The importance of literature in the contemporary classroom

Reading requires time and devotion, both of which are scarce goods in contemporary classrooms. These days economic needs dictate the pace of learning and education is mostly measured by its promised pecuniary potential. However, the latest political events, such as streams of refugees searching for a new life in foreign cultures and the way host countries react to the impact of these new cultures, show that there is a common need to define, defend and evaluate identities. Teaching literature might not be an instant answer to the challenges of today's society but it can surely help to reflect upon the importance, flexibility and borders of identity.