Langues & Cultures
Volume 6, Numéro 4, Pages 149-177
2025-12-25
Using English Fiction As A Personal-growth (pg) Catalyst For Empathy: The Role Of Literature To Transplant Emotions Between The Writer And The Learner
Authors : Bouali Amina .
Abstract
As empathy rises to prominence as a beacon of human consciousness and cultural harmony, the study examines the transformative role of English fiction in fostering empathy in EFL classes applying a Personal Growth (PG) model. Grounded in a multidisciplinary framework, the study examines how narrative strategies evoke empathy through sympathy, altruism, and emotional contagion. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative semi-structured observation and quantitative Likert-scale assessments, purposefully selecting Salman Rushdie’s Shame and Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist as key materials for carrying out the intervention. Findings reveal that identifying with fictional characters enhances emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and fosters intercultural understanding. Furthermore, the study underscores the ethical dimension of storytelling that evokes students’ personal distress and compassion for those in a state of social malaise—forming the bedrock of emotional empathy. Ultimately, the research reaffirms the enduring relevance of literature as a tipping point for holistic personal and social development.
Keywords
Empathy ; English Fiction ; Personal Growth (PG) model ; EFL classes ; Intercultural Understanding
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