Literature and It's Relevance in Modern Times
William Heiges
ENGL 203-525
Ms. Nair
Feb 8, 2013
Literature and its Relevance in Modern Times Before the importance of literature is discussed we must ask ourselves: “What is literature?” Many individuals that are asked that question will often give a complex answer for it seems to be a complex word. Some of the answers may include “it involves reading” or “it’s when you write”. These are both true, but when you actually think about it, literature is so much more than that, especially with how often we use it in our day-to-day lives; we speak it, we observe it, we use it in science, etc. Ever since the beginning of time, literature has always been present among men. It has been useful to depict their feelings, thoughts, desires, tragedies, and history. Before the technological advancements and benefits that we use today for entertainment or learning existed, learning was in one way or another completely tied in with literature. As time progressed, mankind eventually found other ways to display their feelings, ideals or thoughts without the use of literature, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not important. The best overall way to describe literature today is that it is lost in transition with the rise of technology and other forms of popular entertainment. Literature is just as important as it always has been; it’s just not as popular and as it once was. It should still be a top priority for society, considering the first things we learn in school are how to read and write.
In old times, when a child started attending school, the first things they learned were how to read and count. Nowadays, that hasn’t seemed to change; methods might be different, but literature makes its presence known to us even when we are young and is a great asset to developing other skills needed to be successful later in life. In a recent study undertaken by Literary Research and Instruction, the observed second-grade teacher Mae Graham used “class readings to foster engagement and
ENGL 203-525
Ms. Nair
Feb 8, 2013
Literature and its Relevance in Modern Times Before the importance of literature is discussed we must ask ourselves: “What is literature?” Many individuals that are asked that question will often give a complex answer for it seems to be a complex word. Some of the answers may include “it involves reading” or “it’s when you write”. These are both true, but when you actually think about it, literature is so much more than that, especially with how often we use it in our day-to-day lives; we speak it, we observe it, we use it in science, etc. Ever since the beginning of time, literature has always been present among men. It has been useful to depict their feelings, thoughts, desires, tragedies, and history. Before the technological advancements and benefits that we use today for entertainment or learning existed, learning was in one way or another completely tied in with literature. As time progressed, mankind eventually found other ways to display their feelings, ideals or thoughts without the use of literature, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not important. The best overall way to describe literature today is that it is lost in transition with the rise of technology and other forms of popular entertainment. Literature is just as important as it always has been; it’s just not as popular and as it once was. It should still be a top priority for society, considering the first things we learn in school are how to read and write.
In old times, when a child started attending school, the first things they learned were how to read and count. Nowadays, that hasn’t seemed to change; methods might be different, but literature makes its presence known to us even when we are young and is a great asset to developing other skills needed to be successful later in life. In a recent study undertaken by Literary Research and Instruction, the observed second-grade teacher Mae Graham used “class readings to foster engagement and