My Journey Through Literature

My Interest In Literature
Throughout my many years in school, my interest and views on literature have continuously changed . In the early stages of my life, before I even
entered the education system, reading was an activity that I truly enjoyed during my pastime. My interest in reading began with glamorous picture
books with colorful illustrations as early as the age of four. My reading preference, of course, developed as I evolved into an older human being who
knew how to prevent paper cuts and actually understood the meaning behind words. During grade school, I would entertain myself by reading short
novels, including books from the widely popular Magic Tree House series and several novels written by the universally adored Roald Dahl, including
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. My time in elementary school was the peak of my love for reading. That strong
compassion for literature abruptly came to an end by the time I entered junior–high. I would no longer read books as a primary option to fulfill my
boredom, as watching television and playing video games were immensely more enticing to my teenage mind. From then on, reading has felt more like
English homework than anything.
Not to be mistaken, it isn't that I despise the thought of flipping through pages or that reading bored me, but I became completely sold on the magic of
stories unfold on a screen with phenomenal scenery and special–effects. My lost interest in reading was also possibly because of my lack of
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Essay On Importance Of Literature
The importance of literature on today's society
In a rapidly developing world, the definition of literature goes beyond what the readers see and perceive. It provides a platform for us to open our
minds to ambiguities of meaning, while exploring what the world really has to offer through other cultures and beliefs. Most importantly, literature has
taught me to support my own point of view and trust my instincts and interpretations. The boundaries of literature are endless and holds no limit to
race, religion, culture, and sexuality. With an infinite amount of advantages, I believe literature is an integral component of our everyday lives as it
redefines text beyond the literal meaning, thus allowing us to connect with human emotions and surpassing self–defining barriers.
As an avid reader and enthusiastic writer, I have grown to learn that interpretation goes far beyond literal terms. The article "Why Study Literature",
emphasizes the importance of literature in our education system and everyday life. Michael Meyer's states that "[w]hile people will say what they
mean and mean what they say, [...] language in our world is [...] maddeningly and delightfully ambiguous" ("Why Literature" 1). Literature acts as a
medium of developing critical thinking skills, leading to independent learners and readers. If we limit a reader's interpretation of text, it restricts
creativity and the idea of being open to multiple analyses. An example of when this technique was applied was in my

Defining Literature Essay
The definition of literature has been discussed and argued over time and there is no precise answer to be given. Any reader or author can define
literature as whatever they wish it to be defined as. This is more of an opinion of how one views certain pieces of work or writings and whether or
not they feel that is actually literature or not. Literature is any type of creative writing such as fiction or poetry, for example. Literature is also any
form of body of written works of language, which could be from the English era or even as far back as the Shakespearean or Elizabethan era. It is also
work from a specific period or culture defining key elements or somehow relating to and/or expressing how it is exactly from that time. The...show more
content...
In her poem, "Dylan" in lines 4 and 5, she writes, "Her hair was a halo of warm light / and color dripped off her tongue" (23). The reader can
interpret just from those two lines the creativity and imagination not only in that one poem, but also in all poetry. The description of hair being a halo
of warm light allows the reader to use his or her own imagination to perceive that image in whichever way they would like. Creative writing can be
determined by many other things not only image or structure of how the poem is set into stanzas, but what is left up to the reader for interpretation.
Jewel writes in "Cautious" in lines 23–29, "an open vessel / whose function it was / to be filled / until my consciousness / could return and / spit out
/ the bad seeds" (18). After reading these lines the reader can be left with different feelings and emotions that vary from disgust or simplicity. This
is just another example of how poetry is creative writing. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, literature is defined as being the body of
written works of a language, period, or culture. An author of any specific type of writing or works can include certain details pertaining to language
or other details, which allow the reader to develop a sensory image of that specific period or culture. If the reader had no prior knowledge to the
language, period, or culture of the writing he or she would be reading, upon reading and analyzing

Reflection About Contemporary Literature
There are many concepts and new information that I learned from this course. The aspect that I enjoyed the most about contemporary literature was
the advantage of reading short stories over novels. Short stories are more interesting to me because they tell so much in just a few pages. The genre
of contemporary literature was also captivating because of the realness and depth of the characters. The themes of the stories also covered a great
variety of subjects and themes and I found that most of the stories were quite tragic. Contemporary literature ventured into different themes such as
love, sex, family, and gender roles. It was more open to the struggles or experiences that real–life people might have. The settings of the stories also
...show more content...
She does try to be brave and chase after the robber that took her purse. She was cautious enough to not keep any valuables in her purse, keep the
money in her pocket and hide her passport in her address book. After familiarizing myself with this genre of literature I learned many things. The first
was actually learning what time period contemporary literature encompassed and the difference between modern and contemporary literature. I also
learned how the characters play an important part. Contemporary literature focuses more on the characters than on the plot. The characters have to be
well–defined, realistic, and well–developed. The themes of the stories also change according to the time. I know that now I can identify a
contemporary piece of literature and explain its components. Finally, briefly describe (100 – 200 words) a story you found particularly interesting or
compelling. You can use any of the stories in your text or any of the other forms of media used in class (recall that we listened to The Scarlet Ibis
and watched 12 Angry Men, and read the articles in the New York Times for example). "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver is one of the stories that I
found very engaging. I particularly liked this story because in a few pages it shows how the main character grows and changes. At the beginning, the
narrator was prejudiced against blind people. By the end, the narrator experiences a

My Experience In Literature
I remember some of the first books I read as a child, before being introduced to the massive variety of literature that can be found everywhere. I
remember focusing on the images and drawings that the illustrators made which brought these stories to life. I remember most significantly the author,
Kevin Henkes, and his different interpretations on dealing with solitude as a child. I remember relating to the mice which he created within the stories.
I remember imagining myself within the books, hoping to join in on the endless adventures that the characters went on. I remember discovering my
growing interest in reading. I have never been someone who could get into a book without at first knowing what I am jumping into. The idea of
opening up a book, entering a world, not knowing what to expect, always deterred me. But, fictional reading to me, has always brought to me a
sense of curiosity, for it pushes me to discover almost an entire new life through the eyes of another. All throughout my childhood, my parents
encouraged me to read as much as possible, where there was never a time where we would not have a book checked out at the library near my
house. We would sit within the children's section of the library and just read. Whether reading Roald Dahl or R.L. Stine, I was pulled into a whole
nother world with each book that I read. It pushed me to imagine what I now see as impossible and almost pushed me out of the reality which I was
living in at the time. I began my

What Is Literature Essay
Charmine J. Cramales
BS Math II
Lit 3 10:30 – 12:00
What is Literature?
Poems, novels, and stories; these are some of the things that first came to my mind upon pondering on the question 'What is Literature?'. And just
lately I have known that literature also includes songs, speeches, plays, and many others in written and spoken forms. I have also known that things
that are produced out of creative imagination can be referred as literary works which are the ones that comprise literature. Considering this description
of what literature is, the coverage of literature seems very puzzling. If literary works are those produced out of creative imagining, then it would
directly point to fictional works. But then, there are also...show more content...
Take for example the views of two individuals coming from different places on anovel based on the culture of one. It would likely be the same if their
culture and beliefs are quiet related but if not, then they would surely have different understandings on certain parts of that novel. Hence, defining
literature as those considered by people as 'literature' is questionable.
Eagleton also associated literature as any kind of works which are valued highly by people. But then again, since people may have different
perceptions on things, one may value highly a certain work while another person may consider it just as a plain writing. As stated by Ms. Pinzon, a
literature professor, a personal letter can be an example of this. The recipient of the letter can be expected to really value the letter while her classmate
may not. Hence, this can't define literature as a whole.
Then, what really is literature? Many great critics have tried formulating a fixed definition of literature but have failed to do so. In the rise of every
possible definition of what literature is, counter arguments also rise.
Literature, though it seems impossible to enumerate everything it covers, play an important role in every individual's life. One can influence using
literature or be influenced by it. Examples of these are the novels made by our very own national hero, Jose Rizal – the Noli Me Tangeri and El
Filibusterismo. During his time, Rizal has

Gender Roles in Literature
Gender roles play a significant part in all literature. Throughout history men and women have been represented in a variety of different ways. In some
tales men and women are equals, while in others men are seen as superior to females. Their roles in the stories have to do with the cultural aspect of
the society the story was written during, and when the story is supposed to take place. Examples of the importance of gender roles can be seen in Bram
Stoker's Dracula and Jeremias Gotthelf's The Black Spider. The role of the sexes is a main theme throughout the both plots. These works were
written in two completely different time periods, as such the role of women, meaning what was expected of them, were significantly different. This is
a one of the main differences in the pieces. Though they were written during different times both Dracula and The Black Spider were written with
strong female characters. Also these female characters undergo a significant change. These changes were, predominantly, not for the better. From
these works it could be suggested that if women hold independent and strong roles, they are often seen as evil or brought down by temptation.
Comparing these two works by looking at both texts it is clear how much time changes the perception of women. This paper will focus on the role of
women in both pieces of literature, how they are similar and how they are different. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the roles given to each gender are
extremely important and

Importance Of Symbolism In Literature
As a final literature project, I felt it was most fitting and also most beneficial for myself, to do 360 degree recap of the literature we read
throughput this class; especially since some of the readings felt like they were easier to digest than others. I will first discuss my three favorite
readings: 1."The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allen Poe 2."A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson" by
Mary Rowlandson 3."Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" by Harriet Jacobs There are several reasons why I enjoyed the reading "The Masque of
the Red Death" by Edgar Poe the most: The story's concealed symbolism and the many ways these symbols can be read and explained, are rather
intriguing. Red Death is everywhere and furthermore this disease takes its victims lives fast and in a horrible way. The lead individual in this
story is Prince. His persona was interesting and sheer amusing to me; as the Red Death was claiming victims rapidly, Prince copes by having a
masquerade ball. Not only that, but he also decides to decorate the rooms in diverse colors, each setting a tone as part of the story, or better yet,
creating a specific ambience. I enjoyed looking into the symbolism of colors and understanding our psyche in terms of color symbolism; purple, blue,
green, orange, white, violet, and lastly black. Black is darkness and darkness is the absence of light; this to me means death. It was in the Black room
that each guest dies one by one (Poe,

Violence And Violence In Literature
Authors use violence to portray many different things while they write books. Violence adds shock to readers which makes them want to
continue reading the book that they are reading. This shock makes the authors have more options to write about and gives them a lot of flexibility,
which will help make their writing even better than it already is. To go along with shock, violence can also add emotion to the readers which
makes them understand characters even more. Readers may feel sympathy for a character if a someone close to them dies in a violent way. Many
authors rely on violence for their success as a writer. In the book How to Read Literature Like a Professor , the author, Thomas Foster reflects on
how without the use of violence many writers would be nowhere today. "Violence is everywhere in literature. We'd lose most of Shakespeare
without it ...Twain... Fitzgerald...Hemingway...and on and on" (Foster 103). Without the presence of violence, several authors would have no career
in being an author. Authors also use violence to make novels be more realistic. Everyone goes through violence in their life and they have some sort
of downfall. Since authors use it in their books, it makes the readers feel like the book is more sensible while they read. Violence is used by an
author in literature because it adds the element of shock which make readers want to keep on reading, and it adds emotion to the readers so they can
feel for the characters. The first component of why

Empathy Through Literature
Younger generations aren't feeling as empathetic as older generations and this will lead to a dangerous society. Empathy is the ability to understand
and share feelings. Teaching empathy at a young age will allow one another to accept and communicate with each other. It is also a necessity skill in
life that helps each other to recognize one's emotions. According to the article, This is How Literary Fiction Teaches us to Be Human by Tom Blunt, he
emphasizes empathy can be taught through literary fiction and it is vital that young children feel empathy toward each other. Literature teaches
kids to feel empathetic for each other. A story allows the reader to put themselves in the character's shoes and gives us a different perspective on the
character's life. It also shows the reader not to judge someone by their cover because you never know what outside factors are affecting them. For
example, Daphne's book is about a shy girl named Daphne, commonly known to others as Daffy Duck. She was raised by an impoverished, mentally
ill grandmother, so the other kids would make fun of her. Instead of sympathizing with her, kids pitied her and called her names. "These are the
experiences for a young person in which the sort of commonplace...show more content...
In her book, readers see the bully in the character's own eyes. Blunt says, "Viewing events from someone else's perspective, following along as they
suffer, make mistakes, and are forced into hard decisions that affect others is the core of teaching empathy" (Blunt 3). From reading these books,
readers can understand some of the reasons why a person acts a certain way. These books also urge readers to appreciate others and their own life. This
appreciation will lead to better society because children will volunteer in the community and respect each others opinions, since each story allows
children to interpret different empathetic

Literature : A Reflection Of Culture
Literature is an imitation of societal values and is thus a reflection of the human experience of a time period. Written works emphasize the elements of
culture, by means of characters, particular events, setting and theme, specific to the time period in which it was composed. Furthermore, literature
mirrors the troubles or hardships of society and projects the core values that define said society. Thus, as culture has changed over time, literature has
remained a critical facet in representing time periods of the past. Essentially, the culture of a time period is manifested through writing in the projection
of society's values, symbolism of the center of community and literature itself.
Perhaps one of the most evident ways literature reflects on the time in which it was written is in how it often represents the important values of people
in society. Significant character traits or qualities that society valued at the time are made prominent through the actions and behavior of characters. In
Beowulf, the traits of bravery and valor are emphasized when Beowulf first arrives and explains to the Danes that he has arrived to purge the evil threat
the monster Grendel has posed to the Danes for over a decade. Beowulf is fully aware that nobody in the past has been able to overcome Grendel,
which is precisely why it is his duty to carry out this mission; he fought Grendel with valor, despite the fact he faced what was perceived as an
unconquerable enemy. These traits are also

Essay about Psychoanalytic Literary Criticism
I strongly believe that every person who reads a book, listens to the radio, or watches a
program on television will make their own assumptions. I know I do. Most of us will ask, "Why
did the main character make that decision?" Or "What were they thinking?" Could it be that the
author of the story is protruding their own subconscious thoughts and beliefs through their
characters? Absolutely, most critics have adapted psychoanalytic literary criticism theory based
upon the works of psychoanalysis by famous psychologists Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and
Jacques Lacan to literary works. 'Psychoanalytic literary criticism does not constitute a unified
field....However, all variants endorse, at least to a certain...show more content...
"To discover [the author's] intention . . . I must
first discover the meaning and content of what is represented in his work; I must, in other words,
be able to interpret it" (Freud 212). The analysis is of the author, characters, audience and text. "A Woman Like Me' written by Xi Xi from Hong
Kong, in 1982 is about a woman who lied to her boyfriend about her profession because she was afraid she would lose him. Her fear came about
when her aunt, the woman who taught her everything she knows about her profession explained her own past when the man she loved left her for
being a mortuary cosmetician. In "Swaddling Clothes" written by Mishima Yukio from Japan in 1966, a young woman is haunted by fresh memories
of her unwedded wet nurse who gives birth in her home.
The vision of the child who is wrapped in newspaper by the doctor drives her to obsess about the child's future. And lastly, "The Necklace" written by
Guy de Maupassant from France in

1884, pertains to a woman who is unhappy with her life. She and her husband gets to attend a high end social, in order to look her best she borrows
what she thinks is an expensive necklace.
Soon after leaving the ball she discovers she loses the necklace. Thus, begins a ten year struggle to replace the item.
In psychoanalyzing literary characters it's said that the characters are usually projections
of an author's own psyche. The theory is used to analyze the

Example Of Narcissism In Literature
Narcissism in Literature
Literature is amazing because it covers all sort of topics from real life stories to epic tales of the hero versus the mighty demon. It also covers real life
psychological disorders and while a lot of characters in fiction may be made up they can have very real psychological problems. This paper will be
looking at Armand from "Desiree's Baby", Montresor from "The Cask of Amontillado", and Sykes from "Sweat" and determining if they are indeed
narcissistic and if so determine if it is just narcissistic traits of their personality or the psychological disorder. To start we need to cover whatnarcissism
really is and at its base "Narcissism is a term used to describe a pre–occupation with the self, and on one's own wants, needs, and desires"
(clevelandclinic). Question now is how we might measure that, and the best way is to look at the traits of narcissism and "the Narcissistic Personality
Inventory (NPI) is the most commonly used measure of the trait" (Webber 74).
The ego is the first thing we associate with narcissism and every single person on the planet has an ego, so can we all be considered narcissistic?
Because it is how the ego affects us and how it is applied that makes it narcissistic. Egos can make people more judgmental, manipulative, approval
hungry, a need to always be right, and feelings of superiority.
Young children face a real challenge with parental influence and influence from other children and adults. In fact, "the present

MY HEART AND IN VINE OF DESIRE Women is the maker, the mother , the one who keeps the whole human race thriving. Women do so many
different roles and at the same time the most vulnurable being of all. The role of women in society is constantly questioned and for centuries women
have struggled to find their place in a world that is predominantly male oriented. In the contemporary age women got many opportunities in all field,
even though women face many struggles in their life. Throughout history, young women have been scrutinized with regard to their attitudes, behavior,
sexuality and general conduct. Literature provides a window into the lives, thoughts and actions of women during certain periods of time in a
fictitious form, yet often truthful in many ways. Through submissive natures, complaint men, using only silent means of escape. Literature forms a
means to express the pent up feelings of women and women worldwide have used literature as a tool for expression. Many Indian writers have
established a place for themselves by voicing out their cries on behalf of the Indian women. A close reading of British literature up to 19th century
reveals that social issues and challenges faced by women form a part of it but they were represented by male writers, the validity of which is
ambiguous. Women's literature which Jane Austen gave rise in true sense, flourished not only inEnglish Literature but also in other literatures. Women
writers at the beginning of any

Example Of Reflection In Literature
In the span of this course, I have learned a great deal about myself in terms of literature. This course has enabled me to make many great strides in
my writing by exemplifying the works of authors and their literary devices. English 1102 has broadened my literary horizon by showing me more
elegant ways to express my opinion. I am remorseful towards the fact that I did not take the class in person. Inversely, I have learned better ways to
communicate towards the audience, through the use of various literary elements in lieu of going on tangents. In regards to taking English 1102, I feel
as though I am on the precipitous of progress through the use of parallel structure and diction as a way of getting my point across, as well as using
poetic styles from famous authors such as Charlotte Gilman to better express my thoughts and ideas. On the other hand, not being able to take the class
in person has disabled me in a sense of not being able to garner a better sense of grammar and punctuation. Furthermore, through the assignments that I
have completed, I have mastered the use of consistency which spurred on a more fluid line of communication with the readers through the use of
efficiently utilizing parallel structure and diction, instead of jumping from topic to topic. The need to spew all perspectives originates from my
predisposition of compacting conflicting opinions on one paper. Notably, employing parallel structure has brightened up my writing tremendously. For
example,

What is Fiction: "Literature in the form of prose, especially novels, that describes imaginary events and people. Something that is invented or untrue"
(Oxford University Press, 2017).
Body Section/Main Points
1.0– Intellectual Development
1.1– Reading fiction improves vocabulary immensely. Literaryfiction uses a variety of different words because its main purpose is to paint imagery
and make the content engaging. Therefore, readers are exposed to words they would not see in non–fiction texts. This broadens their vocabulary by
exposing them to a plethora of new words, which aids in their writing and communication skills. It can also help us to "better understand new
information" (Sullivan, 2015).
1.1.1(Visual Aid)– I will refer to a graph that compares the vocabulary size of readers and non–readers of fiction. This will show the large difference
there is, and how beneficial it is to your intellectual development. Fiction readers had an average vocabulary size of 33,000 words, while non–readers
had an average of 19,000 (Seiter, 2015).
1.2– Reading fiction improves your memory.
1.2.1– In storylines there are multiple connecting characters and plot aspects. When reading fiction, you are forced to remember details about the story
as you read so that you can understand the story and put any necessary pieces together. This exercises the brain and helps improve memory because it
improves brain connectivity between tissues (Bergland, 2014).
2.0– Cognitive Capability

Literature in Life Essay
Literature in Life
Literature is the expressed influence of communities and the individuals in societies. Literature spans culture, beliefs, and attributes the necessary
component for corroborating how literature reflects, and portrays communities. The language from literature helps gives culture explanation of live in
different society. Literature that is defined by the culture aspect, gives details about such fascinating and affluent information or context. Certain works,
and words used in literature can help the reader understand and describe the sense of the community being read in the story. In addition, it is not
uncommon for people to write about an imaginary community that is based from their own community. Community...show more content...
Another example of how a community can affect an author's writing is illustrated in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" (DiYanni, 2007, p. 79
–84).
The story takes place in the South after the Civil War. Faulkner's writing is extremely eloquent and deliberate. The time period also comes out through
the language in his writing referring to African–Americans as Negros and to Northerners as Yankees. It soon becomes obvious that Faulkner must have
been raised in the same time and place this story takes place. Communities do not only affect the language of the author but they also can provide the
community of the author's work. Some communities act like an extended family and an author may want to show that aspect. Sometimes an author
may wish to write about a close–knit community that knows everyone else's business. Often a writer will write about their community, illustrating
certain cultural aspects that they hold dear. All of these can be examples of the writer's community coming to life in their own stories. In "A Rose for
Emily," (DiYanni, 2007, p. 79–84) Faulkner shows us a community that is very involved with each other. They are constantly talking about what Miss
Emily does, what she says, and whom she sees. The author speaks for the

18th Century Literature Essay
18th Century Literature
The 18th century is a period of great literary works. The styles are different throughout the period, but the unity of the work is still present.
Much of this period focused on public and general themes, until the Pre–
Romantic era when literary works began to focus upon personal expression. 18th century literature can be broken down into three main parts: the
Restoration, the Age of Pope, and Pre–Romantics.
The literature of the Restoration period covers a time span from
Charles's recovery of the throne to the years until the expulsion of James II in 1688 or until the death of John Dryden in 1700. The literature of the
Restoration was characterized by...show more content...
This literary time period also included works from John Dryden, who used elegance and cleverness in his writings. This period ended about 1700, and
enabled a new age of literature.
In literary history, the first half of the 18th century is known as the
Age of the Pope. In this age, the writers expressed views of the public and restrained from writing personal topics or expressions. In the Age of the
Pope or the Neoclassical Age, most of the literary themes were of social, political, and moral life. The Rape of the Lock and Epigrams by Alexander
Pope, and "A
Modest Proposal" and Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift are some examples from the Age of Pope or the Neoclassical age. Most of theliterary
works in this period used satirical styles to express a concern in society. "Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet–doux", from The Rape of
the Lock shows an example of pathos a satirical device used in this age of literature. Jonathan Swift also uses satire in Gulliver's Travels to mock the
Parliament, and in "Modest
Proposal" he writes about eating children as a solution to a socioeconomic problem. After the writings, literature began to focus on private
expressions rather than public thoughts and emotions.
The Age of Johnson or the Pre–romantic era was shown in various ways.
Characteristics of the age included ballads, a new taste for ruins, Gothic

castles

The Importance Of Fiction In Literature
Reading fiction, in my experience, creates an unforgettable vivid mental image in my brain. In "Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and
Daydreaming," Neil Gaiman asserts that reading fiction is vital for everyone. Fiction can lead to answers. It has the power to teach us lessons that plain
non–fiction cannot. Moreover, fiction can improve our imagination. It can let us imagine things that are abnormal for common sense but beneficial for
humankind. Perhaps most importantly, fiction can let us understand who we are. Therefore, allowing us to recognize our core strengths and
weaknesses. I agree with Neil Gaiman's lecture that fiction is significant for children since not only did it help me in my childhood, it still helps me as
I grow up.
As has been noted, fiction is important since it has helped me solve problems, without fictional novels, I would not be who I am now. As a matter
of fact, fiction has lead me to understanding English at a fast pace. On my arrival to Canada, I spoke English no better than a newborn child. The
introduction of graphic novels have opened a new path of understanding for me, as Neil Gaiman mentions, fiction "forces you to learn new words"
(Gaiman 2013) When I arrived to Canada, everything was foreign to me since I understood nothing and I had to learn a foreign language, and reading
novels were difficult. Reading my first picked English novel, Amulet: The Stonekeeper boosted my confidence since it had a visual aspect to it and
simple

My Journey Through Literature

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My Journey Through Literature