Studying Literature

Contrary to students within other provinces, those in Ontario should study only Canadian literature in grade twelve English courses. Although there are many existing writers in different cultures, it is important for Ontario students to first become familiar with Canadian literature before moving on. It is believed that students should focus on their Canadian culture - despite being surrounded by other cultures- promote and establish their own writers, and encourage younger Canadian authors. Pupils currently enrolled in English in Ontario are constantly bombarded by American culture, when they should, instead, be concentrating on Canadian literature. This is starting to become a trend in Canada, as they have always been the “branch plant” of another country. This means that our own culture has never had the chance to develop as we have always been under the thumb of a more powerful foreign culture. This began with the influence of England and France; for many years students in Ontario would study Shakespeare, along with other British writers. This is no different than the impact of American culture, which swamps Canadawith American authors such as Fitzgerald. However, many schools limit a student’s exposure to Canadian novels to those found on International Studies Preparation (ISP) reading lists. In this sense, Canada is an attic in which we have stored American and British literature without considering our own. As a result, many Canadian students have problems appreciating their culture, since Canadian literature is not promoted well enough. 1It is no wonder Canadian students have problems appreciating their culture. The Canadian literature most frequently studied is typically old. This literature includes works such as “The Apprenticeship of Duddly Kravitz”, by Mordecai Richler, “The Stone Angel” by Margaret Laurence and the “Fifth Business” by Robertson Davies. The Fifth Business is quite unique since it was published in 1970– over 35 years ago –