The Use of Non-Literary Resources for Teaching Literature

To talk about literature is always something complex, for its very concept is still something instigating for Literature Theory scholars. The complexity becomes even greater when we talk about Literature as a curricular component or of its general use in our daily school life. The literary text is artistic and, thus, requires certain care in its treatment, allowing several interpretations. The use of literature in the classroom is controversial because it can remove its playful character, making a text that could be intended for reading pleasure become authoritarian. In Elementary School, literature is one of the resources of the Portuguese Language, in which relaxation can be provided through reading moments. In High School, Literature is one of the curricular components, having its status and readings called compulsory. Literature can awaken pleasure and the demand for reading, but this does not mean that no demands are necessary, as happens in other components; there is a need for a methodology that exchanges authoritarianism for emancipation.