Here Are Six Reasons Why Read Literature

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It is helpful to think about the role of literature in the context of cultural problems—for literature has always

persisted in the midst of and in response to a fallen, often chaotic world. Assuredly, Wordsworth’s lament
applies to all ages, a prescient vision of the past, present, and future:

The world is too much with us; late and soon,


Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

Truly, we have given our hearts away, disconnecting ourselves from God, nature, and others—but literature
has the capability of providing a restorative cure. So then, what kind of literature holds such power? The
answer is the Great Book. Samuel Johnson said in his “Preface to Shakespeare” that “the only test of literary
greatness is length of duration and continuance of esteem.” Moreover, a book may be considered great if it
meets three criteria. The first is universality. A great book speaks to people across many ages—affecting,
inspiring, and changing readers far removed from the time and place in which it was written. Second, it has a
Central One Idea and themes that address matters of enduring importance. And third, it features noble
language. A great book is written in beautiful language that enriches the mind and elevates the soul.
Now that we have established what kind of literature to read, let’s consider why we should read literature.

Here are six reasons why read literature:

1. Reading great literature exercises the imagination. We enjoy stories; it is a pleasure to meet characters
and to live in their world, to experience their joys and sorrows. In a practical sense, an active imagination
helps us perceive truth, make value judgments, and deal with the complexities of life in creative ways. It
even aids in our ability to use logic and to reason well.
2. Reading literature transports us out of our current context and into other ages and places. Interacting with
characters across space and time diminishes our ignorance. Mark Twain once remarked, “Travel is fatal to
prejudice, narrowmindedness, and bigotry. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot
be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” Because most of us cannot
pilot a steamboat along the Mississippi River, or travel to many parts of the world as Twain was able to do,
literature serves as a worthy guide and vessel for our exploration.
3. Reading literature enables us to see the world through the eyes of others. It trains the mind to be flexible,
to comprehend other points of view—to set aside one’s personal perspectives to see life through the eyes
of someone who is of another age, class, or race. Reading literature nurtures and develops the power of
sympathetic insight.
4. Great works of literature have played a fundamental role in shaping society. For example, The Epic of
Gilgamesh initiated the archetypal narrative of the hero embarking on an epic quest, which became a
popular and influential blueprint for literature the world over. Some other landmark texts include
Homer’s Odyssey, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Cervantes’ Don Quixote, which is
credited as the first novel in the Western world, creating a genre that has since become the dominant form
of literature in the modern era. A little later, Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther was deeply influential
(though not necessarily in positive ways); Wordsworth and Coleridge’s Lyrical Ballads initiated
the Romantic era in English literature, and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin helped push a
divided nation into civil war over slavery. In the early twentieth century, Upton Sinclair’s novel The
Jungle exposed the horrors of America’s meatpacking industry and caused many reforms in the mass
production of food. Books have the power to shape culture and history.
5. Reading literature fosters contemplation and reflection, and improves our facility with language and
vocabulary. Interacting with these texts requires deliberate, conscious thinking in order to understand and
retain longer units of thought. The average number of words per sentence in the sixteenth century was 65-
70 words, but, not surprisingly, that number has steadily declined through the modern era to about 15
words today. Likewise, the average number of letters per word has declined, revealing a decrease in the
use of longer, higher-level words. The continual exposure to elaborate, elevated syntax and diction
develops not only our thinking abilities, but our speaking and writing skills too. We begin to conceive of
sentences in the manner of the great writers, imitating their techniques in style and vocabulary. In his
poem Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot prophesied that we would be “distracted from distraction by distraction.”
Alas, we are unable to retain and reflect upon an idea for any meaningful length of time. Reading great
literature is an active push against this tendency.
6. Finally, reading literature helps us to know ourselves—in short, to understand man. For the subject of
literature is man. In its pages, we learn about our creative and moral faculties, our conscience, and most
importantly, our soul. We see man at the height of his glory and the depth of his folly—with every
heartrending thought, action, emotion, and belief in between. In other words, literature holds a mirror up to
human nature, revealing its inner depths and complexities, its array of virtues and vices; and moreover, it
holds a mirror up to a cultural age, illuminating its shape and ethos.

Long ago, inscribed on the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi was the maxim, “Know thyself.” Reading
literature remains the surest means to do just that—to live the life Socrates declared the only one worth living:
the examined life. After all, literature may simply be the creative expression of metaphysics and being: In some
mysterious way, each life is every life, and all lives are one life—there is something of ourselves in each and
every character we meet in the hallowed pages of a Great Book.

The 14 Main Literary Genres

1. Literary Fiction.

Literary fiction novels are considered works with artistic value and literary merit. They often include
political criticism, social commentary, and reflections on humanity. Literary fiction novels are typically
character-driven, as opposed to being plot-driven, and follow a character’s inner story. Learn more
about writing fiction in James Patterson’s MasterClass.

2. Mystery.

Mystery novels, also called detective fiction, follow a detective solving a case from start to finish. They
drop clues and slowly reveal information, turning the reader into a detective trying to solve the case, too.
Mystery novels start with an exciting hook, keep readers interested with suspenseful pacing, and end with a
satisfying conclusion that answers all of the reader’s outstanding questions.

3. Thriller.

Thriller novels are dark, mysterious, and suspenseful plot-driven stories. They very seldom include
comedic elements, but what they lack in humor, they make up for in suspense. Thrillers keep readers on
their toes and use plot twists, red herrings, and cliffhangers to keep them guessing until the end. Learn how
to write your own thriller in Dan Brown’s MasterClass.

4. Horror.

Horror novels are meant to scare, startle, shock, and even repulse readers. Generally focusing on
themes of death, demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife, they prey on fears with scary beings like ghosts,
vampires, werewolves, witches, and monsters. In horror fiction, plot and characters are tools used to elicit a
terrifying sense of dread. R.L. Stine’s MasterClass teaches tips and tricks for horror writing.

5. Historical.

Historical fiction novels take place in the past. Written with a careful balance of research and creativity,
they transport readers to another time and place—which can be real, imagined, or a combination of both.
Many historical novels tell stories that involve actual historical figures or historical events within historical
settings.

6. Romance.
Romantic fiction centers around love stories between two people. They’re lighthearted, optimistic, and
have an emotionally satisfying ending. Romance novels do contain conflict, but it doesn’t overshadow the
romantic relationship, which always prevails in the end.

7. Western.

Western novels tell the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier and
taming the American Old West. They’re shaped specifically by their genre-specific elements and rely on
them in ways that novels in other fiction genres don’t. Westerns aren’t as popular as they once were; the
golden age of the genre coincided with the popularity of western films in the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.

8. Bildungsroman.

Bildungsroman is a literary genre of stories about a character growing psychologically and morally from
their youth into adulthood. Generally, they experience a profound emotional loss, set out on a journey,
encounter conflict, and grow into a mature person by the end of the story. Literally translated, a
bildungsroman is “a novel of education” or “a novel of formation.” Judy Blume’s MasterClass teaches more
about

9. Speculative Fiction.

Speculative fiction is a supergenre that encompasses a number of different types of fiction, from
science fiction to fantasy to dystopian. The stories take place in a world different from our own. Speculative
fiction knows no boundaries; there are no limits to what exists beyond the real world. Learn more
about speculative fiction in Margaret Atwood’s MasterClass.

10. Science Fiction.

Sci-fi novels are speculative stories with imagined elements that don’t exist in the real world. Some are
inspired by “hard” natural sciences like physics, chemistry, and astronomy; others are inspired by “soft”
social sciences like psychology, anthropology, and sociology. Common elements of sci-fi novels include
time travel, space exploration, and futuristic societies.

11. Fantasy.

Fantasy novels are speculative fiction stories with imaginary characters set in imaginary universes.
They’re inspired by mythology and folklore and often include elements of magic. The genre attracts both
children and adults; well-known titles include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and
the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Learn more about character and worldbuilding in Neil Gaiman’s
MasterClass.

12. Dystopian.

Dystopian novels are a genre of science fiction. They’re set in societies viewed as worse than the one
in which we live. Dystopian fiction exists in contrast to utopian fiction, which is set in societies viewed as
better than the one in which we live. Maragaret Atwood’s MasterClass teaches elements of dystopian
fiction.

13. Magical Realism.

Magical realism novels depict the world truthfully, plus add magical elements. The fantastical elements
aren’t viewed as odd or unique; they’re considered normal in the world in which the story takes place. The
genre was born out of the realist art movement and is closely associated with Latin American authors.

14. Realist Literature.


Realist fiction novels are set in a time and place that could actually happen in the real world. They
depict real people, places, and stories in order to be as truthful as possible. Realist works of fiction remain
true to everyday life and abide by the laws of nature as we currently understand them.

Definition of Genre

Genre means a type of art, literature, or music characterized by a specific form, content, and style. For
example, literature has four main genres: poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction. All of these genres have
particular features and functions that distinguish them from one another. Hence, it is necessary on the part of
readers to know which category of genre they are reading in order to understand the message it conveys, as
they may have certain expectations prior to the reading concerned.

Types of Genre

There are five types of genres in literature, which include:

1. Poetry
 Poetry is the first major literary genre. All types of poetry share specific characteristics. In fact, poetry is
a form of text that follows a meter and rhythm, with each line and syllable. It is further subdivided into
different genres, such an epic poem, narrative, romantic, dramatic, and lyric. Dramatic poetry
includes melodrama, tragedy, and comedy, while other poems includes ode, sonnet, elegy, ballad,
song, and epic.
 Popular examples of epic poems include Paradise Lost, by John Milton, The Iliad and The Odyssey, by
Homer. Examples of romantic poems include Red Red Rose, by Robert Burns. All these poetic forms
share specific features, such as they do not follow paragraphs or sentences; they use stanzas and lines
instead. Some forms follow very strict rules of length, and number of stanzas and lines, such
as villanelle, sonnet, and haiku. Others may be free-form, like Feelings, Now, by Katherine Foreman,
which is devoid of any regular meter and rhyme scheme. Besides that, often poetry uses figurative
language, such as metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, hyperbole, and alliteration to create heightened
effect.

2. Drama

 Drama is a form of text that is performed in front of an audience. It is also called a play. Its written text
contains dialogues, and stage directions. This genre has further categories such as comedy, tragedy,
and tragicomedy. William Shakespeare is known as the father of English drama. His well-known plays
include Taming of the Shrew, Romeo & Juliet, and Hamlet. Greek playwrights were the pioneers in this
field, such as Sophocles’ masterpiece Oedipus Rex, and Antigone, while modern dramas
include Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller.

3. Rose

 This type of written text is different from poetry in that it has complete sentences organized into
paragraphs. Unlike poetry, prose focuses on characters and plot, rather than focusing on sounds. It
includes short stories and novels, while fiction and non-fiction are its sub genres. Prose is further
categorized into essays, speeches, sermons, and interpretations.

4. Fiction

 Fiction has three categories that are, realistic, non-realistic, and semi-fiction. Usually, fiction work is not
real and therefore, authors can use complex figurative language to touch readers’ imaginations. Unlike
poetry, it is more structured, follows proper grammatical pattern, and correct mechanics. A fictional
work may incorporate fantastical and imaginary ideas from everyday life. It comprises some important
elements such as plot, exposition, foreshadowing, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Popular examples of literary fiction include, James Joyce’s novel A Portrait of an Artist as a Young
Man, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and harper lee’s To
Kill a Mockingbird.

5. Non-Fiction

 Non-fiction is a vast category that also has sub-genres; it could be creative like a personal essay, or
factual, like a scientific paper. It may also use figurative language, however, not unlike poetry, or fiction
has. Sometimes, non-fiction may tell a story, like an autobiography, or sometimes it may convey
information to readers.

 Other examples of non-fiction include biographies, diaries, memoirs, journals, fantasies, mysteries, and
romances. A popular example of non-fiction genre is Michael Pollan’s highly celebrated book, The
Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, which is an account of the eating habits of
Americans.

Function of Genre

Different genres have different roles. For example, fiction and dramatic genres help students and
writers learn and improve their communication skills. A poetic genre, on the other hand, enhances imaginative
and emotional power of the readers. Non-fictional texts and essays help readers develop analytical and
persuasive capabilities. However, the major function of genre is to establish a code of behavior between the
writers and audience, and keep the readers informed about the topics discussed or the themes presented.

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