Add more art to your literature. We’re slogging through Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. (Here is an abbreviated lesson with an illustration. We’re investing three hours to read the entire poem.) Writers and artists influence one another. Look at these Green Knight illustrations from the British Museum. Another example is to look at these Pride and Prejudice illustrations or these from A Tale of Two Cities. Look at the beautiful art N.C. Wyeth created for Robinson Crusoe. (The Brandywine Museum of Art houses several Wyeth collections. They have an excellent Model Train exhibit open donuts before Thanksgiving through the New Year’s.)
How can you add art to literature? Here are some questions. (Yes, I cringe whenever I see Common Core, too. But the questions are good!) In terms of illustrations for a poem or novel, I think the discussion can center on illustrations. What does the artist want to convey? What do they reveal in terms of the story? Does the artist evoke emotion? (N.C. Wyeth is renowned for his illustrations. Ask your kiddos why?) How does the artist capture the story?
Do you have littles? Khan Academy has a lesson: What do pictures bring to a story? Who knew? I’m sure you’ve watched your kiddos decode a story from the pictures or images. Be sure to ask, ‘What do you think happens next?’ as you read a new story. Let them draw their own illustrations as you read them a story! Let’s bring more art to literature! (Yes, I do have one or two prints on my walls, on the shelves—even decorating the bathroom. We’re at the point where we select postcards from museums to frame instead of prints—we’re running out of room!) More art! More beauty!
