Teaching virtues through literature: learning from the ‘Narnian Virtues’ character education research

ABSTRACT

Character education through curriculum subjects has taken increasing political importance in England after its inclusion in the school inspection framework. Here we present a pedagogical approach to developing virtue literacy through English Literature. As part of a longitudinal, mixed-methods research project, this article uses empirical evidence from interviews with 26 students to identify and discuss the processes students used in the development of virtue literacy. The authors argue that the study of literature has a unique and valuable place in helping students develop virtue, and present areas for development in literature-based character education in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Character education
• virtue
• literature
• Narnia

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by The John Templeton Foundation under grant 60516. We also thank Professor. Thomas Lickona, co-investigator of the Narnian Virtues curriculum, along with Dr Shirley-Anne Paul, Dr Paula Clarke, and Dr Matt Homer.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the John Templeton Foundation [60516].

Notes on contributors

Peter Hart

Dr Peter Hart is a research fellow on the Narnian Virtues Character Education project currently works School of Education at the University of Leeds, having previously been based at the School of Applied Social Sciences University of Durham, where he completed his PhD on ethical issues in youth work.

Gisela Oliveira

Dr Gisela Oliveira is lecture in education at De Montfot University, having previously been a research assistant on the Narnian Virtue Character Education Project. Her PhD considered learning transfer between higher education and the workplace.

Mark Pike

Professor Mark Pike is Professor of Education and PI of the Narnian Virtues Character Education project, and author of ‘Mere Education: C.S. Lewis as Teacher for our Time’ and ‘Ethical English’. He is also CEO of a Multi-Academy Trust.