The need for history and general fiction

The  need to add history and general fiction in Curriculum

Students  studying English literature  are not able to understand the historical background of texts. The modern students do not 'read' as they are into a visual culture. How do we take history to them?

I suggest that every paper has one unit on history. The question paper can allot 10 marks for questions on history.


Example:  American Literature

Unit 1 can have American history: Frontier, War of Independence, George Washington,  slavery, anti-slavery movement, civil war, Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address etc.

Section A can have questions like this:

1. Write a note on the American civil war.

2. What is the theme of  "Gettysburg Address?"


This system might encourage the teachers also to 'read' more of history.

Without reading  'history' students will not probably enjoy fiction and drama. Mark Twain will become more relevant to them.

General fiction like "Gone with the Wind" will help students understand American history. Such books can be added as "Extensive Readers".

One question can be asked from this too in Section A.