M a education paper-v methods of teaching english

4.3. 
TEACHING POETRY 
(“Poetry beings in delight and ends in wisdom:” – Robert frost) 
 
4.3.1. Introduction : 
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, a poem is 
a, “piece of creative writing in verse, especially one expressing deep feelings or noble thought in 
beautiful language written with the intention of communicating an experience”. S. T. Coleridge 
believes that ‘poetry is the beat words in their best order’.
Poetry is for pleasure. To Robert Frost “Poetry beings in Delight and ends in 
Wisdom”. It is clear that we read poetry in order to get some pleasure and enjoy the beauty of the 
language. We not only appreciate the ideas and thoughts but also the way in which the thoughts 
and ideas have been presented.
4.3.2. The place of poetry in a second Language. 
At the secondary school level, the learners can understand and enjoy poetry in 
their mother – tongue (e.g,odia)because they
- Know the language well ,
- Are familiar with the culture, context and the experience of the poem , 

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- Have a fairly good command of the language. 
- Can express their views through the language
But the learners cannot understand and enjoy poems in a second language (English) because 
they: 
- Do not know the language very well,
- Are not familiar with the culture, the context and the experience of the 
poem. 
- Have not yet developed their linguistic and communicative competence , 
- Find everything foreign to them: the language, the ideas, the culture, the 
context, etc. 
Poetry should find no place in English at the secondary school level in this country because of 
the following reasons: 
i. Teacher is supposed to teach English Language not Literature. Poetry which is a part of 
literature could be taken care of at an advanced level / stage. 
ii. Teachers are expected to teach English in linguistic terms. And the teaching of poetry 
pre-supposes the acquisition of all the four fundamental language skills, that is, LSRW. 
Therefore, poetry should come at a later stage.
iii. English is a second language in India. In such a situation, teacher should not expect their 
students to appreciate the poetic components like images, Figures of speech, Figurative 
meaning and structural variation. The students are not mature enough to enjoy the poem 
and its purpose in view of their attainment and proficiency in the language. This of course 
could be taken up in the mother – tongue. More- over teachers should not force their 
student s to struggle with originality, creativity and height of imagination through a 
medium which is not suitable for the purpose. 
However, we may include some rhymes in the course for given the learners ‘a feel ‘of 
the rhymes of the language.
iv. If teachers teach poetry in order teach language, and then the very purpose of teaching 
poetry is defeated because poetry is meant for the appreciation of the beauty of language, 
thought and feeling of the poem.