AbstractsHistory

An investigation into the nature and function of prescribed literature in schools and a comparative study of the required reading in English literature in school syllabuses in South Africa, Rhodesia and the ex-High Commission Territories from 1945-1980

by Patricia Beatrice Marzo




Institution: Rhodes University
Department: Faculty of Humanities, English
Degree: MA
Year: 1981
Keywords: English literature  – Study and teaching  – South Africa; English literature  – Study and teaching  – Zimbabwe; South African literature (English)  – Study and teaching; South African literature (English)  – History and criticism  – 20th century; Zimbabwean literature (English)  – History and criticism  – 20th century
Record ID: 1452576
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006887


Abstract

From the preface: The original purpose of this thesis was to make a comparative study of all the English literature which had been prescribed from 1945 to 1980 for study by all high school pupils in the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe and the ex-High Commission Territories. This proved to be a formidable task. However, most of the material collected, including all the individual poems prescribed, was recorded in table form. This proved too bulky a system for comparative purposes and the field was narrowed to include only that English literature which had been prescribed for candidates writing Matriculation or Senior Certificate examinations on the higher grade as part of the English Language syllabus. From time to time, however, reference will be made in this thesis to prescriptions for the lower grades and for the lower standards.