Why are verse novels important in the classroom?
Verse novels are very important in the classroom because they provide a different way for students to view poetry and novels. Verse novels are becoming more and more relevant again in recent years. Verse novels can be a way for characters to express themselves in a deeper way. In an article by Mark Letche titled Off the Shelves he explains many aspects of the verse novel and why it is important. He says, “Because of the immediate and visceral nature of poetry, many authors utilize the genre when dealing with extremely emotional topics” ( Letche p.1). I believe verse novels allow authors to deal with extreme emotional topics because poetry is often very raw and real. In poetry there is no need to explain thoughts in depth but rather to just briefly touch on a subject and allow the audience to interpret the rest. Mike Cadden says, “What verse novels do is invite imaginative speculation about the things that are left unsaid by either characters or absent narrators—the descriptions of characters, settings, movements, and background information provided in the traditional prose novel that here are gaps, white or negative spaces, silences” ( Cadden p.6). Overall, verse novels are important because they allow for the expression of deep material, this deeper material may relate to some of the problems and hardships some students may be going through. Poetry allows for an outlet and a way of expression for such deep material.
Another reason verse novels are important is because they are a critical part of poetry. Verse novels offer students with exemplary examples of poetry. Letche says, “For those of us who teach poetry, it is often helpful to provide students with models of the forms we’re asking them to write. Whether teachers assign these titles for whole-class use, read selected excerpts, or recommend titles to motivated and reluctant readers alike, young adult poetry can have a prominent and powerful place in our curriculum” (Letche p.4). I believe every teacher should at least incorporate one verse novel into the poetry unit. If I was assigned more verse novels in school, I believe I personally would have been more responsive to poetry and maybe even enjoyed it more. Verse novels can demonstrate to students how formal structure in some poems can be remarkable, rather than restrictive (Letche p.4)