Many texts in the Yr 12 English syllabus contain enormous didactic potential, with The Prince in my opinion the best of the bunch.
If taught properly, the following 10 texts in my opinion contain priceless didactic potential that should serve to enlighten students on issues and topics that should heighten their ability to master the world and its many challenges.
So here are Boldtutor’s top 10 didactic texts within the current HSC English syllabus:
10. A Room of One’s Own and Three Guineas by Virginia Woolf.
Woolf makes some very good points about patriarchal society in her two texts and certainly got me thinking about the nature of male dominated societies of the past and present. At the end of the day, Woolf’s texts (like Austin, Bronte, Chopin and countless others) helped lay the platform required for women to challenge societal discourses on topics such as war and gender inequality.
9. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
I believe that Shakespeare is at his best when he focuses on serious subject matter and the narrative of Hamlet is one that demands proper attention. The didactic potential here is significant given that the story dwells on themes such as deception, power, greed, corruption and despair and revenge that should leave a lasting mark on students if the text is taught with passion.
8. Nineteen-Eighty-Four by George Orwell
1984’s narrative didn’t really surprise me, considering that I was expecting the worst given the bleak nature of the novel. With that said, the ending to the story highlights an important truth – if citizens are unwilling to keep their governments in check, you are asking for trouble.
Prevention is better than cure after all, and according to Orwell, finding a cure to a complete totalitarian regime appears impossible if such a regime is allowed time to evolve…an important lesson that students need to grasp given the nature of our world.
7. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Julius Caesar is studied alongside Machiavelli’s The Prince in Module B. Again; Shakespeare is at his best when he focuses on serious topics and themes of betrayal, deception, honour and morality are all inherent in one of his most famous plays. Julius Caesar is a challenging text for students to comprehend if teachers don’t present it properly, but the didactic possibilities here are worth the study.
6. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
I am surprised that The Awakening isn’t covered more profusely in the Discovery module. I haven’t taught any students so far who have studied The Awakening and it’s a shame. This is a good text with a strong and fascinating narrative that certainly made me reflect on discovery and the impact it can have on a person’s emotional and intellectual self. In the case of the protagonist, things don’t end up working out for her and that made the story more impactful as a result.
Again, if taught well, The Awakening offers plenty of lessons on patriarchal society; femininity and purpose that will help evolve a student’s outlook on the world.
5. T.S Eliot Poetry: Selected Poems
I appreciate Eliot’s poetry given that Dante Aligheri’s The Divine Comedy heavily shaped it. I still feel that Dante’s masterpiece is more impactful and more alluring to me personally, but Eliot’s poetry deserves to be studied nonetheless. His poetry is dark and often melancholic but I prefer that sort of poetry anyway given that didactic potential is more prevalent in my opinion. Eliot’s poetry encourages readers to reflect on reality and their world and whether or not it offers the happiness and fulfillment that we all seek.
In short, Eliot’s poetry makes us reflect on our desires and our place in the world. His poetry though is complex, but with the proper guidance, students will learn plenty about modern life and its imperfections.
4. Citizen Kane (film) directed by Orson Welles
Often considered one of the greatest films (if not the greatest) of all time, Citizen Kane offers fantastic lessons on the function and power of media that can be applied to present contexts. What surprised me though was the critique of materialism and capitalism throughout the film. At the end of the day, Kane’s soul was empty without ‘Rosebud’, even while living in a seemingly perfect environment such as Xanadu. It’s a classic case of ‘money can’t buy happiness’. In short, capitalism/materialism is like a tablet – it can cure a lot of headaches if taken in small dosages. If you overdose however, it can ruin your life, just like it did Kane’s. The stellar acting from a great cast coupled with a good story makes Citizen Kane a text whose didactic potential is limitless.
3. The Motorcycle Dairies (film) directed by Walter Salles
My favourite text within the Discovery module, The Motorcycle Dairies is a great film that reveals how experiences within certain environments can drastically alter a man’s perception of the world and of himself. In the case of the film’s protagonist, we see how his experiences throughout Latin America transform him into a persona whose portrait is now immortalized because of its rebellious nature. Che Guevara’s reputation is either one of acclaim or infamy depending on which side of the fence you sit on. Regardless, the impact of discoveries on an individual is well highlighted in the Motorcycle Dairies and is a text worth studying in or outside of school.
2. Wag the Dog (film) directed by Barry Levinson
This is a great film. Similar to the popular Netflix show House of Cards, Wag the Dog is a film that contains huge didactic potential for students who engage with its narrative. There is plenty to learn here about political manipulation, deception and power that will serve students well down the track, long after they have finished secondary school.
1. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
I first came across Machiavelli and his magnum opus when playing Assassin’s Creed II. What can I say about The Prince by Machiavelli? I’ll say this. The Prince contains enormous didactic potential. It’s the greatest text that I have had the pleasure of reading. It changed my life and opened my eyes to a new world where I began to comprehend and see people in a different light. In short, I have developed a bit of a Machiavellian persona myself and I feel empowered knowing the devious little tricks people play to get power or improved position.
I encourage all students to buy this book and read it in their own time at their own pace. Machiavelli’s doctrine will provide you with what you need to adapt and thrive in a world still shaped in part by greed, corruption and deception. TV shows such as Game of Thrones, House of Cards and Breaking Bad are texts that have all analysed the Machiavellian being – a persona that has learned to accept the ideal that one may have to make unethical choices to fulfil a certain purpose.