Talks on Teaching Literature

"Talks on Teaching Literature" by Arlo Bates is an early 20th-century guide for teachers striving to bring literature to life for their students. It emphasizes the importance of inspiring a genuine love for literature, rather than just drilling facts and figures. Bates acknowledges the challenges educators face when teaching an art form and argues that traditional teaching methods often miss the mark. The book opens by exploring these difficulties, questioning whether literature can truly be taught through conventional means and highlighting the need to emotionally connect students with the material, all as a precursor to a discussion around new approaches to literature instruction that encourage real understanding.