Importance of Studying Literature

Running head :IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
Wordsworth had once said, “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it
takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility” (Wordsworth) Poetry and stories are a
reflection of the writer’s true emotions and experiences. It is often heard that if a person reads
too much story books and novels they might become unrealistic and delusional. However, many
critics and eminent poets and novelists have said that literature is the most realistic piece of art as
it is about life’s harsh truths and experiences. Literature opens the eyes of the readers to new
worlds and perceptions. The readers experience a plethora of emotions while reading the stories
of creative geniuses. It is only in words that the writer bears his or her heart out. Literature and
life is synonymous. In a world that is devoid of emotions and where people are afraid to emote,
literature has a greater role to play. Today empathy, kindness and humility is more important than
ever. When a reader reads a novel, it gives him the outlook to look at people and situations with
more clarity. Stories have a way of making children and adults imagine extraordinary things.
Some short stories and poems are so full of imagery that one can literally visualize the characters
coming to life. Literature helps us to become non-judgmental and develop a viewpoint of our
own without being prejudiced. Anybody who has loved literature would agree that it completely
alters our notion about life and things. People think that literature is about romance, drama and
fairytales whereas; it is much more than that.
In this section of the essay an account of few chosen literary masterpieces shall be
discussed in order to substantiate the importance of studying literature among the students of this
generation. The chosen literary masterpieces shall be discussed in light of their importance in
life, motivated by the purpose to evoke interest among the people to read them.

2IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
Sometimes it is necessary for us to learn the art of appreciating the beauties of life
which is not possible without getting an insight about how life is full of adversities for someone
else. After all it is human nature to be able to distinguish between the good by means of
experiencing or having an idea about what the bad is. In order to such an insight about life and
appreciate the priceless gifts of it, one must read ‘The Lesson’ by Toni Cade Bambara. The
revolves around the struggle of a pessimistic African American girl and the motivational lessons
about the hardships of life in America as negroes delivered by Miss Moore. Their travails show
that nothing is impossible in life if one is determined. Just that one has to look for the source of
inspiration, and reading ‘The Lesson’ shall surely serve the purpose (Bambara).
Struggles are a part and parcel of life and the beauty of struggles are that they help
an individual to shine brightly in the world and serve as a source of inspiration for others. That is
one of the noblest purpose of life which every individual should try to serve. The functional
aspect of the attempts to enrich others have the potential to enrich one’s own life. To understand
this value one must read Sandra Cisneros’ ‘Only Daughter’. The story revolves around the life of
a girl child in a family which is thoroughly male dominated. Despite all the barriers, she
outshines and serves as a source of inspiration for other girls who are oppressed by patriarchal
domination(Cisneros). Her ‘House on Mango Street’ revolves around a similar theme, dealing
with self-discovery even at the face of severe crisis through the life of a girl residing at the
predominantly Mexican neighbourhood of Mango Street (Cisneros). Similarly, Amy Tan also
tries to show through ‘Two Kinds’ that despite all the adversities of life, dreaming and aspiring
should not cease to exist. It is an inspirational story which shall instill the spirit of moving on in
life by the narration of the relationship between a mother and a child and the realization of their
cherished American Dream (Tan).