More handpicked essays just for you.
The impact of literature on an individual and a society
Impact of literature on society
Literature and its impact on society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The Definition of Literature
Literature has many meanings but to me when I hear the word literature I think of large tomes of words and stories that have become classics over time however this is only one definition of literature. Literature comes from that Latin word littera, that directly translated means letter, thus supporting the idea that literature is written. This view however leaves out the idea that there can be oral literature as well from which many of our stories and books come from.
The main form of literature, the book, has had a great impact upon the formation of our society today. Before the 1940’s TV had not come into being yet and there was not much else to do other than read books. Thus books formed my grandparents and to some extent my parents and, although I grew up in the generation of TV, books as literature have indirectly formed me as well.
There also can be forms of artistic literature such as poetry or play writing. These also play an important part in literature, I believe, such as Robert frost’s poems or the works of Shakespeare the playwright. These are great authors, whose literature is not in the form of a great story or a moving novel, but in irregular works that have stayed with us for a long time many years.
I believe that one very good definition of literature is that literature must have certain qualities such as plot, characters, tone, symbols, conflict, point of view, and many other elements working together in a dynamic relationship to produce a literary work. This pretty much defines the way that most people see literature today. This allows for oral traditional stories as well as for the irregular forms of writing such as plays and poems that can also have plot, characters, tone and the other elements mentioned so that they can be deemed a literary work.
There are various pieces of written work that do not fall into the category of literature work. This is because a piece of writing can be said to be literature when it has distinct features that follow the rules of literature writing. Some of the distinctive features that can be used to classify a piece of writing as a literature are the nature of language, themes and stylistic devices (Irmscher, 1975). Literature does not fully use the rules of grammar and may involve the use of informal writing. Hurston and Toni Morrison applied features such as using colloquial language, development of various themes and some stylistic devices which have lead to their pieces of work being considered as important literary art.
Literature has long been an important part of human life. We express our feelings with ink and paper; we spill out our souls on dried wood pulp. Writing has been a form of release and enjoyment since the beginning of written language. You can tell a story, make yourself a hero. You can live out all your fantasies!
With more and more up and coming techknology, books, news papers, encyclopedias, etc. seem to be becoming a thing of the past. Dana Gioia, author of “Why Literature Matters,” states very strong opinions supporting the importance of literature. The speaker uses strong appeals to sway the readers opinion as well as facts and comparison.
Literature. The most accurate pieces of information that the world has today. There are millions of millions of book, or texts that have been written. Some are absolutely true accounts, while others are slightly falsified and then there are the out right lies that are written. Writing has developed to the point where authors have meanings behind their work, that are hidden in the words. Perspectives have also changed with the people of today. There are two perspectives that The Explorer by Gwendolyn Brooks, and Frederick Douglass by Robert Hayden can be read at: social and archetypal.
Throughout this course, I have discovered that literature is more than just words being brought together by an author to form an emotionally charged story. Literature provides an engaging outlet into an imaginary realm to its audience. As the reader is captivated by the story, poem or play, a, emotional connection is established.
Literature throughout history has evolved due to events occurring during those times. It has changed in a deductive fashion going from creator to creation. In the early times Native Americans wrote myths of how the world had been created, next Puritans wrote of the drama in their communities and how they affected with each other, finally, transcendentalism focused on a singular person's ideas and point of view. It is important to be able to understand all levels of life from broad ideas to a singular person. Understanding not only how the world works but also how to get along with others and who you are as a person is crucial in this society. Literature from many time periods all attribute to these subjects. Literature
As a precursor, the common understanding needs to be reached that: literature is an art, and has many mediums. Medium is the material or technique with which an artist works (Dictionary.com), for example: photographs, pastels, canvas, paper, ink, etc... There are technical, recreational, and otherwise artistic uses for all mediums. A small child taking pictures of a puppy with a disposable camera, a reporter taking precise pictures of a sporting event, and an artist taking close-up pictures of the dew as it drips off a tree are all different uses of the same medium in photography. Literature can be created with many different intentions and reasons, but the attempt to determine that something is not art based off of the motivation or intentions of the artist is quit meaningless.
Literature evolved from the old and dull Victorian style to the more flushed and exciting Modernist style. Legends like F. Scott Fitzgerald had amazing success with books showing extravagant sceneries making the reader what to live like what was mentally depicted in his
The idea of literature being an important aspect of life has always been greatly prevalent in my upbringing. This notion that I supported was spurred on at the cause of my obstinate parents insisting upon my reading of two books a week to benefit my vocabulary and to develop the articulate thought process of a skilled reader. As a young child, my biggest influences were my parents’ passionate and persuasive ideas regarding the correlation between
These are pieces written from different times of American history, but they have a story to tell. They were written with a purpose and are art. Nonfiction works such as Equiano are literature because of the content and purpose. Bradstreet wrote her poetry to tell the story her heart needed to tell. She wrote about her love for her husband and her loss of material possessions. Subjects that were very much taboo in her time. Equiano wrote his autobiography to tell the story of his life. He painted a vivid image of his life as a slave and how he overcame all odds. Irving, Hawthorne, Poe wrote pieces of fiction. They wrote the stories that they thought needed to be told for whatever reason. They wrote for art, for joy, and for
Can you imagine a world where literature did not exist? It’s very hard, nearly impossible. Literature plays a major role in shaping society. Literature is a word used to describe written or spoken material. Literature educates, informs, entertains and influences the reader or listener in a myriad of profound ways. Broadly speaking, “literature” is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination. Writers can change one’s beliefs, thoughts, actions, indeed their entire lives. In Northrop Frye’s The Educated Imagination, Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird and Plato’s The Republic, the writers use literature to utter the importance literature bestows on society. The three writers state their opinions using different methods to prove to the readers that their opinions are valid. Since each author has a unique writing style, most envision their writing with a relatable figure. Some would argue that Frye’s writing style is much like that of a textbook, very instructional and factual, Lamott reminded them of a conversation with a friend and that Plato’s writing style is very informative, akin to a professor carrying on a dialogue with an inquisitive student.
Literature functions as a reflection of society and a creator of cultural ideas. Throughout the existence of the human race, literature has played a vital role in the distribution of ideas and as a way of communication. Literature can be used in many ways, whether it be to explain, persuade, or inform.
Literature is creative writing of recognized artistic value. Literature represents the very best of human expression. We read and celebrate Literature for many reasons. A few of these reasons are,- to be inspired, to be delighted, to embark on incredible ventures and others.
Literature has had a major impact on society, and, also our history. Literature has reformed and shaped civilizations, changed political systems, and has exposed injustices (3). Our literature has changed and developed as we have, keeping up with our society. “...literature is crucial for the advancement of society (3).” With literary works, we can convince others to view things a certain way, share our opinions, and more. Literature is greatly intertwined with our society and everyday lives, and they would not be the same without it. Literature plays an irreplaceable role in our
Literature is rarely, if ever, merely a story that the author is trying to tell. It is imperative that the reader digs deep within the story to accurately analyze and understand the message the author is trying to portray. Authors tend to hide themselves in their stories. The reader can learn about the author through literary elements such as symbolism, diction, and structure. A good example of this is Robert Frost’s poems The Road Not Taken and Nothing Gold can Stay in which he uses ordinary language unlike many other poets that became more experimental (Frost, Robert. “1.”).