Banned Books

Why are books banned? Doesn't the First Amendment protect freedom of expression? What makes a book controversial — politics, religion, race, sex? These are just some of the issues to discuss with students when evaluating some of the most controversial books of the twentieth century. Invoke critical thinking in the classroom, spark conversation among classmates, and perhaps even inspire students to take a deeper interest in the world of literature.

Banned and Censored and Off the Shelves
How does a book become banned? How does the censorship of literature exist alongside First Amendment rights? There are many ways and reasons that a controversial book may stay off the shelves. Lord of the Flies for example was consistently challenged in school libraries for profanities, violence, and racism, but also for the exploration of the fine line between civilization and barbarity.

Margaret Atwood's, The Handmaid's Tale was challenged as recently as 2009 in a Toronto high-school for being anti-Christian, violent, and expressing sexual degradation. Again, this novel delves into the darker possibilities of what humanity could become, specifically addressing the dangers of a lack of freedom of expression and the free exchange of information.

Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses is an example of a book that was censored for religious reasons. It was condemned by many Muslim countries for being offensive to Islam. Not only did this controversial book garner negative attention, but it incited violence and forced the author to go into hiding.

Many could argue that these, and many other of the most controversial books, not only have a right to be read but that they should be read. They explore essential issues and potential dangers of the human psyche and society's actions. Others can argue that these creative works should be censored, at least from public institutions, citing violence and degradation, racism, excessive profanities, and offense to religions, nations, and society itself. What do students think? Should they be allowed to have access to this list of banned books, or should they be protected from the controversial content?
List of Banned Books

These are some of the most controversial books that have been challenged, censored, and banned from schools, stores, libraries, and even nations.

    * The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
    * Lord of the Flies by William Golding
    * I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
    * To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    * The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
    * Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
    * The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
    * Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
    * One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
    * The Color Purple by Alice Walker
    * Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
    * Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    * Howl by Allen Ginsberg
    * Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Critical Thinking in the Classroom with Controversial Books

Encourage students to form their own opinions about banned and censored books. Ask them why expression is important, and what happens when information is censored. Debate over the concept of censorship — are there cases or reasons that censorship should be permitted? How are books and other works censored unofficially? What effect does this have on society? Do banned books lead to censored thinking? What lessons can be learned from society by looking at each time period's list of banned books?

Talking about banned and censored books in the classroom is a productive way to stimulate thought, discussion, and critical thinking. It is also a way to delve into the fundamental principles of free speech and freedom of expression.

References:
"Banned Books Online." (U Penn Library Online)
"Censored Books in the USA." (Nettverksgruppa, Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim)