Literature Questions - Essay Example

Literature Questions What do you believe to be the most important purpose of literature? Literature isa broad term that can be used to describe a wide variety of textual collections. These can be the texts that comprise the ideals of a nation, such as the Constitution of the United States, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, the Bible, and any other number of volumes that begin to define a common ideal of what it means to be America. They could also include texts that cover a single subject, such as Gawain and the Green Knight, Le Morte d’Arthur and the modern film Camelot which all deal in some close relationship with the Arthurian legend. As is indicated in the last example, not all of these texts need necessarily remain within the realm of written text to be considered a part of the literary collection. While there are a variety of formats, including ballads, epics, novels and films, and a variety of subjects that can be treated in both fictional and non-fictional approaches, there is a common theme that runs through all literature. Regardless of the format, approach or subject, though, all recognized literature has the common element of investigation into the depths of what it means to be human. The most important purpose of literature is this exploration as it reveals to us the ideal of what we as a species can accomplish. What particular literary theme intrigues you the most? why? The literary theme that intrigues me the most is the theme of following your dreams. I think the reason for this is because we are so often taught to do differently. From our youngest childhood, we are confronted with the opposing ideas of following our dreams in the fairy tales and fantasy literature of our youth while our schools, parents and society continue to batter us with ideas of planning for the future, making sensible decisions and following the ‘right’ track. In stories like Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, it is only through the relentless pursuit of dreams regardless of any obstacles that eventually wins the mermaid her prince. This is a concept that is repeated again and again through literature right into the present age with such stories as the recent remake of the Cinderella story Ever After. I think it is interesting that even in the modern films and novels produced within the past few years, the underlying message remains that the happiest and most fulfilled individuals in life, the most successful, are those who have ignored the teachings of society in order to follow their heart yet society only seems to get louder regarding the importance of business-related career paths rather than permitting exploration into liberal arts fields. What is important about understanding the underlying theme of literary work? It is important to understand the underlying theme of a literary work because this is where the literature becomes more universal in nature. While the subject of a novel might be the love affair that springs up between two people of dissimilar backgrounds, the theme is what determines the course of the subsequent action. In addition, while the story might be set in the Victorian age, such as Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, the theme of family abuse makes it applicable to the modern day and the issues faced in the current time period. Obviously, works written in the middle ages would have little to no concept of what life would be like for individuals working together at the top of a corporate high-rise, but the moral and ethical themes of stories like Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus remain as valid for the high-powered corporate executive as they were for the nobles of the 1600s. Only by identifying these themes, though, do these important life lessons become applicable to the modern lifestyle. While the themes often take on the lecturing quality of morality plays, they also often provide examples of how the higher good actually leads to a happier life or how ignoring the common good actually leads to spiritual, if not physical, ruin. How do literary elements help create understanding? Literary elements help create understanding by providing the reader with the necessary clues to accurately follow the storyline and assess the various themes or messages inherent therein. For example, plot provides the reader with a general conception of the series of events taking place, whether they’re intended to be taking place in the present, past or future of the narrator as well as an idea of what to expect. Identification of the climax and the specifics involved also help to identify the primary theme of the novel as this will normally be followed with some kind of resolution of the thematic question – i.e. is it better to follow one’s dreams regardless of social class or is it better to toe the social line and keep one’s dreams limited within acceptable levels. Foreshadowing provides the reader with further clues regarding what to expect coming up next in the plot and help to focus attention on the developing conflict. Flashbacks give the reader greater insight into the motivations and development of a particular character or event and further highlight the issues the author is attempting to address. Point of view can enable the author to question the perceptions as they are presented and investigate how one event might be understood in different ways based on the individual and his or her experience. Why do authors use different literary elements for expression? There are numerous literary elements that authors use to help the reader identify the theme of the text. For example, symbolism makes it possible to place difficult abstract concepts such as the idea of spiritual transcendence into more material and thus understandable terms, such as the life-cycle of the butterfly. The repeated instance of such symbols can begin to trace a theme throughout the story, regardless of how complicated the story becomes and the behaviors associated with the symbol can further enlighten the reader regarding what is being attempted. An example that comes to mind of using symbolism to help convey meaning is in Gertrude Stein’s novel Ida, in which the title character demonstrates through disjointed and stream-of-consciousness narrative the concepts discussed in Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis, particularly as it relates to the free, natural and uncontrolled element of the Id. In fact, within this complex text, it is typically only through an assessment of the provided literary elements of symbolism that any sense can be made of the book as there is no discernable storyline or continuous time element. By using a combination of these elements, authors are able to provide greater clues to the reader as to what to expect and what the key themes are of the novel while still providing an entertaining and complete piece of work. What is important about reading different types of literature? Reading different types of literature can provide a much greater understanding of an era or a genre than can be reached by simply experiencing one favorite types. An example of this can be found in the person who loves to read the fictional Westerns of such writers as Louie L’Amour might feel that they know just about all there is to know about the old west. However, a brief jaunt through the autobiography of Nat Love, a black cowboy who, by his own account, achieved some notoriety in the old west, may help round out some of the more prosaic elements of the cowboy’s life. Historical accounts of life on the prairies can illustrate how this cowboy lifestyle was fraught with true danger and little romance, pointing out errors in representation frequently made by less historically conscious fiction authors. Accounts of the expansion of the railroads and how this affected the more remote areas of the nation may illuminate the death of the cowboy while more recent texts, such as films like 8 Seconds show how many cowboys still live on today on ranches and in the world’s wilder places. In addition, reading some of the fiction coming from Australia provides several hints that the American cowboy and the Australian outbacker are not necessarily as different as distance might suggest. What are the responsibilities that go along with being a critical reader? A critical reader must look deeper than the surface meaning of the words printed in a particular text or the storyline offered by a compelling film. One of the first responsibilities of a critical reader is to know where they stand in relation to a text. The reader should be aware of their own assumptions about a subject before partaking of it so that they are aware of any biases they might be bringing into the communication. They should also assess what they feel they already know regarding the subject, for instance, what they know about the Industrial Revolution before reading Charles’ Dickens Oliver Twist or Jane Austen’s Emma. At the same time, a general understanding of the author’s perspective and background can help to alleviate any particular issues being addressed. Using the above two examples, it is helpful to know Dickens’ background as a mostly middle class citizen of Victorian England who experienced a short period of destitution and Austen’s experience as a relatively socially constrained woman living in the same era. It is also the responsibility of the reader to reflect often upon what has been written, what is carried in the subtext and how that relates to what is known or assumed about the topic. The text should be approached with an open mind and a willingness to consider alternative viewpoints. How do we create meaning from text? It goes without saying that thinking is a prerequisite to reading simply in the process of decoding the letters and words on the page to begin to formulate sentences. However, critical thinking is necessary in order to more fully appreciate the various elements the author has woven into his or her tale as a means of illuminating a particular theme or idea. In order for these ideas to become clear, it is necessary to make connections between the provided text and the world as it has been known or experienced, regardless of whether it confirms or denies what has been known. For example, a future scientist who feels that all science is good science as it works to explore the possibilities of mankind may decide to read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and thus come across an instance of science gone horribly wrong. As a novel that addresses the question of a scientist’s responsibility for what they release on the world, this particular reader must first identify this theme as Dr. Frankenstein turns his back completely on the monster he’s created and then relate the resulting effects to the possibility of other experiments that may get out of hand, such as experiments in how to split the atom for energy suddenly being converted into a weapon of mass destruction on a horrific scale. What kinds of strategies do you use to improve active and responsive reading? There are numerous strategies that can be used to help improve active and responsive reading. For me, it helps to spend some time before opening the book just reflecting on what I know of the subject and the time period in which the book is set as well as the time period in which it was written. Understanding some of the major social events of both time periods helps to illuminate the approach taken by the author. An example of this can be found in the television series MASH in which the story is set in the Korean War, but the series was written during the Vietnam Era. Thus, many of the issues that arose during the latter war became issues dealt with in the Korean War setting of the t.v. show. Once I have an idea of where I stand in relation to the subject and where the author is coming from, I like to take a look through any chapter titles or headings and consider what these might have to say about where the author is heading with this text. Do any major themes emerge from this brief glance? If so, they are probably fairly central to the story told. Finally, I begin reading the book. While I read, I make sure I look up any words I don’t understand and pause occasionally, often chapter breaks provide handy reminders, to reflect upon the story told so far. As I think about what I’ve read, I attempt to look at the various forms of symbolism or other literary techniques that may have been employed to see how they might contribute to the overall meaning of the story and try to make connections to my own personal experiences to see how they might relate to the present world. What works of literature and what authors have influenced your views of the relationship between literature and todays society and why? Many of the Victorian writers have really influenced the way I see the relationship between literature and today’s society. There were many issues in Victorian England that had to be addressed in America as well. Had these issues been ignored in the literature, it is unlikely that change might have occurred by this point in time. In particular, Charles Dickens addressed numerous issues of education for the lower classes in his novels, particularly Hard Times. This exploration revealed the deadening, mechanistic effect the educational systems of the time had on the developing minds of England’s youth and warned of the dangers of removing imagination and creativity from the classroom. While he didn’t propose any significant reforms himself within these novels, the issue, once brought to light, became a major source of discussion in the subsequent years eventually leading to lasting and widespread educational reform not only in England but in America as well. Another influential writer is Virginia Woolf, particularly her novel To the Lighthouse. Together with Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, Woolf helped to demonstrate for me the strictly constrained lifestyles and extremely limited opportunities for women. Like Charles Dickens, these women helped to bring the subject of women’s oppression to the public forum leading to social change and reform that has made it possible for thousands of women in today’s world to fulfill their own dreams and aspirations. How does the study of literature contribute to skills of life long learning? Studying literature is essential to developing the skills necessary for life-long learning. Not only does it naturally instruct the reader how to improve critical thinking skills, but it encourages further investigation into numerous fields. The earlier example of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein brings up several terms from the period of alchemy that require a dictionary to understand; however, this understanding makes it possible for the reader to understand the character of Frankenstein a little better. Psychology plays a role in providing Dr. Frankenstein with his motivation to create life in that he was devastated by the loss of his mother and couldn’t bear the thought of losing the other members of his family. In addition, the novel brings up the question of nature vs. nurture, allowing the monster to be ‘born’ in the tabula rasa, or blank slate, state and illustrating how improper nurture led to a life of crime and destruction regardless of the gentle nature and capacity for caring evident in the creature’s narration. The question of being responsible for one’s creations extends beyond the realm of science shown in the novel to numerous other realms such as writing or art and inspires investigation into what happens when the author loses control of their work. Regardless of how the book is approached, it presents material for further inquiry, inspires further reading and encourages additional discussion. Read More