Addressing Modern Day Issues in Literature for American English Classes

Morro Bay High School’s AP English Literature classes recently finished reading “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, the classes’ fourth novel of the year. So far, all four novels have been classic literature, with “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” being the most recently written book, published in 1884. However, none of the books have even remotely addressed societal issues that are incredibly prevalent and important today, such as LGBTQ+ awareness, modern racism, disability awareness, corruption in politics, law enforcement corruption, and more. 

While the themes prevalent in novels MBHS’ AP English Literature classes have focused on are vital to study, recognize, and analyze, American English classes need to begin to focus both on literature that highlights issues that are prevalent in today’s society and literature that focuses on issues that were actively being fought at one point in American history. 

One of the most important parts of American education is being taught about the history of our nation; both the good and bad. However, focusing solely on our history turns American English classes into history classes. Students need to be taught about issues that they will face in their day-to-day lives, as well as be educated on important past issues.

Your average American high schooler faces many issues on a day-to-day basis; members of the LGBTQ+ community are often subject to discrimination and bullying by peers or even their teachers, and minorities are far too often seen facing modern day racism. These students especially need to be able to focus on literature in their English classes that allow them to relate to the main character. High school students often dislike the classic literature they are typically taught and forced to read, but being able to relate to a character’s identity and struggles will certainly help students overcome that initial sense of dread.

“We use fictional characters to extend our minds out into the world and to break the world down to a manageable size. The practice is ancient and universal. My guess is that fictional characters are a tool of cooperation, groupishness,” said Blakely Vermeule with the Stanford Report. The ability to understand a character and their goals, motivations, challenges, and identities when reading a book not only makes readers, especially teenagers, more interested, but it also will allow more students to understand the character and plot more effectively for things such as book reports and tests. 

What American educators choose to teach teenagers is such a vital aspect of the American education system as a whole, and it is crucial that teens are being introduced to a variety of books in their English classes. Ensuring that teens are well-rounded in their understanding of literature in both historical and modern day settings is a critical aspect of educating students effectively, and American English classes need to start selecting novels that will accomplish that.