Word Significance, Word Choice, and Title Meaning

» pamela_saint - Titles

When I teach composition, I always try to have the students discuss how the title fits a poem or an essay, for the title is often loaded with multiple meanings, too. Then, I try to stretch the issue and have them come up with meaningful titles of their own to attach to their essays. Titles are so important as first clues to the overall meaning conveyed. Of course, as an English geek, I think analyzing titles is so exciting; my students tend to think otherwise...

(I even tried to engage them in a conversation about the differences in the British and American titles of the first Harry Potter book--Sorcerer's Stone vs. Philosopher's Stone--and the different connotations inherent in "sorcerer" and "philosopher." It's not the same when the class isn't as enamored with Potter as the instructor is.)

-- posted by pamela_saint