Why do you have to study world literature?

Answer 1

We need to study world literature, because we are human. Our experiences as humans connect us to each other but only through the medium of literature. You may ask, "Why not connect through the medium of television, since it is so immediate and easy?" The answer, simplified, is that television is constrained by several factors: programming is reliant on sponsorship and therefore subject to censorship by those sponsors; television programming is too short in duration to allow for a full, deep exploration of any part of the human condition; programming has, unfortunately, devolved into slick, fast-paced "nuggets" of information designed to deliver entertainment for a large audience, not true information. There's much more, but lest I start to digress, let me move on.

If we allow ourselves to live a "small life" - one in which we never experience anything beyond our immediate experiences - then we do not learn about other cultures. We do not get the opportunity to see how others handle situations that are similar to our own. We feel isolated and alone in our daily challenges. We do not feel the empathy with our global neighbors that prevents us from developing detrimental biases against them.

Perhaps the argument can be made that keeping oneself isolated from the world could lead to some form of psychosis or sociopathic tendencies. Literature can remove the obstacle of social isolation for those unable to physically reach out and learn about to the rest of the world's issues.

We also learn how to better communicate through literature. Conversation is too peppered with jargon and slang to be as effective at teaching us communication in a wider setting than literature. We can learn appropriate phrasing in different conversations that help us to possibly fit in or get ahead. Plus, the more we read good literature, the more we "get it" when we hear or read references to various, fitting quotes from it. Just think of how many headlines have gone misunderstood by so many. If only they'd read more . . .

Answer 2

There are many good reasons why literature is required in college. Some of these reasons are listed below.

(1) A college graduate is expected to be an educated person and you cannot be an educated person if you are not familiar with some of the great literature of the culture in which you were raised and of the world in general.

(2) The study of great literature teaches students about human nature and causes them to be more aware of their own character and habits and those of others around them.

(3) The analysis of the themes found in great literature helps students to develop critical thinking skills.

(4) The study of great literature helps a student to improve as a writer. A serious problem in the business world today is that many college graduates are poor writers. Allowing students to graduate from college without studying literature would only compound this problem.

Answer 3

It is not a requirement in all programs. It depends on the program of study and the general education cluster of the specific college or university.