Literature Improves Empathy


Have you ever felt that reading a good book makes you better able to connect with your fellow human beings? If so, the results of a new scientific study back you up, but only if your reading material is literary fiction; pop fiction or non-fiction won’t cut it.

Great Expectations from great literature … empathy occurs in the spaces between characters, such as Joe and Pip, pictured here in the 2012 film adaptation. Photograph: Moviestore/Rex Features

Empathy occurs in the spaces between characters, such as Joe and Pip in Great Expectations. Photograph: Moviestore/Rex Features

Psychologists David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano, at the New School for Social Research in New York, have proved that reading literary fiction enhances the ability to detect and understand other people’s emotions, a crucial skill in navigating complex social relationships.

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What’s a Bildungsroman?

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The bildungsroman (bill-DUNGZ-ro-men, German for “formation novel”) is a genre of the novel which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood.  The driving force behind the plot (and the major impact of the work) is the main character’s search for self, so change is thus extremely important.

The birth of the bildungsroman is normally dated to the publication of Goethe’s The Apprenticeship of Wilhelm Meister in 1796.  Although the bildungsroman originated in Germany, it has had extensive influence first in Europe and later throughout the world.  Thomas Carlyle translated Goethe’s novel into English, and after its publication in 1824, many British authors wrote novels inspired by it (e.g. Dickens’ Great Expectations).

A bildungsroman tells about the growing up or coming of age of a sensitive person who is looking for answers and experience.  The genre evolved from folklore tales of an idiot or youngest son going out in the world to seek his fortune.  Usually in the beginning of the story there is an emotional loss which makes the protagonist leave on his or her journey.  In a bildungsroman, the goal is maturity, and the protagonist achieves it gradually and with difficulty.  The genre often features an underlying conflict between the main character and society.  Typically, the values of society are gradually accepted by the protagonist, and he or she is ultimately accepted into society – the protagonist’s mistakes and disappointments are over.  In some works, the protagonist is able to reach out and help others after having achieved maturity.

Incoming AP Lit students, take note of how both Siddhartha and Jane Eyre, each after their own unique fashion, follow this structure.

Week 2:8 (Dec. 14-18)

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Seniors: Reading ScheduleWhat AP Readers Long to SeeNotes on Heart of Darkness and ModernismPoems for Third QuarterHelp with Multiple ChoiceAP Lit Exam Study GuideHeart of Darkness Handout for Over-the-Break Reading1987 Released Exam1999 Released ExamSemester Grade Chart

Freshmen: Proofreading ExpectationsTheme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)Weaving and Citing ExamplesPaper Outline and Rubric, MLA TemplateTurnitin Registration InstructionsSAT Vocab #2Exam Study GuideExam ScheduleSemester Grade Chart

Week 2:7 (Dec. 7-11)

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Seniors: Reading SchedulePoetry Response PacketMLA TemplateWatchmenTurnitin Journal, Notes, E-text

Great Expectations: Theme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)Weaving and Citing ExamplesPaper Outline and RubricMLA TemplateTurnitin Registration InstructionsSAT Vocab #2Animal Farm: Vocab ListNotesTheme Log

Week 2:6 (Nov. 30-Dec. 4)

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Seniors: Reading SchedulePoetry Response PacketMLA TemplatePinellas Education FoundationWatchmen: Turnitin Journal, Symbol SketchesNotes on the Graphic Novel and Postmodernism, E-textThe Doomsday ClockUnderstanding Comics

Great Expectations: Theme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)GE AudiotextWeaving and Citing ExamplesPaper Outline and RubricOriginal Ending, Weekly Learning Goal Self-Evaluation Scale (R.910.2)MLA Template; Turnitin.com Journal: Proofreading ExpectationsCh. 40-59 Turnitin JournalTurnitin Registration Instructions

Animal Farm: Vocab ListNotesTheme Log

Writing a Thesis Statement: GE Thesis PromptThesis Notes (from in class), Thesis Help (getting your ideas together), Thesis Development (forming your ideas into a sentence),Subordinate Conjunctions (forming complex sentences with useful words), Thesis Generator (if you can’t quite get your ideas into a sentence), Thesis Builder (another thesis generator if you’re having trouble fitting it all in one sentence), GE Theme-Specific Overviews, GE Theme-Specific Questions

Week 2:5 (Nov. 16-20)

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Seniors: Reading SchedulePoetry Response PacketMLA Template, Mythology Review ListPinellas Education FoundationWatchmenTurnitin Journal, Symbol SketchesNotes on the Graphic Novel and Postmodernism, E-textThe Doomsday ClockUnderstanding Comics

Great Expectations: Theme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)GE AudiotextWeaving and Citing ExamplesThesis NotesPaper Outline and Rubric, Thesis PromptOriginal EndingTheme-Specific Overviews, Theme-Specific Questions, Weekly Learning Goal Self-Evaluation Scale (W.8); Turnitin.com Journal: Proofreading ExpectationsGE Ch. 20-39 Turnitin JournalCh. 40-59 Turnitin JournalTurnitin Registration Instructions

Animal Farm: Vocab ListNotes

Writing a Thesis Statement: Thesis Notes (from in class), Thesis Help (getting your ideas together), Thesis Development (forming your ideas into a sentence), Subordinate Conjunctions (forming complex sentences with useful words), Thesis Generator (if you can’t quite get your ideas into a sentence), Thesis Builder (another thesis generator if you’re having trouble fitting it all in one sentence)

Week 2:4 (Nov. 9-13)

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Seniors: Reading SchedulePoetry Response PacketMLA Template, Mythology Review ListPinellas Education Foundation; HamletNotesReading Shakespeare PacketEssay PromptsE-text, Audiotext; Watchmen: Turnitin Journal, Symbol SketchesNotes on the Graphic Novel and Postmodernism, E-textThe Doomsday ClockUnderstanding Comics

Great Expectations: Theme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)GE AudiotextGraphic Novelization for Ch. 31-36Ch. 37-38 Quiz PreviewWeaving and Citing ExamplesThesis NotesSAT Vocab #1Paper Outline and RubricWeekly Learning Goal Self-Evaluation Scale (R.6); Journal: Proofreading ExpectationsGE Ch. 1-10 Journal QuestionsGE Ch. 11-19 Journal Questions (A 1-2A 6-7B 1-2B 6-7), GE Ch. 20-39 Turnitin JournalCh. 40-59 Turnitin JournalTurnitin Registration Instructions

Week 2:3 (Nov. 2-6)

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Seniors: 2nd Quarter Reading Schedule2nd Quarter Poetry Response PacketMLA Template, Mythology Review ListHamlet NotesReading Shakespeare PacketHamlet Essay PromptsHamlet E-text, Understanding Comics (Large PDF)Pinellas Education FoundationHamlet Audioplay: Act I (≈:50), Act II (≈:37), Act III (≈:58), Acts IV-V (≈1:23)

Freshmen: Proofreading ExpectationsGE VocabTheme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)GE AudiotextGraphic Novelization for Ch. 26-30Graphic Novelization for Ch. 31-36Ch. 37-38 Quiz PreviewCh. 20-39 Journal, Ch. 40-59 JournalWeaving and Citing ExamplesThesis NotesSAT Vocab #1Paper Outline and RubricWeekly Learning Goal Self-Evaluation Scale (R.6); Journal: GE Ch. 1-10 Journal QuestionsGE Ch. 11-19 Journal Questions (A 1-2A 6-7B 1-2B 6-7), GE Ch. 20-39 Turnitin Journal QuestionsCh. 40-59 Journal

Week 2:2 (Oct. 26-30)

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Seniors: 2nd Quarter Reading Schedule2nd Quarter Poetry Response PacketMLA Template, Mythology Review ListHamlet Notes, Reading Shakespeare Packet, Act I VocabArchaic Pronouns; Hamlet E-textHamlet Audioplay: Act I (≈:50), Act II (≈:37), Act III (≈:58), Acts IV-V (≈1:23)

Freshmen: Proofreading ExpectationsGE VocabTheme Log, GE E-text (Whole Novel on One Page)GE AudiotextGraphic Novelization of Ch. 23-25Graphic Novelization for Ch. 26-30; Journal: GE Ch. 1-10 Journal QuestionsGE Ch. 11-19 Journal Questions (A 1-2A 6-7B 1-2B 6-7), GE Ch. 20-39 Turnitin Journal QuestionsHomecoming Week Dress-Up DaysWeekly Learning Goal Self-Evaluation Scale (R.910.3)

Week 2:1 (Oct. 20-23)

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Seniors: 2nd Quarter Reading Schedule2nd Quarter Poetry Response PacketMLA Template, Mythology Review ListHamlet Prop Assignment, Hamlet Notes, Reading Shakespeare Packet, Act I VocabArchaic Pronouns, Hamlet E-textHamlet Audioplay: Act I (≈:50), Act II (≈:37), Act III (≈:58), Acts IV-V (≈1:23)

Freshmen: Proofreading ExpectationsGE VocabTheme Log, GE AudiotextGraphic Novelization for Ch. 19-22WriteScore Login; Journal: GE Ch. 1-10 Journal QuestionsGE Ch. 11-19 Journal Questions (A 1-2A 6-7B 1-2B 6-7), Weekly Learning Goal Self-Evaluation Scale (R.910.5)