Why Should We Study Literature?
Students should study literature to gain knowledge of the traditions and cultures associated with the time period in which the literature was produced. In addition, exposure to literature can improve a student’s comprehension and reading abilities and help them to identify literary devices, such as the concepts of rhythm and beats within writing.
Exposure to literature may also prompt students to engage more in reading, develop an understanding of new cultures and tackle advanced passages to enhance their intellectual growth. Literature provides students with exposure to new vocabulary words, familiarity with rhythms, literary patterns and beats and creative storytelling techniques that can aid with personal and academic writing projects. Literature is often filled with plot twists, climaxes and resolutions that can provide lessons about the structure of storytelling, writing and the use of description within prose. Because many works of literature focus on abstract problems and controversies, exposure to the literary works may prompt students to think critically about society, gender, race, culture and injustices. For example, if the literary piece focuses on war, students may ponder the acts that led to war, current events that are related to the plot of the literature and the societal effects of war in general.
