Heavy metal music in the English class: the language and cultural and historical context of Iron Maiden’s songs

Résumé fourni par la source

Heavy metal music, undeservedly rejected by teachers of English in favour of more pop-oriented styles, may actually prove to be an exceptionally valuable teaching tool. The use of heavy metal lyrics in class is, in fact, highly beneficial to the learning process due in part to their cultural and historical context. The complex language of some heavy metal songs is, however, the chief factor making their lyrics linguistically attractive to both teachers and students. The aim of this article is to examine two songs by Iron Maiden, a band beloved of heavy metal fans and revered as a heavy metal icon. Apart from analysing the grammar and vocabulary of the lyrics, the article also discusses their cultural and historical context.