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More handpicked essays just for you.
How does literature shape the present and past society
How does literature shape the present and past society
Importance of literature
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Literature: The Light to Life Today’s society makes myself wonder, why must I take courses in literature? Literature is a crucial course which adds color to life. It allows me to laugh and dream while it builds suspense for what to expect ahead. It might just be a read but it enables me to feel emotions and allows me to see the world from a different perspective. It allows me to see the social norms in society, along with providing society with a light of guidance. However, reading literature not only benefits one in gaining knowledge, but aids in breaking barriers between cultural norms and stereotypes with the bitter truth which allows others to appreciate past history.
Literature is essential as it generates appreciation towards
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As I read passages, I thought about new beliefs and cultures other than my own which increased my knowledge. It allows me to understand other cultures and their way of living compared to my own. Looking in the 15th century’s culture and beliefs compared to the past and see the differences. Without studying literature, one is kept in the shade which creates a sense of unawareness for people about other cultures around the world. In addition, it gives me first-hand information which helps me have an effective communication with others regarding their culture and belief. This is evident due to the fact that “With each exposure to those who diff from us, we expand our minds.” ("Why Study Literature?", 2006:1). This clearly shows that as we read new text we learn about new things as it expands our knowledge. Every piece of literature is based off of different cultures and beliefs and majority of the time have contexts that I am unfamiliar with allowing me to dig deeper and expand my thinking also makes me question which only strengthens my …show more content…
This is evident as it enables me to have a different and a newly built perspective according to current issues which I had difficulty in understanding before studying specific literature. Adding on, it encourages me to learn new facts about the world that I did not know of from outside of my circle of knowledge. It concedes me to create a connection with what is happening in the text. This connection allows me to have a different view on life along with a chance to ponder upon a different approach. I have the ability to solve or deal with any conflict in my path. Whether the book has a happy or sad ending, it empowers me to feel emotions which I would not have experienced in real life and makes me enter a realm of mixed emotions. Meyer has stated, that interpretation of the texts allows you to feel emotions and value judgements which are valuable things in life (5). I personally felt emotional as I read different texts which allowed me to think outside of the box which led to making me open-minded. Literature really allows one to think differently by giving a different perspective on how you view
English in its entirety can be simply described as author, biologist and physician, Lewis Thomas had once said, “We pass the word around; we ponder how the case is put by different people, we read the poetry; we meditate over the literature; we play the music; we change our minds; we reach an understanding. Society evolves this way, not by shouting each other down, but by the unique capacity of unique, individual human beings to comprehend each other” (Thomas 120). The impact literature can bring onto others is simply amazing and is a gift that should be shared with everyone. This spring semester has quickly broadened my perspective. Being that this is my freshman year in college I prodded around ideas of what majors I had interests in. I toyed around with political science, but I found that I spent more time on arguing with what the political figures stood for than actually studying. I was almost certain I wanted to be an interior designer but I became overly fixated on how to properly draw three dimensional boxes to further myself any farther. Truth be told, I am the type of person who rather create something encrusted with detail than something cut in dry like politics or basic shapes. I have always have had a love for literature and especially poetry. At age eight I became a published poet in a children’s book. Even at a young age I knew with words I can create something to quench my need to express how I feel about a certain topic or issue. Therefore I have recently declared myself as a literature major. Through the structured English 1B's course and power of words from authors; Boisseau, Bishop, Glaspell and Ibsen I have gained valuable life lessons .
Literature is an outlet for imagination without restrictions, a platform for expression, and a form of art that outlives its author. Most importantly, it can be a way to help one truly discover themselves. As audiences are exposed to more literature throughout their lives, they not only learn about their true potential, but are also made aware of their flaws and faults in character. Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton are both remarkable characters, but from various events that reveal their shortcomings, the audience receives the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. By appreciating literature, one not only receives a wonderful story, but is also given the chance to grow with the characters and learn lessons from the character’s experiences.
Each year as I grow old, I tend to discover and learn new things about myself as a person as well as a reader, writer and a student as a whole. My educational journey so far has been pretty interesting and full of surprises. Back in Bangladesh where I studied until high school, my interest for learning, reading or writing was so very different compared to how it has become over the years. I could relate those learning days to Richard Rodriquez’s essay “The lonely Good Company of Books”. In the essay the author says, “Friends? Reading was, at best, only a chore.”(Rodriguez, page 294). During those days I sure did feel like reading was a chore for me and how I was unable to focus and I could never understand what all those jumbled up words ever meant. It was quite a struggle for me in class when the teachers used to assign us reading homework. I felt like reading a book was more difficult or painful than trying to move a mountain. Just like how moving a mountain is impossible, trying to find an interest in reading was
In “Why Literature Matters” the author, Dana Gioia, argues that literature is very important in today’s society. He talks about the decline of reading over the years and the effects it has on different companies and communities. Gioia uses many persuasive techniques, such as evidence, jingoism, and diction, to try and persuade the reader that literature is important.
Literature is such a beautiful thing because it does not give us an answer to it's questions. There are so many iffy spots that leave us to develop our own thoughts and feelings toward the piece of work. This is an interesting factor because at many times it affects us in a different way and can develop us as an individual. When reading a piece of literature, one person can interpret it in different ways than another person reading the same piece of work. I remember analyzing poems with my English class in the previous years and when we were asked to interpret it, we all had different answers. Sometimes what I got out of the poem didnt even go close to the direction that my classmate was going in. However, when I saw it from her view I saw more of where they were coming from I learned more about them.
Knowladge is the key to a happy and succsesfull life. Dana Gioia create a feeling in this exerpt by say if people don’t read they wont be succsesfull. She uses good diction to get across her point. Also corrolates how decrease in literary reading afects political and historical awarness, and how it effects the work place. Therefore Dana utalizes her logic behind effects of the decrease and uses good word chioce to prove her point.
Throughout this course, I have discovered that literature is more than just words being brought together by an author to form an emotionally charged story. Literature provides an engaging outlet into an imaginary realm to its audience. As the reader is captivated by the story, poem or play, a, emotional connection is established.
The power of reading may be evident to many people around the world, but to others it may not be realized until that one magnificent work that changes the meaning of literature forever to them. Literature has never been my strong suit, but throughout this course and after many readings, literature began to speak to me. My perception of literature immediately changed after reading the short story The Lottery by Shirley and the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.
“Why Literature Matters” written by Dana Gioia includes reasoning and evidence to persuade the audience to read more. Young Americans’ interest in literature has declined, and Gioia’s purpose is to portray the importance and effectiveness of literature; however, Gioia’s poor use of logic to link the decline in literature with negative results in society makes his article ineffective.
...ruly realize the false reality that literature made. The reader also has a huge role into expressing these false realities to the public, which can cause prejudice in the near future. People need to be open and understanding of different people and situations. Perspective plays a huge role into the thinking of a human mind, and readers should be more aware of the information’s brought upon different ways. Readers should not come up with a preconceived idea based upon the beliefs of other people perspective but should experience these different societies.
Literature has many purposes, and opens doors to unique worlds. Through Literature, we discover ourselves and world time and again.
Literature is an essential part of society in the present day and enables the communication between multiple parties in a written form. Texts can provide a vast knowledge on subjects dependent on content whereas novels are often seen as being purely for leisure and enjoyment. However it can often be seen that prose
The main form of literature, the book, has had a great impact upon the formation of our society today. Before the 1940’s TV had not come into being yet and there was not much else to do other than read books. Thus books formed my grandparents and to some extent my parents and, although I grew up in the generation of TV, books as literature have indirectly formed me as well.
When asked the question, “what is world literature,” the typical response you get from people (mostly students) is, world literature is this boring college course in which students are forced to take, as it is a requirement for everyone’s education and is about what some dead guys wrote centuries ago. However, I personally do not have that same response because world literature is much more than that. In actuality, yes, world literature is composed of tremendous works of literature throughout the world that will forever be pasted down and learned from, although, it is much more important and serves as a bigger purpose. This purpose is to enlighten today’s society on how the world once was, making world literature important for three main reasons.
“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become,” said C.S. Lewis, noted author. This quote, to me, is the most appropriate description of the importance of literature in our lives. Literature reminds us of stories, epics, sacred scriptures and classical works of the ancient and modern times, in which the book To Kill a Mockingbird clearly does. Literature is defined as the body of written works of a language, period or culture, produced by scholars and researchers, specialized in a given field. Why is literature important? Well, let’s see as stated in the quotation by C.S. Lewis, literature not only describes reality but also adds to it. Yes, literature is not merely a depiction of reality; it is rather a value-addition. Literary works are portrayals of the thinking patterns and social norms prevalent in society. They are an illustration of the different facets of common man's life. Literary works serve as a food for thought and a tonic for imagination and creativity. Exposing an individual to good literary works, is equivalent to providing him/her with the finest of educational opportunities. On the other hand, the lack of exposure to literary works is equal to depriving an individual from an opportunity to grow as an individual. To Kill a Mockingbird provides its readers with the ‘finest of educational opportunities’ and that is why it is an important literary work. Harper Lee’s book is a powerful literary work because of the following literary devices employed: Setting, Allegory, and point of view. However before one can dissect the devices used, one must h...