Literary Education is education wherein one is required to analyze and interpret literary texts, which can then be used to give one a variety of information about other subjects, and can open one’s mind to creativity. However, the practice of literary education has been on the decline as of late, leading many to wonder if there is even a place for literary education in our modern world. Many people feel that more emphasis should be put on subjects such as math and science, in order to gain a successful education. However, I would argue that a literary education is still very important, and a good way to learn, as it broadens one’s mind, teaches about a variety of subjects, and it teaches life skills.
There are a lot of advantages to Literary education, and one of those advantages is that it broadens one’s mind. This is mainly because literary education allows one to learn to think critically. The downside to some of the harder sciences, is that many schools only teach students to memorize facts, and regurgitate those facts for tests. However, this isn’t true knowledge. This is simply memorization. One of the most important aspects of knowledge is the ability to think critically; to question, to solve problems, and so on. Reading literature helps one to think critically and broaden their mind by exploring many different emotions, subjects, points of view, and more. In fact, its variety is another one of the advantages of literary education.
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Because literary education can teach one about a variety of subjects, this allows one to learn about a little of everything. Literature can provide insight into history, and the human condition, that are interesting, engaging, and relatable to readers. This is included in both fiction and non-fiction works. For example, reading Shakespeare allows one insight into the language, beliefs, and customs of the time period. Conversely, The Diary of Anne Frank is non-fiction, and it gives one a shocking and intimate view of World War II. Literary education covers several bases of knowledge, and as stated above, it enables readers to think critically as they attempt to predict plots, understand the setting, and engage with the characters. However, literary education also teaches valuable life skills.
Literary education teaches important life skills in ways that one might not otherwise consider. To begin with, knowing how to read is very important for everyday life. Secondly, reading works of literature helps one to have a better understanding of grammar and syntax, which can also be very helpful for higher education, work, and more. Lastly, reading literature can be helpful on an emotional level, as it allows readers to connect with, or understand, characters or situations in the work. This can be very helpful for methods of coping with grief and other difficult situations in life.
However, some people think that only the hard sciences need to be focused on, particularly in light of the downturned economy and the poor test scores in schools. Many education reforms focus solely on those subjects, often to the detriment of humanities studies, like literary education. Despite these views, it is clear that literary education has many benefits, as outlined above. The study of hard sciences isn’t very useful without critical thinking skills, or life skills, that every person needs in order to thrive and be successful. Furthermore, literary education can also be helpful in learning other subjects, so having literary education be prioritized alongside math and the sciences can actually be beneficial for those hard science education classes. As a result, it is important to have literary education be a part of everyday learning in the classroom.
