What is the purpose and benefit of the study of literature?
The typical reply to such a question would evolve developing ones skills in communication. This is true, as studying literature as a whole can develop the skills to share ideas through speech and writing, but it also develops ones ability to read and listen to the sharing of others ideas. Overall, literature is a mere sharing of ideas, and studying it helps us do so too. But, in my opinion, it's more than that; more than just learning to communicate. Engaging in timeless literature allows for us to connect with anyone, through the communication of ideas. Themes from centuries before can still be relatable today, and time and place is of no significance when considering the connection that a reader can have to the literature being read. Such sympathy can be felt for characters who feel pain, and extreme joy is experienced for the characters who feel joy as well, and this is regardless of when, where, or by whom the piece of literature was created.
What is women’s literature and what is the value in studying it?
Most literature is written by men. This is why there is no specific name for the literature of men. However, women's literature is different. It provides any single reader with a different perspective on life. Countless real life struggles are written by women, and because only women have experienced these struggles, only women can truly express these feelings in words. Men could try to write about the struggles of women, but the perspective and depth would not be the same. That's why so much value lies in women's literature, as embedded in it are so many themes that are inexpressible by anyone else but a woman.
Why were the themes and values of Munro’s social realism so significant during the 1950s-1980s?
Alice Munro's work was significant during the second wave of feminism. This was when women wanted to separate from the social norms of society that forced them to carry out the roles associated with the female gender. Consciousness started rising, and this idea was expressed through her work. Rising out of her short stories was the awareness of the roles that women wanted to be freed from, and her works contributed in rising consciousness, and this was largely expressed through personal experiences, which is a value of women's literature.
Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro’s work contributed to gender equality?
She shares her personal struggles through her work, and, as mentioned previously, those, contributes in rising consciousness, which led to a greater level of equality between genders. This was through her own personal perspective of life, which was quite influential. She might not be fighting for the right to be equal through her literature, but she does express personal experiences to raise consciousness.
What do you enjoy most about the content of Munro’s work and what impact has it had on you?
Any person could research the facts of the discrimination against women and obtain all the information they need to paint a vivid image of reality back then. But there is nothing quite like reading a piece of literature from the perspective of one of the many women that suffered during this time. Personal experiences allow for a greater degree of connection with the author, as I experienced, and this was overall the intention of her work.
The typical reply to such a question would evolve developing ones skills in communication. This is true, as studying literature as a whole can develop the skills to share ideas through speech and writing, but it also develops ones ability to read and listen to the sharing of others ideas. Overall, literature is a mere sharing of ideas, and studying it helps us do so too. But, in my opinion, it's more than that; more than just learning to communicate. Engaging in timeless literature allows for us to connect with anyone, through the communication of ideas. Themes from centuries before can still be relatable today, and time and place is of no significance when considering the connection that a reader can have to the literature being read. Such sympathy can be felt for characters who feel pain, and extreme joy is experienced for the characters who feel joy as well, and this is regardless of when, where, or by whom the piece of literature was created.
What is women’s literature and what is the value in studying it?
Most literature is written by men. This is why there is no specific name for the literature of men. However, women's literature is different. It provides any single reader with a different perspective on life. Countless real life struggles are written by women, and because only women have experienced these struggles, only women can truly express these feelings in words. Men could try to write about the struggles of women, but the perspective and depth would not be the same. That's why so much value lies in women's literature, as embedded in it are so many themes that are inexpressible by anyone else but a woman.
Why were the themes and values of Munro’s social realism so significant during the 1950s-1980s?
Alice Munro's work was significant during the second wave of feminism. This was when women wanted to separate from the social norms of society that forced them to carry out the roles associated with the female gender. Consciousness started rising, and this idea was expressed through her work. Rising out of her short stories was the awareness of the roles that women wanted to be freed from, and her works contributed in rising consciousness, and this was largely expressed through personal experiences, which is a value of women's literature.
Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro’s work contributed to gender equality?
She shares her personal struggles through her work, and, as mentioned previously, those, contributes in rising consciousness, which led to a greater level of equality between genders. This was through her own personal perspective of life, which was quite influential. She might not be fighting for the right to be equal through her literature, but she does express personal experiences to raise consciousness.
What do you enjoy most about the content of Munro’s work and what impact has it had on you?
Any person could research the facts of the discrimination against women and obtain all the information they need to paint a vivid image of reality back then. But there is nothing quite like reading a piece of literature from the perspective of one of the many women that suffered during this time. Personal experiences allow for a greater degree of connection with the author, as I experienced, and this was overall the intention of her work.
This is an insightful reflection that demonstrates strong engagement with our current unit. I'm not entirely clear what exactly you enjoyed most about her work. Could you be more specific?
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