Why is literature important?

 

To start with, here is an article that I find quite interesting and which can answer some of the budding questions of our students.

 

The Importance of Literature in Modern Society

 

By Sophie Austin

 

It forms an important part of our education, but Sophie Austin wants to know how it fits into our everyday life.

 

Ever since I was small, stories have been a part of my life. Reading books like The Tales of Peter Rabbit and The Very Hungry Caterpillar before bed became a part of my natural order where I could escape into another world.  To say the least, not much has changed and on most nights, I love to read - to find that escape away from reality.

But, literature is more than that. It has transcended time and is still with us, forming critical parts of today’s curriculums. So, what relevance does literature have in modern society?

 

 

Literature in education

 

For the majority of people around the world, our first serious encounter with literature comes from school. Reading and writing has been drilled in all of us from an early age and this is set in motion with the start of examinations.

 

Being able to empathise with a group of characters written on a page is categorical and from a student’s perspective a necessary skill.  Additionally, the ability to sense themes and messages opens us up to another way of thinking. Literature becomes a vessel. The 130 million books which have been published around the world are guides for the reader and generate a bridge for them to learn something new.

 

 

The impact of literature

 

The impact of literature in modern society is undeniable. Literature acts as a form of expression for each individual author. Some books mirror society and allow us to better understand the world we live in.  

 

Authors like F.Scott Fitzgerald are prime examples of this as his novel The Great Gatsby was a reflection of his experiences and opinions of America during the 1920s.

 

We are easily connected to the psyche of authors through their stories. However, literature also reiterates the need to understand modern day issues like human conflict.

 

A Gulf News article says, “In an era of modern media, such as television and movies, people are misled into thinking that every question or problem has its quick corrections or solutions. However, literature confirms the real complexity of human conflict”.

 

Literature is a reflection of humanity and a way for us to understand each other. By listening to the voice of another person we can begin to figure out how that individual thinks. I believe that literature is important because of its purpose and in a society, which is becoming increasing detached from human interaction, novels create a conversation.

 

(Source: Internet- highlighted parts are my own)