that display how painfully tragic the world can be (Karolides, Bald, and Sova
“‘I am an invisible man ... simply because people refuse to see me. When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves, or figments of their imagination--indeed, everything and anything except me.’” Invisible Man is a heavily censored novel; furthermore, the exploration of the effects of racism on the victims and the victimizers provide a historical background for how black people used to be treated like second class citizens. Also, the stark base of reality deters some readers. Although, the novel is on the “Modern Library’s list of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century”, it is unjustly challenged (Zucchino). That novel is not the only work of literature that is wrongfully challenged and banned. Illegitimate censorship, …show more content…
Therefore, teachers do have a duty to ensure their students are exposed to educational and appropriate materials that are useful for the lessons being taught. Some secondary English teachers are bound by curriculum to teach lessons that revolve around classic or, in some cases, great literature that has continued to withstand the test of time and often describes the history of a person or a country. Usually the classic literature taught in class has been approved by the school’s English department; because, great literature is often showcased in a multitude of configurations that often attempt to expand the reader’s mind in order to break down barriers that have been built prior (Chappell). Educators may find opposition with teaching classic literature, because the barricades that were already built were constructed by many students’ parents (Hemingway). For example, the work of John Steinbeck is highly opposed by parents, because of the controversial topics that attempt to destroy any preconceived notions about the world around the reader. In all of his works, there is stark and sobering reality that will leave the reader with a daunting feeling of woe. Greatly conceived and thoroughly written to showcase the world of two migrant ranch hands, Of Mice and Men is an example of Steinbeck’s works that display how painfully tragic the world can be (Karolides, Bald, and Sova