Aesthetic Approach

 

No. No. NO! Stop being so awkward with the word "aesthetic"! Yes, it sounds so academically formal that the hope of making your lesson to be fun and crazy seems so hard and impossible. We have the craziest idea, academically supported but yawning and droopy eyelids will be a no no for your aesthetic approach lesson. 

Psssttt. What is aesthetic approach actually?

Haha. Okayyyy, CHILL PEOPLE! Aesthetic approach is one of the approaches used by teachers to teach literature. The word ‘aesthetic’ is concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty. It is not the physical beauty we are talking but the artistic value of literature. Therefore, to relate this with the approach, we can say that it carries the meaning of appreciating the beauty of an ‘art’ in learning literature.

Basically, aesthetic-based approach focuses more on the literary elements or devices used in short stories, poems, dramas and all sorts of literature materials. Examples of literary devices are personification, metaphor, simile, symbols, imagery and such. The focus is also given on understanding the literary elements such as the plot, themes, characterizations, values, setting and etc. This approach allows teachers to test on the students’ understanding and connection of the language and literary devices or elements used in the text.

Thus, how to make your students to appreciate the beauty of the poem " He has such quiet eyes"? There's abundance! But, let us specifically tells you how to create a whole lesson based on this approach using the poem below:

He Had Such Quiet Eyes by Bibsy Soenharjo

He had such quiet eyes

She did not realise

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest ice

To her, those quiet eyes

Were breathing desolate sighs

Imploring her to be nice

And to render him paradise

If only she’d been wise

And had listened to the advice

Never to compromise

With pleasure-seeking guys

She’d be free from ‘the hows and whys’

Now here’s a bit of advice

Be sure that nice really means nice

Then you’ll never be losing at dice

Though you lose your heart once or twice

As for the last activity which is to create a poem, it might be quite similar with the language approach but this time there is no restriction of letters and you might have to focus a bit more on the use of literary devices. Keep in mind it is about nurturing the "beauty" and the essence of the text. 

Give it a try and don't forget to share your experience. Happy teaching!