Music as Hook in the Literature Classroom

Given the omnipresence of music today, its prudent use in introductory literature classes can serve as a way to engage students and to illustrate cultural contexts. The inclusion of musical compositions from the same periods as the literary selections studied allows for a spontaneous, intuitive grasp of the general spirit of those works. An analysis of the questions asked of students after each brief musical interlude shows that the experiment helped them tie the past to the present and the unknown to the known. Particularly successful was the inclusion of the recordings of Gregorian chant that became world-famous in the mid-nineties. The choices for music after the thirteenth century are more numerous and also readily available. This accessibility allows for the easy use of music as a means to demonstrate development in literary trends and to stimulate student interest in literature.