Understanding the Importance of Studying Literature Today's World

This essay delves into the profound importance of studying literature, arguing that it is far more than just reading stories; it's a vital tool for understanding life's complexities and fostering empathy. By examining literary masterpieces such as Toni Cade Bambara's 'The Lesson,' Sandra Cisneros's 'Only Daughter' and 'The House on Mango Street,' Amy Tan's 'Two Kinds,' Robert Frost's 'Mending Wall,' and Ernest Hemingway's 'A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,' the essay demonstrates how literature provides invaluable insights into human relationships, struggles, and the search for meaning. It emphasizes that literature cultivates emotional intelligence, expands vocabulary, encourages imaginative thinking, and offers a deeper understanding of different cultures and historical periods. The essay concludes by advocating for the encouragement of literature study from a young age, asserting its role in shaping compassionate, thoughtful, and well-rounded individuals who appreciate the richness and depth of human experience. Desklib provides access to this essay and many other resources to aid students in their literary studies.

Running head :IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
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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).

3IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
Human relationships are priceless, and they provide a sense of purpose to life by
means of maintaining the warmth and attachment to life. Life which is lived for others is not a
wastage of energy, rather it is the driving force which keeps life going on. Reading ‘Mending the
wall’ by Robert Frost makes one realize of the importance of the personal and the human touch
in life. The two persons who gather to mend the wall cherishes the company of each other by that
(Frost). Life without the human touch is but meaningless as explained by Ernst Hemmingway in
‘A clean well-lighted place’ by recounting of the suicide attempt of the waiter (Hemingway).
Thus, one can see that the chosen literary pieces provide a deep insight about life and the
purpose of human existence which is the elixir of life. Human beings survive not solely on the
physical requisites of life, but the most important essence of life is the food for the soul. Literary
masterpieces are but an expression of the greater meaning of life which transcends the
parochialities and pettiness of life, thereby rendering life as not just concerned with survival of
the physical body, but also a matter of keeping the soul alive.
Reading literature also helps students attain a good diction and vocabulary. The more one
reads the more one discovers new words. Hence, literature helps one to learn and use more and
more words. In an era where machine and gadgets have become so significant for survival, the
importance of reading has completely washed out. People do not read anymore. The exposure to
reading helps in developing our own insight (Bennett, Andrew & Nicholas). Books are also a
great way of unwinding and relaxing while going on a imaginative adventure. Today students
read less talk more. This generation is more obsessed with gadgets that ever. In the process, they
have lost their imaginative faculties and creative approach. Literature also reveals a lot about the
specific era, its history, its culture, society, political and economic conditions. Thus, it is not

4IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
about fancy stories. As more and more students are getting deviated from studying literature and
reading books, it is only making them a hollow and narrow minded human being. Students and
children are now intrinsically materialistic and less emotional (Boyd). Literature will help them
to stay in touch with their emotional side. It will teach them that we should not take everyone at
face value and not take life for granted. Every genre, theme, plot, character and story has a lot to
say to the readers. For instance, Shakespeare’s Macbeth teaches us not to be an avaricious person
and wish for wealth and status (Spurgeon). In Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope, the reader
gets to witness the scandalous and fake culture of that era (Pope). Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
shows us the real picture of the nineteenth century Russia. It depicts the lives f a young women
through adultery, gambling, love affairs, pain, suffering, passion and feudalism (Evans). Thus, a
book is just not about a few words that has been penned down by the author.
Young children and students should be encouraged to read books from an early age. This
will help them to develop a strong diction and vocabulary. It will also help them explore their
own creative faculties. Often children find it easier to escape in an imaginative worlds of their
own. Books and literature can help them do exactly just that. Instead of wasting away their time
in their phones interacting with strangers, students can indulge in reading stories that will help
them get a new perspective and meaning in life. Humans are often confined to their own
surroundings, situations and people they see every day. Literature helps them get a new outlook
as they gat to read and visualize about different situations and characters. The most interesting
thing is that all these characters and circumstances are very much relatable to the readers. Hence,
the reader can easily feel empathy for a character or feel extreme detest for another character.
Therefore, literature will help the students in many constructive ways. It is about life itself.
Hence, the students can step down and see from a completely new perspective. This will only

5IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
make them a human with compassion, kindness and humility. Literature has so much grief and
pain in it and so many life lesions that it will help the students to become unacquisitive and value
life and relationships more.

6IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING LITERATURE
References :
Bambara, Toni Cade. "The lesson." Gorilla, my love (1972): 85-96.
Bennett, Andrew, and Nicholas Royle. An introduction to literature, criticism and theory.
Routledge, 2016.
Boyd, Danah. It's complicated: The social lives of networked teens. Yale University Press, 2014.
Cisneros, Sandra. "Only daughter." Families in later life: connections and transitions (2001): 89-
91.
Cisneros, Sandra. The house on mango street. Vintage, 2013.
Evans, Mary. Reflecting on Anna Karenina. Routledge, 2014.
Frost, Robert. "Mending wall." North of Boston (1914).
Hemingway, Ernest. A clean well-lighted place. Creative Education, 1990.
Pope, Alexander. An essay on criticism. Charles River Editors via PublishDrive, 2018.
Spurgeon, Caroline FE. "From Shakespeare’s Imagery And What It Tells Us." Macbeth.
Routledge, 2015. 155-164.
Tan, Amy. "Two kinds." The joy luck club (1989): 132-48.
Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads, with Other Poems, 1800. Vol. 1. Litres, 2018.