-
Essay / How can literature contribute to the understanding of...
Literature is creative writing of recognized artistic value. Literature represents the best of human expression. We read and celebrate literature for many reasons. Some of these reasons are: to be inspired, to be delighted, to embark on incredible adventures and others. Literature serves many purposes and opens doors to unique worlds. Through literature, we discover ourselves and the world time and time again. The study of literature can enrich our lives in all kinds of ways. This study is part of our cultural heritage. Literature is a very effective way of understanding a culture of a particular era, a particular class and a social group. Literature can be entertaining, funny, beautiful and tragic. It takes us beyond our limited experience of Live to show us the lives of others at other times. The study of literature stimulates us intellectually and emotionally. The study of literature allows us to understand our history, our society and sometimes ourselves. With literature we see countries and people as they were. We experiment with different climates, languages and tones. Literature also gives us a glimpse of much older times. These insights sometimes take our imagination back to the roots of our culture. The study of literature, through our history, improves our understanding of our modern world. Places described in literature interest us more because we want to visit these places to compare and contrast them. Images come to our mind with the landscape, climate and culture. We can analyze cause and effect and evaluate social change and social values through literature. We read about characters facing life experiences that are somehow similar to our own, and we sometimes find ourselves caught up in a character's struggles. Each reader discovers a new and unique event and the words speak to us now, revealing truths about human life that are relevant for all time. Literature enriches us by putting feelings into words. Authors of literature communicate things to us personally, from one individual to another. It can help validate our personal experience the first time, it helps to have books written by people who have already been there. Literature allows for reflection. It helps us shape our own thoughts. It draws on rich histories of thought and expression. Literature represents and explores how the world is perceived and experienced by members of that society..