Are you shilly-shallying to studying English literature? Constantly fluctuating between your fondness for literature and the thought of how would it help you in the future? How could it pave the way for your successful career? Stop bothering anymore! This article will give you the answer to all questions regarding: Why should I study English literature?
There is a general misconception in our society that a literature degree provides less opportunities and an unsatisfying career as compared to a degree in science, math or any other discipline. The expanding stardom of science and technology has made literature study insignificant or somewhat outdated. Some people have started considering it as an underrated or neglected faculty with less career opportunities.
But I must say that literature is something that never ever gets outmoded. It has always stood the test of time and given us great, great knowledge indeed. Can you people imagine a life without books, without literature — merely surrounded with science and technology? I don’t have any intention to underestimate science and technology. It is indeed a huge blessing for all of us and we can’t imagine our life without it. But it doesn’t mean to consider literature or other art forms as insignificant and destined to a life of low-paying jobs and unsatisfying careers.
This article will let you know that in this era where there is so much economic crisis prevailing all over the world, why is English literature important and how the students with an English literature degree can get numerous opportunities that would surely help them financially as well as socially.
Why Should I Study English Literature?
1. Enhances Our Knowledge of the World
Literature has been studied since ages. It has served as a doorway to step into the world of learning. It gives us knowledge of the world packed with a lot of experience. At the same time, it widens our thinking horizon by giving us the ability to see beyond our perception. We learn so many things about the outside world and the people surrounding us. This makes us more competent to tackle our issues without getting help from others.
2. English Literature Gives us Self-Orientation
Literature modifies our lives by giving us orientation regarding ourselves and social issues. It gives us the spark to awake ourselves, ask questions, and build our intuitions and instincts. As a result, we become more vigilant with the passage of time.
3. Develops a Habit of Critical Thinking
Literature acts as a building block in the development of critical thinking. Literature students used to have deep insights. To get the overall meaning of the text, they’ve to delve into the particular story and find out the cause behind the happenings. They’ve to interpret given symbols, make sensible connections, look for themes, and discover the hidden meanings. All this helps to build up their creative skills and enable them to get detailed acumen of the text.
4. Helps Us to Explore Psychology
Literature helps us to explore psychology. As both these disciplines have a common object to study — the human soul, literature connects us with human psychology. Without a plunge into the human psyche, it is impossible for the reader to understand the causes of human behavior. This opportunity expands the readers’ mind-set and further accelerates their knowledge about human behavior.
5. English Literature Enhances Awareness of Human History
Literature also connects us with history. We learn about people who came before us and revolutionized the world with their thinking. Literature helps us to compare the past and present ages and be aware of the reason for change. It also helps us to understand why and how the world has evolved till now.
6. Appreciation of Worldwide Living Structure
Literature further gives us knowledge about other religions, cultures, social norms and beliefs. We get awareness about the worldwide structure of human living systems. It helps us to step into the minds and reasoning of people all over the world.
7. Literature Helps Us to Become a Good Reader or Writer
Literature enhances our reading as well as writing skills. Besides helping us in increasing our knowledge, literature magnifies our expertise as a good reader and writer. If we develop a habit of reading books, it improves our reading skills. Secondly, it helps us to develop a certain writing style after getting across so many books of numerous writers.
8. Literature Serves Humanity
Literature, in any form, is written not merely for entertainment and educational purposes; but it has a wider, more deep aim and that is to help humanity. It helps us to explore human nature, find out the reasons for certain behavior that curb the optimistic growth or success and then look for reforms. If literature tends to reveal the evils of society, it also suggests reforms as well. So literature is really helpful for all of us. It links us with the whole of humanity.
Why should I study English Literature? I hope now you’ve got the answer. Students with an English literature degree can get numerous job opportunities that surely help them establish themselves financially as well as socially.
Related Posts:
- Various jobs opportunities for English literature students.
- Introduction and History of English Literature.
