WHY READ LITERATURE?

Much. Khoiri
After understanding the nature of literature, you might be curious about why you need to read literature? It is certainly your choice whether or not you love to read literature. And yet, at least, you need to learn what literature may provide to you. What benefits can you get across by reading literature?

            There are two fundamental benefits of reading literature: first dealing with the learning of the language as used as a medium of expression, and second with the overall insights of literature as man’s creation.

First of all, you are encouraged to learn the language used in literature, particularly when you are learning the language, say English. Gwin (1990) and Brock (1990) summarize some functions of literature, among others:

1.         Literature provides learners with interesting and meaning input in the written form. Interest is the primary goal of literature.

2.         It provides a means for meaningful output through writing and discussion.

3.         It enhances learners’ understanding of cultural values of English-speaking people.

4.         It provides realistic experiences for the type of reading that is most probably encountered in academic courses.

5.         It encourages extensive reading.

6.         It provides a basis for learners’ conversation, group work, and problem-solving activities.

Meanwhile, Collie and Slater (1987:3) add that literature is an example of authentic materials in a way that literary works are not designed for a particular purpose in language learning. In this sense you are exposed to the original and unabridged language, yet modified to suit to classroom context. However, the most important aspect in the teaching of literature is the wide possibility of personal involvement in the process of literary appreciation.

            Besides, Collie and Slater (1987: 4-5) also propose three more advantages of literature: cultural enrichment, language enrichment, and personal involvement. For many of you, to deepen their understanding of life in the country where that language is spoken is just not possible. Through literature, you are given indirect routes to this form understanding; this is what cultural enrichment means. At the same time, you also gain language enrichment by reading literature. In terms of personal involvement, literature can help you in the language learning process because of the personal involvement it fosters in readers. Engaging imaginatively with literature enables you to shift the focus of their attention beyond the more mechanical aspects of the foreign language system.

            Another benefit of reading literature is that you can learn human life and experiences. As a reader, you will realize how creative human being is. Literature is the product of man’s creativity. As you read Hughes’ poem “Dreams”, you may admire how, in the process of writing the poem, Hughes created such deep thoughts on dreams. Though the poem was once meant to enhance the African American people to awake themselves from suffering and injustice, it has then been used by many readers as a motto they memorize well. You perhaps realize why Hughes could create a poem that inspired many people throughout the world. From this point, like Hughes, you may think of, some day, being able to write a poem of the same quality or even of higher quality.  

 As literature is an abstraction of human life and experiences, as well as  the representation of truth and beauty or aesthetic values, you can use them as a mirror or a looking glass with which you see and judge yourself. From the poem “Dreams”, for instance, you may infer how bitter was the life of African-American people in the past, a condition which inspired Hughes to write the poem. Also from the poem, you can infer how Hughes tried hard to inspire people to hold their dreams; because dreams enable people to always live their life. In this sense, you read literature for its utility for both enjoyment and understanding—as Perrine (1974) classifies literature into “escape literature” (merely for enjoyment) and “interpretive” literature (for understanding).

            Moreover, since literature is just like an imitation of real life through a language as its medium, when you read it, you are like following and participating in the imaginary adventures and experiences of imaginary people. By reading it, you will get a vast number of experiences or lessons about human life without necessarily experiencing yourself. Human life reflected in literature is a big book from which you can learn much.

            More promisingly, literature helps you grow personally and intellectually. It provides an objective base for your knowledge and understanding, and helps you to connect yourself to the cultural context of which you are a part. It also enables you to recognize human dreams and struggles in different societies that you would never otherwise get to know; it helps you to develop mature sensibility and compassion for the condition of all living things—human, animal, and vegetable. It also gives you the knowledge or perception needed to appreciate the beauty of order and arrangement, just as a well-composed song and a beautifully-done painting can.

            Besides, it provides you with the comparative basis from which you can see worthiness in the aims of all people, and helps you see beauty in the world around you. Even, it helps you exercise your emotions through the arousal of interest, concern, tension, excitement, fear, hope, sympathy, and laughter. Great literature can shape your judgments through the constant comparison of the good against the evil. It also enables you both in your daily activities and in decisions; you are responsible for making as citizens. It encourages you to assist creative, talented people who are in need. In short, it helps to make you a human being. (To be continued...).