낭만주의 수업에서 무엇을 가르칠 것인가?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to tackle the problem of what to teach in a undergraduate Romanticism course in South Korea where English is a foreign language. My argument is that we should not teach the course contents set by the English departments of the countries where English is the first language. For example, Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” is being taught in the most of Romanticism classes in South Korea just because it is considered one of the best poems as his canon by the Western scholars. However, it can be too difficult for average Korean students who use English as a foreign language. As a matter of fact, a great number of students taking a Romanticism class wish they could improve their English skills by reading English literary works. To meet their demand, difficult poems, even when they are must-read poems in English-speaking countries, should be removed from course contents. Besides, to attract students to Romanticism courses, a cultural approach including music and painting is recommended, and short and easy-to-understand poems should be dealt with. For example, when students listen to and compare Mozart’s and Beethoven’s music, they will figure out the differences between Neo-Classicism and Romanticism. I also suggest that some women poets, who have been neglected for many years, should be included in the course. I believe it is my duty as a Romanticism professor to tell students the historical truth that Romanticism is not just about male poets but about women poets who were more popular at the time.