Many years back when I was a student I asked my teacher why do we need to study Literature at all? I was told my by learned teacher that there are many reasons but I would be given only two- one because it is the part of the course prescribed by the board so we just can't escape from it and secondly and more importantly it would help us to understand the nuances of English Language. I wasn't fully convinced so I put a rejoinder to my previous question as why does the board prescribe such a course where a 15 year old child is expected to study a full drama or Shakespeare , 20 poems and 15 short stories ( some of which were by no means short). I was rebuffed by my teacher saying that instead of putting irrelevant questions it would be much better if I start paying more attention to my studies.I kept on pondering over the question why is it necessary to study literature, I started asking many learned people and I got a variety of replies. Some said that it is necessary to understand a language- "Language without Literature”, they proclaimed , "is incomplete". I had no doubts in my mind regarding the study of language. I knew it for sure that English is the global language and the emerging link language in India. So English would be the passport to success. My problem was with literature. I was convinced that to study a language I do not need to study literature, I reasoned that for day to day communicational needs, I would certainly not use the kind of language that Shakespeare used in his plays. I was reasonably certain that if I start using the language of poetry most of the people would not understand.I had no option but to study the texts that the greats wrote ages ago,but in the process I got hooked on to the texts. It was as if I fell in love with the texts. It was like a miracle.Now I am a teacher and my teaching assignments are mostly to teach English Literature to 15-18 year olds. The course comes with the staple of a play of Shakespeare, some 15 poems and 15 stories. Over the years I have fallen in love with literature and though my initial college education was in Commerce, I had no problem in becoming a teacher of English Literature because I must confess that Literature is my first love.In my initial teaching years whenever I was confronted with the same question that I put my teacher, I tried to avoid it as I knew that if I am totally not convinced with the answer how would I be able to convince my students giving the same answer. At the same time I was not willing to let them go without getting a convincing answer.I had to fall back on my own instincts to give an answer. I jotted down the benefits that literature did to me and wow I had a convincing answer.One fine morning in my third year as a teacher I started teaching a new batch of students and my very first class was on why study literature. I wanted to give my students the answer before the question is asked. I have followed the same routine every year for over 15 years now and each time it gives me immense pleasure to see the students stare with wonder when I start the class by asking them the same question that I asked my teacher years ago and see them smile with conviction by the time the class comes to an end.I believe and I insist my students to believe that Literature is nothing but the reflection of life. It allows us to understand life. I tell my students that the study of science would make them a good scientist, the study of mathematics would make them a good mathematician, the study of history would make them a good historian, the study of medicine would make them a good doctor but whatever they are in their lives they are human beings first and literature aims to make a good human being.Next, I tell them that the study of literature enriches their understanding ofhuman beings. When they relate people with the characters that they had studied, they are able to understand people and when they judge any action of a person and relate it to the action of a character that they had studied they get a chance to understand the motives for such action. I tell them that if they want to be successful in their lives, they should not be judgemental just on the basis of an action but have the insight to look at the motives of such action. It is here that the study of literature comes handy.I tell my students that literature teaches a person to be more accommodating. It helps us to understand and appreciate the other point of view. There are many things that can be interpreted in ways more than one. Each interpretation can stand the test of time. Literature prepares us for a world where we need to accept that others may hold a view different from that of ours .An important thing that I tell my students is that Literature holds views that are universal and at the same time deeply personal. The truths are universal but the communication of those views is at a very personal level. The poet or the author addresses his audience but at the same time the poet or author is communicating with each and every individual reader. This in itself gives a sense of satisfaction when we realise that Shakespeare or Keats is talking to us directly.Now I realise that a man is incomplete without the study of literature. Literature is the best and by far the most disciplined way to inspire and provoke. I have seen the profound effect of poems on some of my students. An inspiring poem and the students are changed for the rest of their life. I myself have changed one of my habits after reading a poem by W.H Auden “The Unknown Citizen” in which Auden laments over the fact that in the modern world man is identified by a number and that people are losing the human touch. Since then I have made it a point that whenever I take the roll call I call out the name of the student and not identify the student by his / her roll number.
Hello K.VISWANATH,
You are right when you told your students that the study of literature gives the opportunity for humans to understand life more and people's personalities and thier thinking,
Literature gives people the opportunity to taste the meaning of life in all its aspects,and gives them the opportunity to expand their thinking ,
When i was at the university i studied linguistics,structure translation courses but i was afraid from studying litreature i thought that it was difficult but when i did i learnt everything about beauty of life ...and everytime i studied a new novel or a poem liked to share it with my daughter ....to make her taste of the beauty.
Thank you for this nice subject
Hello! Thank you very much for your excellent experience. May be you are agree with me, the literature is getting less and less popular nowdays, with the icreasing popularity of TV, videos, and computers. Best Wishes.
Comments
i agree that literature is very important part not only teaching and studing but of caurse our life
You are right when you told your students that the study of literature gives the opportunity for humans to understand life more and people's personalities and thier thinking,
Literature gives people the opportunity to taste the meaning of life in all its aspects,and gives them the opportunity to expand their thinking ,
When i was at the university i studied linguistics,structure translation courses but i was afraid from studying litreature i thought that it was difficult but when i did i learnt everything about beauty of life ...and everytime i studied a new novel or a poem liked to share it with my daughter ....to make her taste of the beauty.
Thank you for this nice subject