There are several works of literature from the past that deserve to be read by students, but they may be afraid that they cannot relate to them. Academic librarians and educators can look at the following list of films for collection development ideas in introducing library patrons and students to the best modern retellings of classic literature.
10 Things I Hate About You / The Taming of the Shrew
You may not have known while watching the gorgeous Heath Ledger try to woo Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You was based on the popular Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew. You can add this teen flick to your film collection of middle-grade lit-to-film adaptations. Shakespeare’s comedy-romance satire seems misogynistic because Petruccio wants to “tame” Kate as soon as they got married.
But remember, the beginning of the play is told from the point of view of a drunken lord watching a play within a play of Petruccio and Katherine.10 Things I Hate About You does not distort the audience’s point of view.
You can read our review of 10 Things I Hate About You.
Purchase 10 Things I Have About You on Blu-ray.
Purchase The Taming of the Shrew book.
The Lion King / Hamlet
This Disney classic is an epic story of a young cub waiting for the moment he could be king with hit songs like “Hakuna Matata” and “The Circle of Life.” But did you know this animated film is actually a modern interpretation of Hamlet?
With the obvious difference being that animals rule the story, the character of Simba is like Hamlet. His uncle murders the young cub’s father, Mufasa. The ghost of his father tells him to claim his rightful place on the throne. Considering this is a children’s movie, I guess they couldn’t stick with the source material of Mufasa telling his son to kill his uncle. But the general basis of The Lion King is the same as Shakespeare’s drama. So if any kids tell you they don’t want to read Hamlet, just remind them of where the source material is from.
Read our review of The Lion King.
Purchase The Lion King on Blu-ray.
Purchase the Hamlet book.
Clueless / Emma
Amy Heckerling’s 1990s comedy is a timeless classic. Alicia Silverstone’s Cher is the most popular girl who thinks she’s got it all figured out when she’s actually as “clueless” as the next person. If your teacher assigns you to read Jane Austen’s Emma, you may think there is no way you’ll relate to this early 19th-century novel.
Believe it or not, Emma Woodhouse is very similar to Cher Horowitz in that they are both popular in their communities and classic manipulators. Emma makes a project out of Harriet Smith, the inspiration for Tai in Clueless who does not have a stylish wardrobe. When Emma thinks she knows what the best match would be for Harriet, it ends up failing with the “unsuitable” guy being the one, just as Tai falls for the stoner Travis. Add this movie to your film collection the next time students ever doubt the brilliant writing of Jane Austen.
Read our review of Clueless.
Purchase Clueless on Blu-ray.
Purchase the Emma book.
She’s the Man / Twelfth Night
Insider called She’s the Man “the greatest modern Shakespeare remake.” Sure, the Shakespearian names of the characters can give you a hint of where its source material came from. But if you’re not able to guess, She’s the Man comes from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Both works are about a young woman named Viola who disguises herself as a man and falls in love with a man who’s in love with a woman who’s in love with Viola who she thinks is a man. The romantic mishaps that happen in She’s the Man will make students laugh just as hard when you read them in Twelfth Night.
Purchase She's the Man on Blu-ray.
Purchase the Twelfth Night book
Modern film adaptations are a great way for students and younger patrons to understand a brilliant work of literature from the past. Next time your classroom syllabus includes a classic novel or play, consider hosting a public screening of these films so that students can recognize the timelessness and relevance of these stories.