Books | Updated Apr 29, 2008 at 11:36pm IST

Pottermania grips UK, students to study books

CNN-IBN

New Delhi: The boy wizard, Harry Potter is all set to enter school syllabus in the UK.

J K Rowling's first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has been included on the English language and literature syllabus of the AQA board there.

Students will study the novel, the world's 12th best-selling book of all time, alongwith great works of William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens from next year.

From next year, students will have to write an 800 word story inspired by the book as well as another 1,500 word essay comparing the author with another writer, The Sun reported on Monday.

Thousands of pupils taking the A-level English exam will be marked on their grasp of the plot, characters and JK Rowling's use of language - recently called "gibberish" by a High Court judge in London.

However, the move has provoked a row in Britain, with experts claiming that it would "dumb down" school standards.

The AQA has defended its decision. "Harry Potter is a genuine example of literature of our time. It deserves its place in this unit," a spokesperson was quoted by the British tabloid as saying.

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