"Literature Is One Of The
Most Interesting And Significant Expressions Of Humanity." -P.
T. Barnum
Today, there are too many
people who believe that literature is simply not important or
underestimate its abilities to stand the test of time and give us
great knowledge. There is a stigma in society that implies one who is
more inclined toward science and math will somehow be more successful
in life, and that one who is more passionate toward literature and
other art forms will be destined to a life of low-paying jobs and
unsatisfying careers. Somewhere along the line, the world has come to
think that literature is insignificant. To me, however, literature
serves as a gateway to learning of the past and expanding my
knowledge and understanding of the world. Here are just a few reasons
why literature is important.
Expanding
horizons
First and foremost, literature
opens our eyes and makes us see more than just what the front door
shows. It helps us realize the wide world outside, surrounding us.
With this, we begin to learn, ask questions, and build our intuitions
and instincts. We expand our minds.
Building
critical thinking skills
Many of us learn what critical
thinking is in our language arts classes. When we read, we learn to
look between the lines. We are taught to find symbols, make
connections, find themes, learn about characters. Reading expands
these skills, and we begin to look at a sentence with a larger sense
of detail and depth and realize the importance of hidden meanings so
that we may come to a conclusion.
A leap into
the past
History and literature are
entwined with each other. History is not just about power struggles,
wars, names, and dates. It is about people who are products of their
time, with their own lives. Today the world is nothing like it was in
the 15th century; people have changed largely. Without literature, we
would not know about our past, our families, the people who came
before and walked on the same ground as us.
Appreciation
for other cultures and beliefs
Reading about history,
anthropology, or religious studies provides a method of learning
about cultures and beliefs other than our own. It allows you to
understand and experience these other systems of living and other
worlds. We get a view of the inside looking out, a personal view and
insight into the minds and reasoning of someone else. We can learn,
understand, and appreciate it.
Better
writing skills
When you open a book, when
your eyes read the words and you take in its contents, do you ask
yourself: How did this person imagine and write this? Well, many of
those authors, poets, or playwrights used literature to expand their
writing.
Addressing
humanity
All literature, whether it be
poems, essays, novels, or short stories, helps us address human
nature and conditions which affect all people. These may be the need
for growth, doubts and fears of success and failure, the need for
friends and family, the goodness of compassion and empathy, trust, or
the realization of imperfection. We learn that imperfection is not
always bad and that normal can be boring. We learn that life must be
lived to the fullest. We need literature in order to connect with our
own humanity.
