English Literature and Digital Creativity in the Classroom

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis is to address how we can use Mark Haddon’s complex 2004 multitextual novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Jay Asher’s controversial novel Thirteen Reasons Why with the methods of digital storytelling (DST) and podcasts to educate pupils in upper secondary school in Norway to become creative, engaged, inquisitive and critical thinkers. Furthermore, the thesis adds to the discussion of the use of literature and digital tools in Norwegian classrooms in an increasingly digital world. Central parts of the discussion on the use of literature in school argue why teachers and pupils benefit from using complex, contemporary and multilayered novels, as they bring forward opportunities of imagination, creativity and learning on a variety of levels. Additionally, the thesis considers if DST can be used to enhance and accelerate pupil comprehension by integrating visual images with written texts. The thesis presents how The Curious Incident-DST Project and the Thirteen Reasons Why Podcast Project, based on self-evaluation of a classroom research project and the hypothetical prospects of a future research possibility, can be applied in the teaching situation as the aim is to bring new research to the future of English education in Norway.