Abstract
Poetry is a distinct form in which meaning is expressed with special intensity as words grow and mature with every reading of the text. Poetry is at times mean when words cannot be deciphered and students get easily bogged down in ambiguous phrases; but poetry does mean when the same vague expressions are explored and explained creatively depending on the cognitive capacities of individuals. The aim of this paper is pedagogical as the study delves into the best way of introducing poetry to students. The need is to make sense of the poem without reliance on readymade interpretation and the challenge is to make the poetry class a memorable experience. In the age of edutainment, memes can prove an important source of enabling linguistic competence through literary content. By introducing fun and pun amongst student populace, teaching poetry through memes can tap the trend into the classroom and doing a poem can become a unique experience with the help of an interactive pedagogy. To illustrate this methodology, the study will involve delineation of three poems at the levels of pre-reading, during-reading and post- reading of the texts. As an outcome, one of the major tasks will be to observe the way in which memes centrifuge poems and aid in improving spatial intelligence of the target group. This study will conclude with some suggestions on how students can become material producers in the domain of ELT. Thus, the present research is a humble attempt to showcase memes as a means to enjoy reality and celebrate differences.
Recommended Citation
Bagchi, Pronema
(2024)
"Is Poetry Mean or does Poetry Mean? Teaching Poetry through Memes,"
International Journal of English Learning & Teaching Skills (IJELTS): Vol. 2:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://research.smartsociety.org/ijelts/vol2/iss2/1