One high school teacher introduces her students to Walt Whitman by showing the film Beautiful Dreamers . This is a delightful and true story about Whitman's friendship with a Canadian physician and his visit, one summer, to the mental hospital that his friend operated. This teacher tells us that seeing the film motivates her students, even students in average classes, to tackle Whitman's poetry. Many classics of literature have been made into movies. After a book has been read by the class, you can ask students to watch the film at home, individually or in groups, and then write an essay on the differences between the film and the book.
Some literature is difficult for modern readers.
Movie renditions can introduce and help students comprehend these works. For example, some teachers contend that watching films based on Jane Austen novels allows their students to better understand, appreciate and enjoy the books. See e.g., the Learning Guide to Pride and Prejudice . To recieve our monthly Newsletter type your e-mail address below. If you have had any experiences using films for extra-credit work, please share your experiences with us .