JOIN USIt has been proved beyond doubt that timeless pieces of prose, poetry, stories, novels and drama can educate a person in more ways than one.
The discussion and analysis of situations and characters can sensitise a person to different outlooks of life and eventually lend a rounded personality to one’s character. It is no wonder that the prestigious IITs and IIMs have allotted several academic hours to introduce their students to relevant facets of literature.
Journalism, visual media, advertising, copywriting, technical writing, teaching and clearing civil service examinations have been the conventional end of these degrees. They continue to be so, but the sky is the limit if one takes up the course with right earnest.
Students who have chosen to dabble with the study of literature will do well to follow a strict regimen of reading variously and widely. Booklists suggested by the teaching faculty can prove to be launch pads which can reveal new paths as one travels through the world of books. It is true that we live in times when any information under the sun is available to us at the click of a button. It is also true that many of it may not be authenticated, catalogued or verified by authorities in the field.
It will be a safe bet to resort to hard copies when reading literature because it facilitates the thought process. Earmarking pages, underlining sentences, writing out meanings and references can prove to be a fruitful exercise.
Fledgling phase
Usually students are introduced to the history of English literature in the fledgling phase.
Reading at this stage should be steadily punctuated by study of the history and geography of the time. Learning about the wars, socio economic standards, religious beliefs, scientific progress and philosophical insights can make a piece of literature come alive. Understanding the flavour of an age can facilitate comparing and classifying the general thinking of the period. Later on, students will find it easy to answer multiple choice questions when taking up competitive examinations like NET, SLET, preliminary rounds of civil service examinations.
In the long run, it will also help them to understand the social psychology of specific societies across the globe, which can prove to be invaluable in an increasingly close knit world.
Once the history of the subject sinks in, students will be introduced to selected pieces of literature which will usually be followed by suggested reading. Most professors will make passing reference of them during their lectures, but a good student will benefit greatly if the suggested reading list is “really read”. It will lend greater depth to the perception of the theme and also give a glimpse of how creative thinking can revolve around a certain theme at different places and time periods.
Most prescribed textbooks give limited and selective biographical information of the authors, poets, dramatists, novelists et al. A lot of academic importance is placed on these given details. A student has to realise that there is more than that meets the eye.
The person may be very different from the persona. Hence it will be in the best interests of the literary works not to judge them at the elementary stage of reading. One would do well to read all the possible works of the given writer and then read about the person. This measure will help students to draw a holistic and mature opinion of the litterateur instead of being led by the nose.
Prolific reading will certainly help the mind to blossom. Reams of reading will automatically improve vocabulary, syntax and spellings. However a student is expected to have writing skills. Taking down lecture notes, noting down impressions and looking up the dictionary from time to time can help a lot. Yet if a student makes a conscious effort to write out summaries, elucidations and essays without availing any help it will not only hone writing skills but will promote clear thinking and trigger latent creativity over a period of time. Discussion of themes, concepts and ideas in right earnest with learned professors and fellow students can raise the level of confidence to recognize influences, adaptations and improvisations of classical literature.
Once a firm foundation is laid, the scholar will be able to handle all the material on the website with discernment.
A passionate student of literature who develops a voracious appetite for reading will find that he or she has actually signed up for a lifelong rendezvous with the subject. Unlike study of other subjects which promise expertise in the field if approached in the right way, zealous students of literature will reap additional benefits for they will turn out to be sensible and sensitive individuals who can make a difference to the world they live in!