Upon hearing that there will be a new story in English, it is fair for students to assume a few things. On top of having dashing examples of bravery or an important moral takeaway, there is a good chance that these stories will be shockingly dark. 

With themes of death, harm, and hatred, books read in English are often not what is expected for a school setting. This is done with reason though, explains Carter Couchman, English teacher. 

“You’re going to pick the stories that keep kids engaged, and I think violence is an easy way to do that,” Couchman said. “I think you always run the risk of it not being as interesting when there isn’t the sort of violent aspect.”

Couchman elaborates on the shortened attention span of high schoolers, and how it can be difficult to get them engaged. In comparison to lighter stories, students may not take as strong of an interest. They also explain that with the organization of stories, darkness and violence is necessary, comparing the rising events to a series of terrible things. On the other hand, a student has their own perspective.

“They have a deeper meaning,” said Elsie Casanova, 11. 

Casanova feels that, through these darker and more violent themes, a message is much more prominent and easier to find. This poses a question: do all stories need to be dark to keep an audience interested and prove a point at the same time?

 “I think some of them need to be darker, but not all of them. I think deeper meanings can be conveyed through lighter topics as well,” Casanova further elaborates.

Between both a teacher and student point of view, it seems that the darkness around many English stories doesn’t have as much of a negative impact as would be expected, and instead helps further students’ understanding within the classroom.