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what to do?

I study all the time,but do I need "formal" education to understand poetry and literature?

2006-12-19 13:09:47 · 15 answers · asked by rusalka 3 in Arts & Humanities Books & Authors

Editor: I have read all Mary Oliver's work.

2006-12-19 13:32:57 · update #1

15 answers

Reading and reflecting upon what you have read is the most important part of studying literature. Taking classes is helpful but not necessary. Lots of people join book clubs, in which everyone reads the same book and then get together (usually with good food and a fun social situation) to discuss the book.

Also, you can learn a lot about various books online. I like to read the reviews of books I am interested in, especially the reader reviews. Amazon.com can be a very interesting source of opinions about different books, and it can also lead you to other books you might be interested in.

But in the end, the most important part in literature is what you, as an individual, take from it. If you are open to new ideas, books can give you an education that you could never get just by taking classes. (And, by the way, I am a public school teacher who highly values taking classes! It's just that I am also an avid reader and have found that reading is the key to anything that I want to learn!)

2006-12-19 13:20:33 · answer #1 · answered by sonomanona 6 · 1 0

Expelled, eh? That will certainly be something to write about one day but not today.

Get thee to a public library and look for Harvard prof Harold Bloom's book, The 100 Best Poems in the English language. It even opens with an Introduction entitled, How to read poetry. You may not agree with his choices or his process, but it's a very good place to discover what the study of literature entails.

See also contemporary U.S. poet Mary Oliver's 1998 treatise, Rules for the Dance.

2006-12-19 13:18:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Absolutely not. When in college I was almost an established writer but I knew that studying literature won't fetch me a decent job so I studied Science but later in life turn to literature. I give lectures on Indian literature and have authored four books so far.

2006-12-19 13:18:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

You do not need a formal education to understand poetry and literature. My suggestion to you would be to get your GED and enroll in a college or university. Once there, you'll meet a lot of people who enjoy literature as much as you and it is in this environment that you will grow.

2006-12-19 13:12:43 · answer #4 · answered by J. R 3 · 4 0

One good thing about the US is that books, used books are cheap. Go to any thrift shop and get a HS lit book. Note the bibliography in the back, and check out books on literary theory and poetics. Then find them in your public library and check them out and read them.

You can educate yourself at least as well as the kids that take the classes.

Cliff's Notes are online and are very very useful for telling you how to read novels, short stories and poetry critically.

You might read James A. Michener's novel about a novelist, called "The Novel".

All his books are great. You will learn all about the world in them.

2006-12-19 13:34:25 · answer #5 · answered by Richard E 4 · 1 0

Formal education may be needed only by those who are into critical analyses and interpretation of literary texts. And even those critics are ideally out to assist you, the reader, to unerstand what respective texts and authors are attempting to convey. Unfortunately, many literary critics tend to forget readers like you and enter into their own cocoons debating with each other! We are all creative artists and "restory" our lives and experiences everyday. One does not need formal education to be an artist but one may need such education to be able to analyse some works of literature.
Start with easy-to-understand poems and fiction.

2006-12-19 13:32:11 · answer #6 · answered by ari-pup 7 · 1 0

People whom are homeschooled do just fine in studies.

You must have done something really major to get expelled.

Continue your studies at home until they let you go back.
Also, there are places to go to get help in subjects that you're studying. Just look it up on google.

And I'm sure you can find forums for your age group that are on poetry and lierature to help further your studies.

2006-12-19 13:13:55 · answer #7 · answered by Voice 4 · 0 0

thats your guy or woman fault, your of course already expelled. there's no longer something you're able to do at present. i think of its tremendously stupid they expelled you like that, I additionally think of its tremendously stupid which you ought to no longer wait 2 greater type sessions to pass smoke. Being intense in school is in basic terms a waste of a intense in any case, why might you even hardship going back to type? Have your mom charm it to the faculty board, if she quite needs you in school. Did they drug attempt you? people have purple eyes perpetually and thats no longer a honest thank you to without notice verify somebody is intense. it quite is bullshit they expelled you, yet its quite stupid on your area too.

2016-10-15 06:51:57 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

There are plenty of people who are very well educated outside of the traditional system. You can do whatever you put your mind to, and if you have a library card it won't cost you nearly as much! Good luck!

2006-12-19 13:13:39 · answer #9 · answered by AmySue 3 · 1 0

Go to your local college. In the bookstore they were will be textbooks for literature courses. Buy one. Read it.

2006-12-19 14:18:06 · answer #10 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 1 0

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