The challenge of creativity

Abstract

With the aim to develop good teaching practices with regard to language development and literary competence the chapter demonstrates how sequences of pictures – in this case two sets of illustrations by Russian illustrator Igor Oleynnikov – were used in two different but related ways in the teaching of literature and language: to create a better understanding of how literature works, and to stimulate creativity. In a first workshop, the focus was on a Russian version of “Snow White,” called “The Dead Tsarevna and Seven Bogatyrs.” The task, assigned to groups of four, was to arrange the randomly presented illustrations in such a way that the sequence made narrative sense. The second workshop was devoted to Oleynnikov’s illustrations to “Judges.” The workshops were carried out with two different cohorts of students, one in secondary, and one tertiary education. In the chapter it is shown that each of the interpretive, collaborative, and creative stages represents a learning opportunity that engages the students’ linguistic and literary competence, as well as their aesthetic sensibilities and metacognitive faculties.