ABSTRACT

The term literature event can be used to describe a kind of literacy event, one where not just any piece of writing is central, but where a piece of writing that is deemed to be literature is central. This chapter utilizes literature event to mean an event in literature, where, according to M. Bakhtin, many independent voices interact, even depend on one another, in any given event in a novel. Understanding literacy teaching and learning as both ideological and polyphonic matters because those of engaged in literacy events and practices are challenged to think and feel with more complexity as a result of encountering a diversity of independent and interdependent voices and consciousnesses, including one another’s. When literacy teaching and learning is understood as ideological and polyphonic, it has the potential to be humanizing, inviting teachers and students to recognize and perhaps even embrace aspects of humanity in themselves, one another, and others.