essay on literature is the reflection of society wikipedia

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Literature and Society: F R Leavis Summary and Analysis

Literature and Society is an essay by F.R.Leavis. During the Matrixing decade, Leavis was once invited to ‘Union of the London School of Economics and Politics’ where he addressed students on discourse on Literature and Society. He shared his view on how literature and society are interdependent. Leavis showed great interest towards literature, tradition, education and society. He was inspired by writers and poet like T.S.Eliot, D.H.Lawrence William Blake, Bunyan and others. As a result he has contributed many books like The Great Tradition, The Common Pursuit, New Bearings In English, Dickens The Novelist, Education and University etc.

Before looking into his essay, Literature and Society , we should recall his two prominent quotes:

• ” Literature is the supreme means by which you renew your sensuous and emotional life and learn a new awareness”
• ” Literature is the store house of the recorded values”. The above quotes assure us the significance of literature in one’s life and it’s need. Leavis always believed that literature should be closely related to criticism of life. In the essay he informs readers about the ‘duty of writer to identify himself with working class, the duty of the critic to evaluate works of literature in terms of the degree in which they seemed calculated to further (or otherwise) for proper and pre- destined outcome of the class struggle, and the duty of the literary historian to explain literary history as the reflection of changing economic and material realities’.

Here he connects every profession of the society to literature and their combination developing into a contribution back to society. Thus, it means literature is connected to society through various fields.

F.R Leavis conception of literature

D.H.Lawrence

Initially, Leavis focuses on working class and the literature that conjugates their life. Taking up the instance of D.H Lawrence , he opines that Lawrence had failed to reach bourgeois as he misrepresented reality. He ‘shared the life of a social class which has passed it’s prime’.

Marxist’s theory

‘Marxist’s approach to literature seems to me unprofitable’ he says and he admits literature as a matter of isolated works of art and thinks that individuals with specific creative gifts produce such works. Marxist theory emphasizes on economic and material determinants of society.

T.S Eliot’s theory of Tradition

The failure of Critical work of T.S.Eliot to have stock taken was ‘conscious rejection of the Romantic critical tradition’ ‘and directed against Romantic tradition’ Romantic period laid it’s die stress inspiration and the individual genius. In order to understand the achievement of art, individual talent and original impulses must be taken into account. Eliot’s idea represents a new emphasis on the social nature of artistic achievement. Instead of the word ‘social’ he uses ‘impersonal’. Eliot writes , ‘ He must be aware that the mind of Europe the mind of his own country a mind which he learns in time to be much more important than his own private mind is a mind which changes…’ A masterpiece is produced when a gifted individual borns, he sets his inspiration and that leads to it’s creation. A individual writer must be aware of his work of the literature to which it belongs. Literature has an organic form and an organic order. This approach to literature stresses on intectual and spiritual than Marxist theory. The study of literature is an intimate study of complexities, potentialities and essentials of condition of human nature. The difference between Marxist and Tradition theory is that Tradition stresses on social aspect of creative achievement and yet allows individual aspect. ‘Without individual talent there is no creation’. Leavis opines that ‘ only in individuals that society lives’. He concentrates on the point that ‘ you can’t contemplate the nature of literature without acquiring some inhibition in respect of that antithesis’. The justification he gives to his statement by referring to the diversity among Romantic writers. They themselves do not exemplify any common Romanticism. The common feature that unites them is their age and the negative: the absence of anything to replace a very positive tradition.

Augustan age

Augustan age laid greater stress on social. Their convention, standards and idiom of maturity has been proved in Tattler and Spectator . According to Leavis, an age in which tradition itself gets established is clearly an age in which writer feels one at society. Augustan Heyday and Queen Anne period were the period of confident and flourishing cultural health.

William Blake

William Blake has applied his full consciousness which is genius and manifested technical achievement, the new use of words. Blake says ‘ It is I who see And fed. I see only what I see and feel what I feel. My experience is mine, and in its specific quality lies it’s significance’. Leavis opines Blake uses English language and not his invention. The mind and sensibility that he uses to express are of the language. It is sad that Blake did not receive a nurturing environment for his genius art. Blake serves to bring out the significance of Wordsworth’s kind of interest in rustic life.

Idea of Popular and Sophisticated Culture

The best example for true real culture is Dryden’s contemporary, Bunyan. The masterpiece work of Bunyan, ‘The Pilgrims Progress’. He belonged to the civilization of his time, a Mechanick participating in a rich traditional culture. An extract from By- End is discussed to uphold Bunyan’s popular culture. Behind literature, there is a social culture and an art of living. Instance from Cecil Sharp’s Introduction to English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians show that a civilization or the ‘way of life’s that was truly an art of social living. The mountaineers were descended from settlers who had left the country in the eighteenth century. Their speech is English, not American! They are leisurely, cheery people in their quiet way, in whom social instinct is very highly developed, they know their Bible intimately, are austere creed but majority were illiterate. The illiterate may nevertheless reach a high level of culture will surprise only those who imagine that education and cultivation are convertible terms.

From Shakespeare till Marvel we can feel the refined Sophisticated, European, and courtly urban culture in literature. Leavis puts up a comparison between Dryden and Halifax, where Halifax is easy, urbane, natural and master of spoken tone and movement. He holds the true spirits of Restoration yet seems similar to Bunyan in his raciness and idiomatic life. Dryden gets lively and presents polite idiomatic ease of that new organ of metropolitan culture which is not similar to Banyan’s.In Augustan verse, the verse of polite are seen in Pope and Addison’s work.

The Modern literature shifted from the rustic life to mechanical after the death of Wordsworth. The one who concludes that contemporary would include the Marxking or Wellsian kind of relation to social, political and economic problems, but for literary tradition, history would have been lost and existence of popular culture would be questionable. Leavis, advising to the students of politics and society that ‘ literature will yield to the sociologist, or anyone else, what it has to give, only if it is approached as literature’ . It is important to focus more on responding appropriately and appreciatively an artist’s use of language and his complexities of organization rather than explicit valuation. A critic’s experience and understanding plays an essential role. The hints from the Gilbert Murray’s Rise of fa Greek Epic , Dame Bertha Phillpott’s WA and Saga are referred. To conclude, Leavis says that ‘without the sensitizing familiarity with the subtleties of language, and the insight into the relations between abstract or generalising thought and the concrete of human experience, that the trained frequentation of literature alone can bring, the thinking that attends social and political studies will not have the edge and force it should’ . Thus, Leavis makes an attempt to exhibit various approaches of literature that governed in different period and ages. We also find the major classes of literature. At the end, readers recognise the importance of literature to life and it’s influence on society.

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1.1: What is Literature?

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• Page ID 100852

• Heather Ringo & Athena Kashyap
• City College of San Francisco via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

Defining Literature

In order for us to study literature with any kind of depth, first we must decide what constitutes literature. While works like William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are almost universally accepted as literature, other works are hotly debated, or included or excluded based on the context. For example, while most consider Toni Morrison’s Beloved literature, others debate whether more recent publications such as David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas or Rupi Kaur’s Instagram poetry constitute literature. And what about the stories told through tweets, like Jennifer Egan’s “Black Box” ? What about video games, like Skyrim , or memes, like Grumpy Cat?

Students often throw their hands up in the air over such distinctions, arguing literature is subjective. Isn't it up to individual opinion? Anything can be literature, such students argue. At first glance, it could seem such distinctions are, at best, arbitrary. At worst, such definitions function as a means of enforcing cultural erasure.

However, consider a story about Kim Kardashian’s plastic surgery in People Magazine . Can this be considered on the same level of literary achievement as Hamlet ? Most would concede there is a difference in quality between these two texts. A blurb about Kim Kardashian’s latest plastic surgery, most would agree, does not constitute literature. So how can we differentiate between such works?

Literature vs. literature

As illustrated in the somewhat silly example above, one way we can define what constitutes literature is by identifying what is definitely not literature. For our intents and purposes of defining most terms in this textbook, we will use the Oxford English Dictionary ’s definitions. Many professors who teach Literature use the concept of Big L Literature vs. little l literature (Rollison).

While the definition of little l literature is fairly easy to understand and apply, the definition of Big L Literature remains amorphous. What makes a work “artistic”? How do we define “superior” or “lasting”?

Let’s break down some of the defining qualities of literature in a bit more detail, starting with the word “artistic.”

Exercise 1.1.1

Consider the following works of art. Which of these images do you feel is higher quality or more “artistic”? Which is lower-quality or less artistic? Why? Justify your position by analyzing the elements of each artwork.

While there may be some debate, most students usually respond that Friedrich's painting is more artistic. This is due to several composition differences between the two works:

• Artist’s skill: it certainly appears as if the first image was produced by an artist with superior skill
• Fame: for anyone who knows art history, the first image is famous while the other is not
• Lasting quality: the first image has survived the test of time, remaining popular over two hundred years!
• Meaning: the first image likely conjures deeper feelings, themes, or ideas, such as isolation and the primacy of nature. This is why this image has become the face of Romanticism.

But what about the images demonstrate the artists’ superior skills? While the second image appears to be produced with a simple doodle, and quickly composed, the first indicates more complexity, attention-to-detail, and craft. Freidrich leverages different colors, textures, shapes, and symbols to evoke a feeling in the viewer. Skilled artists will use different techniques, like the way they move the paintbrush, the pressure they exert or the direction of the brush. They will use textured paintbrushes for a specific effect, such as the difference between the light fluffy clouds and dark mountain rocks. They will use different color pallets to project, as accurately as possible, the feelings they are trying to evoke. In short, while anyone can paint, true artists leverage many different skills, techniques, and materials to render what is in their imagination into a real-life product.

So how does this relate to our attempts to define literature?

Literature is art, but with words.

While the artist uses different colors, paintbrushes, mediums, canvases, and techniques, the writer uses different genres and literary techniques called literary devices . Just like different types of paint, paintbrushes, and artistic tools, there are literally hundreds of literary devices, but some of the most common are metaphor, simile, personification, and imagery. Genre is the type or style of literature. Each genre has its own conventions. Literary genres include creative nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry . Works that are literary tend to masterfully use genre conventions and literary devices to create a world in the mind of the reader. Works that are less literary tend to be for practical and/or entertainment purposes, and the writer dedicates less focused energy towards artfully employing literary devices.

However, just because a work is not as literary as another does not mean it cannot be enjoyed. Just like a stick figure or cartoon character might be perfectly fine if intended for a particular audience or purpose, readers can still enjoy People Magazine even though it is not of the same literary quality as Hamlet .

So, to use an example from earlier:

While some literature falls into clear designations of literature or not literature, most works are open to debate. Given the sometimes difficult task of determining whether a work falls into one camp or the other, it may be more helpful to think of Literature less as a dichotomy than a spectrum, with popular magazines on one end and works like Hamlet and Beloved on the other, and most written works falling somewhere between the two extremes.

The Literary Spectrum

This spectrum can be a helpful way to think about literature because it provides a more open-ended way to discuss writing as art than simply labeling works as literary or not. After viewing the above chart, why do you think popular magazines and a Calculus textbook are considered "less literary"? In terms of popular magazines, they do not fit the definition of literature as "lasting" in the sense that they usually fade from relevancy quickly after publication. Additionally, the authors of such magazines are striving for quick entertainment rather than leaving a meaningful impression on the reader. They tend not to use literary devices, such as metaphor, in a masterful way. On the other end, Shakespeare's Hamlet definitely fits the definition of "lasting," in that it has survived hundreds of years. It is full of literary devices used for rhetorical effect and, one would argue, it touches upon deep themes such as death, the afterlife, murder, vengeance, and love, rather than trifling issues such as a starlet's most recent plastic surgery.

Certainly, works of literature are up for debate: that is the quintessential question literary scholars might ask. What makes certain literary works survive the test of time? What makes a story, poem, or drama "good"? While literary scholars are less interested in proving a certain work is "good" or not -- and more focused on analyzing the ways to illuminate a given work -- it can be helpful for you to consider what kinds of literature you like and why you like it. What about the way it was written causes you to feel the way you do about it?

Who Decides What is Literature?

Now that we have at least somewhat clarified the definition of literature, who decides what works are or are not literature? Historically speaking, kings, queens, publishers, literary critics, professors, colleges, and readers (like you!) have decided which works survive and which works do not.

Aristotle was one of the first writers to attempt to decide what works fall into the category of literature, and what works do not. While Aristotle was most famous for his contributions to science and philosophy, he is also considered one of the first literary critics. A literary critic is a person who studies and analyzes literature. A literary critic produces scholarship called literary criticism . An example of this would be Aristotle’s Poetics , in which he identifies the defining qualities of a “good” Tragedy. Aristotle’s analysis of Tragedy was so influential that it is still used today, over two thousand years later!

When a work is officially decided to constitute literature, it enters something called the Canon. Not to be confused with the large metal tube that shoots bombs popular in the 16th through the 19th centuries (cannon), the Literary Canon is a collection of works that are considered by the powers that be to constitute literature. A work that falls into this designation is called canonical. So, to use an example from Aristotle’s Poetics , Aristotle defined Sophocles’ Oedipus Trilogy as the pinnacle of the Tragic Genre. From there, in part due to Aristotle's influence, Greek society valued Oedipus so much that they kept discussing, reading, referencing, and teaching it. Thus, it became a kind of shining example of the Tragic Canon, one which has lasted thousands of years and continues to be read and lauded to this day. Other tragedies, fairly or not, are often judged on their quality in comparison to Sophocles' works. Wild to think that someone who died thousands of years ago still influences what we consider literature today!

Memes and Video Games: Today's Literature?

All this talk of thousands-of-years-old texts might seem out of touch. A lot of people think "old and boring" and literature are synonymous. Students are often surprised to hear that comic books and video games can arguably be considered literature, too. There are plenty of arguments to be made that comic books, such as Maus by Art Spiegalman (1991) or Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (2006) are literature. Cutting edge literary scholars argue video games like Kentucky Route Zero by Cardboard Computer (2015) can be considered literary. There is also literature that is published in tweets, like Jennifer Egan's "Black Box" (2012). Some might even consider memes literature!

Generative question: do you think memes can be literary?

A meme is an image or video containing cultural values or ideas, often represented through allusion (implied reference to another work, without naming that work or its author). Memes can spread rapidly spreads through social media. Why? Because the best ones are #relatable; that is, they speak to a common human experience.

Usually memes take the form of text superimposed on an image. For example, the meme above conveys the dramatic reaction students sometimes give when I assign an essay. This is done primarily through a literary device called hyperbole , or exaggeration for rhetorical effect. It conveys its message comically through certain conventions that come along with the meme genre, such as the syntactic structure "me, a [insert noun]" and asterisks, which convey action. Just like in the Shakespearean drama, the colon indicates what each character (me and the students, in this case) is saying or doing. My chihuahua's face looks silly and very dramatic. Through this use of image, text, format, and convention, the meaning I intended to convey was that I was making fun of my students for being over-dramatic about what to me seems like a fairly simple assignment. While some might dismiss memes as shallow, when you start to unravel the layers of meaning, they can actually be very complex and even, dare I say, literary!

Think about a recent meme you have seen, or your favorite meme of all time. Imagine explaining this meme to someone who has no idea what it means. What is the message or idea behind the meme? What cultural reference points does it use to convey its message? In what ways might this meme be considered literature? How might this compare to a short poem, like a haiku?

Not Literature

Let's say you come to the conclusion that a meme, a gossip magazine, or the Twilight Series is not literary. Does that mean you have to feel guilty and give up reading it forever? Or that it is not "good"?

Just because a work is not literary does not mean it is "bad," that it does not have value, or that one cannot enjoy it. Indeed, there are plenty of examples of written works that are on the less literary side of the spectrum but are still fun and enriching to read. Joe Dirt i s not on the same artistic level of cinema as Schindler's List , but my husband still loves watching it. Nothing Taylor Swift has produced is as deep as Tupac Shakur's "Changes" (1992) or Mitski's "Last Words of a Shooting Star" (2014), but listening to Taylor Swift is my guilty pleasure. This is all to say that whether a text is literary or not is not as important as the methods of analyzing texts. In fact, texts which were excluded from literature are often argued into the literary canon through such analysis. Part of what makes analyzing literature so fun is that it means the definition of literature is always up for debate! This is especially important given the history of the canon.

The Problem with the Canon

In an ideal world, literature would be celebrated purely based on its artistic merit. Well-written works would last, poorly-written works would wither from public memory. However, that is not always the case. Works often achieve public prominence or survive based on qualities unrelated to skill or aesthetics, such as an author's fame, wealth, connections, or acceptance by the dominant culture. William Wordsworth, for example, was named Poet Laureate of England and has been taught as one of the "Big Six" major Romantic-era authors ever since. Indeed, he is accepted as part of the Romanticism literary canon. One would be hard-pressed to find a Literature anthology that does not feature William Wordsworth . However, how many people have read or heard of Dorothy Wordsworth , William Wordsworth's sister, who arguably depicted Romantic themes with equal skill and beauty? Or James Hogg, a Scottish contemporary of Wordsworth who was a lower-class shepherd? Similarly, while most readers have encountered F. Scott Fitzgerald or Edgar Allen Poe in their high school literature classes, how many have read Frederick Douglass in these same classes? In short, all artistic skill (arguably) considered equal, why do some authors predominantly feature in the Canon while others do not?

Let’s perform an experimental activity.

• Find a piece of paper or a whiteboard. On this piece of paper or whiteboard, write down as many works of literature that you feel constitute “Big L Literature.” Perhaps they are works you read in high school, works which have been made into films, or works you have been taught or told are literary masterworks. Don’t turn the page until you have written them down. Try to think of at least 10, but a larger sample size is better. Once you are finished, continue to the next paragraph.
• Alright, now look at your list. If you know the author of the literary texts you named, write their name next to the work. If you do not know the author, Google the information and write it down. Continue doing this until you have named the author of each work. Once you are finished, read on to the next paragraph.
• Now, as uncomfortable as it seems, label the gender/race/age/presumed sexual orientation of the authors you listed. After you have categorized them to the best of your ability, consider the following questions:
• What percentage of the authors are male?
• What percentage of the authors are white?
• What percentage of the authors are old/dead?
• What patterns do you notice? Why do you think this is?

I have replicated this experiment dozens of times in the classroom, and, in most classes, the vast majority of what students have been taught are “Literary Masterworks” are written by (pardon my colloquialism) dead white males. Although, as time progresses, it seems there is increasing but not proportionate representation on average. For example, while women make up about half of the population, over 80% of the most popular novels were written by men ("Battle"). While there are many possible reasons for this discrepancy in representation (which could be the focus of an entire textbook), what does this mean for scholars of literature? For students? For instructors? For society?

As a cultural relic, similar to art, many scholars suggest literature is a reflection of the society which produces it. This includes positive aspects of society (championing values such as love, justice, and good triumphing over evil), but it can also reflect negative aspects of society (such as discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, historical lack of opportunity for marginalized authors).

For example, enslaved Africans were often prevented from learning to read and write as a form of control. When Phillis Wheatley published her book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773) she had to defend the fact that she wrote it, due to popularly held racist views that slaves were incapable of writing poetry. Later, Frederick Douglass wrote about how his enslavers banned him from reading and writing, as they realized "education and slavery were incompatible with each other" (Douglass). He later championed his learning to read and write as the means which conveyed him to freedom. However, even when trying to publish The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass ( 1845) his publishers were forced to prove that it was, in fact, an enslaved person who wrote the story and not a white man who wrote it for him. Slave owners actively attempted to keep this book from circulation as it threatened the institution of slavery upon which they depended. Indeed, to this day, Douglass' book continues to be banned in some prisons for its potential to incite revolution (Darby, Gilroy).

How could Black writers enter the canon en masse if they were not allowed to read or write? Or if they were forced to spend all of their waking hours working? And if those who had the means to read and write had to jump through absurd hoops just to have their works published? And if even those texts which were published were banned?

Similarly, throughout much of Western history, women have been discouraged from pursuing reading and writing, as it distracted from society's expectations for women to focus on motherly and household duties. Until the 1700s, women were not allowed to go to college. Even then, very few went: only the extremely wealthy. It was not until the 19th century that women attended college in representative numbers. Virginia Woolf wrote in A Room of One's Own that if there are fewer works of literature written by women, it is only because society, historically, has not given women the time, education, funding, or space to do so. In this extended essay, she describes an imaginary sister of William Shakespeare who could have been just as great of a writer had she the same opportunities as her brother.

I told you in the course of this paper that Shakespeare had a sister; but do not look for her in Sir Sidney Lee's life of the poet. She died young—alas, she never wrote a word. She lies buried where the omnibuses now stop, opposite the Elephant and Castle. Now my belief is that this poet who never wrote a word and was buried at the cross-roads still lives. She lives in you and in me, and in many other women who are not here tonight, for they are washing up the dishes and putting the children to bed. But she lives; for great poets do not die; they are continuing presences; they need only the opportunity to walk among us in the flesh. This opportunity, as I think, it is now coming within your power to give her.

Woolf argues that in our time those who have been excluded from literature can now join the canon by adding their voices. The inequity of representation in literature -- which has arguably improved, but in many ways persists today -- can be remedied if more people from a wide array of backgrounds and walks of life are empowered to study and create Literature. That is one reason why the current study of literature is so exciting. As a student and budding literary scholar, you have the power to influence culture through your reading and analysis of literature! For one author and scholar's perspective on this topic, please watch this the following TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to see the ways in which such misrepresentations are harmful, and why it is important to veer away from the historically parochial Canon into what Chinua Achebe calls "a balance of stories" (qtd. Bacon).

• Original video available on TED Talk website
• Transcript of video

What "single stories" do you know? What are the "single stories" people have told about you? What story would you tell if you could? What kinds of stories do you want to read? Throughout this class, you will get the opportunity to encounter many different voices and stories from all over the world. While we faced hurdles of copyright permissions, the authors of this textbook attempted to embody the values espoused in this TED Talk & Chinua Achebe's conception of the "balance of stories." As you read the textbook, consider the stories which were omitted, why they were omitted, and what works of Literature you would include in this class if you could.

Works Cited

Bacon, Katie. "An African Voice." The Atlantic , 2000.

"Battle of the Authors: Are The Most Popular Rated Fiction Books Written by Men or Women?" Wordery , 1 Mar. 2019.

Darby, Luke. "Illinois Prison Bans Frederick Douglass's Memoir and Other "Racial" Books." GQ , 20 August 2019.

Douglass, Frederick. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. 1845.

Friedrich, Caspar David. "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog." Hamburger Kunsthalle Museum , 1818.

Gilroy, Paul. "Banned Books of Guantánamo: 'An American Slave' by Frederick Douglass." Vice , 14 Nov. 2014.

"literature, n.; 3b & 5" OED Online , Oxford University Press, September 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/109080. Accessed 6 September 2019.

Rollison, David. "Big L vs Little L Literature." Survey of World Literature I. College of Marin, 2008. Lecture.

Wheatley, Phillis. Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral . 1773.

Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. 1929.

Literature as a Mirror: Reflecting Society, Culture, and the Human Experience

Books show us how life is and how people feel. They tell stories from different times and places, helping us understand ourselves better. Some stories make us think and feel deeply, like sad stories by Shakespeare or futuristic tales. Books also talk about fairness and different lives, connecting us through shared feelings and experiences. They are like a simple guide to life.

Literature has long held a mirror to society, culture, and the human experience. It possesses a unique power to reflect the truths and complexities of our world, delving into the depths of human nature and exploring the myriad facets of our existence. Through its pages, literature captures the essence of different eras, societies, and cultures, portraying the triumphs, struggles, joys, and sorrows that define human existence.

As we immerse ourselves in the words of authors past and present, we not only gain insight into the perspectives and experiences of others, but we also gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Literature can challenge our preconceived notions, provoke thought, and evoke emotion. It allows us to explore the human condition and grapple with timeless questions about identity, meaning, love, and loss.

Whether it is through Shakespearean tragedies, dystopian novels, or coming-of-age tales, literature acts as a powerful reflection of our shared humanity. It gives a voice to the voiceless, exposes societal injustices, and offers us a glimpse into different walks of life. Ultimately, literature serves as a testament to the universality of the human experience, transcending time and culture to connect us on a profound level.

Literature as a reflection of society

Literature serves as a reflection of society, holding up a mirror to its values, norms, and social structures. Whether it is through classic literature like Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” which portrays the rigid social hierarchy of 19th-century England, or contemporary works like George Orwell’s “1984,” which warns of the dangers of totalitarianism, literature sheds light on the social dynamics that shape our lives.

In literature, we witness the struggles and triumphs of individuals within societal contexts. Characters often embody the hopes, fears, and aspirations of their time, allowing readers to relate to their experiences and recognize the commonalities of the human condition. By portraying societal issues such as inequality, discrimination, and injustice, literature becomes a powerful tool for social commentary and critique.

Literature not only reflects society as it exists, but it can also imagine alternative worlds and possibilities. Science fiction novels like Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” or Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” envision dystopian societies that serve as cautionary tales or satirical critiques of present-day realities. Through these imagined worlds, literature challenges us to examine our society and consider the potential consequences of our actions.

Literature as a reflection of culture

Just as literature reflects society, it also mirrors the culture from which it emerges. Culture encompasses a broad range of elements, including language, customs, traditions, beliefs, and values. Literature captures and represents these cultural aspects, providing a window into different societies and their unique ways of life.

In reading literature from different cultures, we gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity and richness of human experiences. For example, the works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez transport us to the vibrant world of Latin America, filled with magical realism and a deep sense of community. On the other hand, the novels of Chinua Achebe introduce us to the complexities of African culture and the legacy of colonialism.

Literature also reflects the cultural norms and expectations of a particular time and place. For instance, the works of Jane Austen offer insights into the social conventions and expectations of 18th-century England, particularly regarding marriage, class, and gender roles. By examining these cultural nuances through literature, we broaden our understanding of different societies and foster cross-cultural empathy.

Literature as a reflection of the human experience

At its core, literature is a profound exploration of the human experience. It delves into the depths of our emotions, desires, and struggles, giving voice to our shared humanity. Through the stories and characters we encounter in literature, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

Themes and motifs in literature often revolve around universal human experiences such as love, loss, longing, and the search for meaning. Whether it’s the heart-wrenching tragedy of Romeo and Juliet or the introspective journey of Huckleberry Finn, literature provides a platform for us to grapple with the complexities of our own lives.

Moreover, literature has the power to challenge and expand our perspectives. It introduces us to diverse viewpoints and experiences, allowing us to see the world through different lenses. By immersing ourselves in narratives that are different from our own, we develop empathy and a greater appreciation for the diversity of human existence.

The role of literature in shaping society

Literature not only reflects society, but it also plays a pivotal role in shaping it. Through its ability to provoke thought and challenge established norms, literature has the power to incite social change. Many works of literature have sparked important conversations and movements, shedding light on issues that were previously ignored or silenced.

For example, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is widely credited with fueling the abolitionist movement in the United States. The book exposed the horrors of slavery and humanized enslaved individuals, galvanizing public opinion against the institution. Similarly, the works of feminist writers like Virginia Woolf and Simone de Beauvoir have contributed to the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.

Literature can also catalyze cultural transformation. By challenging prevailing norms and offering alternative perspectives, literature encourages critical thinking and pushes boundaries. It invites readers to question the status quo and imagine new possibilities for their societies.

The influence of culture on literature

While literature reflects culture, it is also influenced by it. Culture shapes the themes, styles, and perspectives that emerge in literary works. For instance, the oral storytelling traditions of Indigenous cultures have heavily influenced contemporary Native American literature, infusing it with rich symbolism and a strong connection to nature.

Moreover, cultural values and beliefs impact the reception and interpretation of literature. Different cultures may have varying expectations and standards for what constitutes “good” literature. For example, the concept of “canonicity” in Western literature has historically privileged certain works and authors, often excluding voices from marginalized communities. Recognizing and challenging these cultural biases is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape.

Themes and motifs in literature that reflect the human experience

Literature is replete with themes and motifs that resonate with the human experience across time and cultures. Love, for instance, is a perennial theme explored in countless works of literature. From the passionate love affair of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice” to the tragic love triangle of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby,” literature encapsulates the complexities and nuances of romantic relationships.

Loss and grief are also recurring themes in literature, as authors grapple with the inevitability of death and the profound impact it has on individuals and communities. In Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” the haunting legacy of slavery is explored through the lens of loss and remembrance. Similarly, in Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief,” the devastation of war is juxtaposed with the power of words and storytelling.

Identity and self-discovery are other central themes in literature. Coming-of-age novels like J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Americanah” depict the struggles and triumphs of young protagonists as they navigate the complexities of adolescence and forge their own identities.

The impact of diverse voices in literature

The inclusion of diverse voices in literature is vital for a comprehensive and authentic reflection of society, culture, and the human experience. Historically, certain voices have been marginalized or excluded from the literary canon, perpetuating a limited and homogenous perspective. However, increased recognition and celebration of diverse voices have begun to reshape the literary landscape.

When authors from marginalized communities are allowed to share their stories, literature becomes a more accurate and inclusive representation of the human experience. It allows readers from different backgrounds to see themselves reflected in narratives and fosters a sense of belonging and validation.

Moreover, diverse voices in literature challenge stereotypes and provide alternative narratives that disrupt dominant narratives. By amplifying marginalized voices, literature becomes a catalyst for social change and empowers individuals to reclaim their own stories.

The importance of reading literature for personal growth and empathy

Engaging with literature is not only intellectually stimulating, but it also contributes to personal growth and empathy. By immersing ourselves in the experiences of fictional characters, we develop a greater understanding of the complexities of human nature. Literature encourages us to step into the shoes of others, to see the world through their eyes, and to empathize with their joys and sorrows.

Reading literature also expands our horizons and broadens our perspectives. It exposes us to different cultures, societies, and historical periods, fostering a sense of curiosity and openness to the world. As we encounter diverse voices and narratives, our understanding of the human experience becomes more nuanced and compassionate.

Furthermore, literature enhances our critical thinking and analytical skills. It challenges us to decipher symbolism, identify themes, and interpret complex narratives. These cognitive abilities translate into other aspects of our lives, enabling us to navigate ambiguity and engage with the world more thoughtfully.

Conclusion: The enduring relevance of literature as a mirror

Throughout history, literature has served as a powerful mirror, reflecting society, culture, and the human experience. It captures the essence of different eras, societies, and cultures, providing insight into the triumphs, struggles, joys, and sorrows that define our existence. Literature challenges our perspectives, provokes thought, and evokes emotion. It connects us on a profound level, reminding us of our shared humanity.

As we continue to explore the pages of literature, we must recognize the importance of diverse voices and perspectives. By amplifying marginalized voices and embracing stories from all walks of life, literature becomes a more inclusive and accurate reflection of our world.

In an increasingly interconnected and diverse society, literature remains an invaluable tool for personal growth, empathy, and social change. It invites us to engage with different perspectives, question our assumptions, and imagine new possibilities. In this way, literature continues to be a potent force, illuminating the human experience and inspiring us to strive for a more just, compassionate, and understanding world.

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Essay on Literature As The Mirror Of Society

Students are often asked to write an essay on Literature As The Mirror Of Society in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Literature As The Mirror Of Society

Introduction.

Literature is a significant part of our lives. It’s like a mirror that reflects society. It shows us the life, culture, and beliefs of people from different times and places. Just like a mirror shows our image, literature shows us the image of society.

Literature and Society

Literature and society are closely connected. Writers use their works to express their thoughts about the world around them. They write about what they see, feel, and experience in society. This is why we can learn a lot about society from literature.

Reflection of Culture

Literature reflects the culture of a society. It tells us about the customs, traditions, and values of people. By reading literature, we can understand how people lived in the past and how they live now.

Understanding Human Nature

Literature helps us understand human nature. It shows us the emotions, desires, and struggles of people. By reading about these, we can better understand ourselves and others.

In conclusion, literature is a mirror of society. It reflects the life, culture, and human nature of different times and places. By reading literature, we can learn a lot about society and ourselves.

250 Words Essay on Literature As The Mirror Of Society

Literature often acts like a mirror, reflecting the society we live in. It is a powerful tool that shows us the world and its people in a unique light.

What is Literature?

Literature is a collection of written works like poems, novels, plays, and essays. These works are more than just words. They are creative expressions that capture the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of the people who write them.

How Does Literature Reflect Society?

Literature can give us a clear picture of society. Writers often use their works to show what’s happening around them. They write about real people, events, and issues. This gives us a chance to see and understand different aspects of society.

Examples of Literature Reflecting Society

For example, the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee reflects racism in American society. The play “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen, shows us the status of women in the 19th century. These works help us understand the social issues of their time.

Why is it Important?

Literature as a mirror of society is important because it helps us learn about different cultures, histories, and experiences. It can open our minds and make us think about things in new ways. By reading literature, we can gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.

In conclusion, literature is a powerful mirror that reflects society. It helps us see the world from different perspectives and understand it better. So, let’s keep reading and learning from the mirror of society – literature.

500 Words Essay on Literature As The Mirror Of Society

Literature is a vital part of human life. It is like a mirror that reflects society. It shows us the past, the present, and even the future. It helps us understand how people live, think, and feel. This essay will explore how literature acts as a mirror of society.

Literature is a form of art that uses words to express ideas and feelings. It includes books, poems, plays, and other writings. These works are often about people, their lives, and their societies. They show us what is happening in the world around us. For example, a story about a poor farmer may show us the problems of poverty and inequality.

Reflecting Social Issues

Literature can also bring attention to social issues. Many writers use their works to highlight problems in society. They write about things like racism, sexism, and corruption. These stories can make us think about these issues and encourage us to find solutions. For instance, the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee shows us the problem of racial injustice.

Showing Cultural Values

Literature also reflects the values and beliefs of a society. It shows us what people think is important. This can be seen in the way characters act and the choices they make. For example, in a society that values bravery, the heroes of stories are often brave and courageous.

Changing with Society

As society changes, so does literature. New stories are written that reflect new ideas and experiences. This can be seen in the way literature has changed over time. In the past, most stories were about kings and queens. Now, many stories are about ordinary people and their lives. This shows how society has become more democratic.

In conclusion, literature is a mirror of society. It reflects the world around us, showing us both its beauty and its flaws. It helps us understand other people and cultures. It makes us think about social issues and encourages us to find solutions. By reading literature, we can learn about society and our place in it. So, let’s read more and understand our world better.

This essay is a short journey through the wide world of literature and its connection with society. It only scratches the surface of this deep topic. There is so much more to explore and learn. But hopefully, it has given you a good start. So, keep reading, keep learning, and keep exploring. The world of literature is waiting for you.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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(O.M. Beketov University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv. Ukraine)

(PhD in Pedagogic, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of High Mathematic at O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine)

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