Why study english Literature? Surely, you can just.. read?

Question

This isn't my opinion, I'm just playing devil's advocate, but I'm interested in people's thoughts.

Answer 1

English literature teaches you a lot about life, history, art, and many other things. You will be taking courses from various perids in history as well as multicultural literature, women's literature, sci fi, poetry, drama and many others. The discussions you will have in class will relate your reading to contemporary life. They will also help you to become a great writer, because half of becoming a writer is becoming a well rounded, well read person.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

Studying literature is more than just reading. It's also thinking about what is written. It's a little like history and psychology. You learn about what people felt like at a given time, how they expressed themselves (or didn't). You get the soul of an author and a time. Also, it's art. A painting isn't just pretty to look at, it often tells you something if you know how to look. It's the same with literature. There's so much in it if you know how to get to it. It's a whole mode of expression that is not easily available to everyone. It's also one of those university programs that really teach you how to think.
When you study science, you learn how to find something out by doing things in a certain order using certain truths. You have none of that in literature. Every time you study a new text, you have to start from the beginning taking nothing for certain. You have to rely on your intelligence, on your instincts.

People like to joke about English Majors but if you want to hire someone who can adapt, think clearly and solve problems they've never faced before, one of them is a good bet.

And I'm not saying this because I am one ;-p

Answer 3

Well, i myself am an english major and actually im going to be taking two english literature classes next semester..

and honestly, anyone can just read literature, books, etc.
but the purpose to studying english literature is to find deeper meanings, hidden symbolism, and unknown purposes of the author, and his/her work. And using that to further enlighten your "world" i suppose.

over time, after studying the same author over the course of many peices of literature, you can identify his/her style and common characteristics of his/her reading.

But in my opinion, i often think that people who study literature do it sometimes to improve his/her own writing. to find some influence and another way of putting their creativity on paper with words.

Answer 4

besides coaching at some point (severe college, college, etc) you fairly have not any sparkling recommendations. expertise of English literature isn't probable marketable previous an tutorial placing.

Answer 5

Of course, you can just read, but good instructors, especially those who read to you, can assist you in understanding what makes good writing good and bad writing bad. This area of Y!A is full of folks asking "what should I read?" and other folks answering in kind. Think of English instructors as people who open doors for you–and occasionally build bridges.

And, yes, sometimes they make you read when you would rather be doing something else, or they make you learn to use your library and the Internet. Hamlet tells his mother, "I must be cruel only to be kind," and so must they.

Answer 6

I have rarely seen so long a string of intelligent and well-expressed responses. Perhaps that's a partial answer to your question.

Answer 7

Well that is a good question they shouldn't make you do that.