Teaching Victorian Poetry with Twenty-First-Century Psychology

Abstract

I use Victorian poetry in my interdisciplinary class entitled Literature and Psychology, a general education class that caters primarily to non-English majors. In the course, students use concepts from contemporary psychology to analyze literary works from a variety of genres, cultures, and time periods. This interdisciplinary approach blends social sciences with humanities, enabling students to connect two aspects of their liberal arts education and enhancing their appreciation of both fields. Approaching literature through psychology adds greatly to students’ understanding of literary creation and consumption, while also teaching them about social dynamics and human motivations. Throughout the semester, my students and I consider how authors create their identities, how literary works change our ways of thinking, and how the exchange between literature and psychology increases our understanding of human nature. The course promotes critical thinking through class discussions and written projects, while encouraging enhanced creativity, self-awareness, and empathy for others.