Why Literature Matters Dana Gioia Analysis

Knowledge is Power

People often forget the importance of literature. They forget the good it can do for a depressed, lonely teenager. They forget not everybody knows how we came about this land, and what we had to do to keep it. Important excerpts such as the Bible or history books would not be known about if they were never written down or learned. Literature matters more than anybody realizes. Literature should be important because it is the mold of the world. Literary works keep people protected, mindful, and has many rewards.

Literature is important because it keeps people protected and out of trouble. In the article, “NEA Report shows that Steep Decline in American Reading Skills will Have Significant Long-Term Negative Effects on Essay”,

Matt Burriesci states,
They are more likely to play sports, and they exercise on a more regular basis. They are also much more likely to vote, and they are more inclined to volunteer for charitable work. The study found that 43% of literary readers volunteered for charitable work on a regular basis as opposed to only 16% of non-readers(2).
People who are interested in reading and literature tend to be more successful for this reason. Instead of focusing on the negative obstacles in life, they fill their lives with knowledgeable activities. These activities help keep their mind always thinking and comprehending what they’re doing. The more practice people put into comprehending things, the faster it will come to them and the more their skills will improve. Literature helps strengthen the mind, and gives people clarification of right from wrong, which in turns helps them become more successful.
Not only can literature help us comprehend better, but literature keeps people mindful as well.

We are constantly thinking about things and trying to understand them. In the article, “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia, he states, "It is probably no surprise that declining rates of literary reading coincide with declining levels of historical and political awareness among young people" (2). It is bad enough people aren't voting as much as they used to, which can help this country tremendously, but the people that do vote usually have no idea what is even going on. It seems most people vote based on what they have heard rather than actually doing research on what would be better for our nation. Researching only takes a short time to get the general idea of something and could change our world dramatically, but nobody ever wants to take the time anymore. Books contain information for us to learn about where we came from and the battles in the past to prevent them from happening again. The past events are the foundation of our civil society and our government. They help us learn what is going on presently and can help predict what will happen in the near

future.
Not to mention literature can be very rewarding to us and our nation as a whole. People are the foundation of our country. Karen Hagtvedt states "... It is through consumption that literature is most likely to influence society and to exert social control by affecting individuals personal beliefs and actions by potentially providing the basis for collective action to stimulate social change"(“Teaching Sociology”). To consume the knowledge available in resources around you will help people tremendously. Literature helps us understand situations that are different from our own and always affects us in some way. People that are more comprehensive tends to get paid more in their jobs and are offered higher positions. In the article “How Meghan Trainor Became 2014’s Most Unlikely Pop Star,” Trainor is asked what her favorite book is. She responds “I wish I read because they help with talking. I want to say something in a cool way, and I can’t think that fast, especially in interviews” (3). It is so heartbreaking to see this celebrity, this idol to many children, not have much education in literature which makes her sound like an idiot. It would be better if Trainor had a little bit of knowledge because kids look up to her and try to be just like her. The gift of knowledge is very rewarding because it gives people more power so they can actually do something in this world for a better cause.
However, not everybody sees the importance in literature.

In the article”Narcissus Regards a Book,” Mark Edmundson states, "What has happened in the past is of correspondingly less interest... Those who represented the claims of the past should never have imagined that the apostles of newness would give them a fair hearing, or a fair rendering, either" (2). I see how some people might think readings of the past may be uninteresting. But I disagree that we shouldn't take heed to these wise warnings of the past. How does history have anything to do with literature? Well, writing these experiences down, the whole history book is a piece of literature. The former people have been through certain experiences and have written them down for a reason. Simply as a warning, to never be repeated or forgotten. The few people that do not care to read these excerpts because they are "uninteresting" will not be very successful at all. It explains how they would go into endless loops in their own lifetime, let alone centuries in the future. Most people have found the past writings have helped our country develop, and showed where we went wrong, as well as how to fix the problems. We are reminded of the hardships our ancestors have overcome, to learn from and prevent our mistakes from repeating. It is obvious that literature is our template of our country and it has great value to our

society.
Knowledge is power and without it, we would be nothing. It seems people wouldn't be as developed and intelligent as they are without literature. Everything we do includes literature, skill, and comprehension skills. The more people recognize how important literature is, the better off we will be as individuals and as a well-developed country. Although reading, sometimes isn't the most interesting, it is imperative to know the grounds and hardships our ancestors have been through. As our childhood friend, Dr. Seuss has taught us, "The more you read the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." There is nothing we can't accomplish with the power of knowledge.