What is Literature and How Literature Shaped Me?

Prof. Dilip Barad of the English Department (MKBU) gave me the assignment to write this blog. The blog is about how I understand literature and how it has influenced me. I made an effort to integrate my personal experiences and development with literature. You can check out the following blog for further information.(Teacher's Blog Link   )

Introduction : 

Literature is a way to explore different ideas, emotions, and perspectives. It takes us on a journey through history, art, nature, and human feelings. It is more than just stories and poems; it reflects human experiences and helps us understand different cultures, time periods, and ways of thinking. Through literature, we connect with emotions like love, sadness, courage, and hope, making us feel closer to the world around us. Literature has played a big role in shaping my thoughts and creativity. It has improved my critical thinking, expanded my imagination, and helped me see the world in new ways. Whether it is the deep , the emotional depth in Virginia Woolf’s books, .

Literature also helps us understand society, politics, psychology, and science. For example, George Orwell’s 1984 warns us about the dangers of totalitarian rule, while Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein makes us think about the risks of uncontrolled scientific experiments. By reading and analyzing literature, I have learned not just facts but also how to see the world from different perspectives. Writing about literature allows me to share how it influences my thoughts, challenges my views, and inspires new ideas. It is a rich source of knowledge, creativity, and human emotions—one that continues to shape my personal and intellectual journey.

What is literature?

Literature is all about expressing ideas, emotions, and stories in a creative way, whether through writing or speech. It helps us think deeply about different topics, characters, and situations, often showing us different viewpoints. There are many forms of literature, like novels, poetry, plays, essays, and short stories, each with its own unique style. Literature also reflects culture, history, and creativity, keeping important stories, languages, and traditions alive for future generations. It’s not just about entertainment—it helps us understand the world and connect with different perspectives.

Literature reflects the ideas, beliefs, and experiences of different societies throughout history. When we read, we learn about past events, social issues, and diverse cultures, which helps us see the world from different perspectives and develop empathy. It also deepens our emotions and sharpens our thinking, allowing us to explore big themes like morality, identity, love, and loss. Literature takes us to imaginary worlds or real historical moments, making us reflect on life and feel connected to human emotions. At first, we might not fully understand its depth, but as we read and experience it, we start to appreciate the beauty of storytelling, the power of emotions, and the richness of language.

Literature is not just for entertainment; it also challenges ideas, questions social norms, and inspires new ways of thinking. It can highlight injustices, spark change, and influence society. By exploring complex themes and diverse characters, literature helps us understand human struggles and emotions, no matter where or when they come from. It connects us to people from different cultures and time periods, showing us the shared human experience.

Reading both classic and modern literature broadens our perspective and encourages creativity. It also improves our language and communication skills by expanding our vocabulary and sharpening our writing. Through literature, we not only learn about the world but also express our thoughts more effectively. Literature is more than just a collection of stories—it is a dynamic and diverse art form that broadens perspectives, deepens understanding, and fosters a strong connection with the world and humanity as a whole.

For me, literature is more than just reading stories—it’s about experiencing life through words. It takes me to different times, lets me see the world from new perspectives, and helps me understand emotions I haven’t felt myself. Literature has shaped the way I think, expanded my imagination, and helped me develop my own ideas. , Woolf’s stories showed deep emotions, and Orwell’s 1984 warned about the dangers of power and control.

Literature also inspires my love for writing. It makes me reflect on society, human emotions, and the beauty of art. It teaches me how powerful words can be in expressing ideas, bringing change, and connecting with others. Reading and analyzing books has made me more aware of the world around me.

My Journey with Literature: How It Shaped Me

Literature has played a profound role in shaping my thoughts, emotions, and worldview. My journey with literature began during my B.A. studies, where I was introduced to a variety of texts that laid the foundation for my understanding of storytelling, poetry, and literary analysis. Reading novels like David Copperfield, plays like Pygmalion, and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar not only improved my comprehension skills but also helped me develop a critical eye for analyzing characters and themes. The study of poetry further deepened my appreciation for language and emotions, as I explored works by poets like Wordsworth, Keats, and Tennyson. These experiences helped me become a more observant reader and a reflective thinker.

As I progressed into my M.A. studies, my engagement with literature deepened. The syllabus exposed me to different literary periods, from Elizabethan and Romantic literature to modern and postcolonial studies. Reading Macbeth, Frankenstein, and The Waste Land expanded my ability to analyze texts from historical and theoretical perspectives. Dickens' Hard Times revealed the struggles of the working class in industrial England, while Hardy’s Jude the Obscure highlighted caste and class tensions. Woolf’s Orlando broadened my understanding of queer theory, and poems like On Being Asked for a War Poem shaped my views on religion and politics. Beckett's Waiting for Godot introduced me to absurdism, nihilism, and existentialism, ideas that Camus and Nietzsche deepened. Preparing a presentation on these concepts made me reflect on the meaning of life and societal expectations, especially after reading The Metamorphosis. Exploring cultural and postcolonial studies deepened my understanding of absence, shaped by Derrida's ideas. I learned to analyze texts and power dynamics, seeing Hamlet from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's view and understanding Spivak's "Can the Subaltern Speak?" Studying Orientalism showed me how power structures work and how politics influences all art.I also realized literature connects with history, philosophy, psychology, and more, teaching us everything and having vast applications. My research and presentations on topics like ecocriticism and feminism allowed me to explore how literature shapes social consciousness and human experiences.

Through blogging and academic writing, I have learned how to express my thoughts clearly and critically engage with literature. Literature has not only refined my analytical and communication skills but also made me more empathetic, as I have understood diverse perspectives and emotions through different characters and narratives. My current research in ecocriticism reflects how literature has shaped my intellectual growth, pushing me to explore its connection with environmental and social issues.

Overall, literature has been more than just an academic subject for me—it has been a journey of self-discovery, critical thinking, and creativity. It has shaped me into a thinker, a writer, and an observer of life, helping me see the world through multiple perspectives.

My Metaphor for literature : 

Literature is like a kaleidoscope ever-shifting, endlessly colorful, and revealing new patterns with every turn. Just as a kaleidoscope refracts light through fragments of glass to form intricate designs, literature refracts human experiences, emotions, and histories through the lens of storytelling, poetry, and drama. With each reader, each interpretation, and each re-reading, literature presents a fresh perspective, an altered pattern of meaning, making it a dynamic and transformative force.

Much like the ever-changing nature of a kaleidoscope, literature does not offer a singular, fixed reality. Instead, it provides a multiplicity of viewpoints, inviting readers to engage with different cultures, ideologies, and time periods. Whether one is reading a Shakespearean tragedy, a postcolonial novel, or contemporary eco-fiction, literature allows us to see the world from angles we might never have imagined. This shifting lens helps us question our own beliefs, empathize with diverse experiences, and understand the intricate nature of human existence.

Furthermore, literature's kaleidoscopic quality lies in its ability to blend the past, present, and future seamlessly. Classic texts continue to be reinterpreted in modern contexts, just as new literary works echo the themes and concerns of bygone eras. A single piece of literature can be seen in countless ways depending on the reader's background, historical context, or even mood—just as a kaleidoscope’s patterns change depending on the angle and light.

The beauty of this metaphor is that it highlights the infinite possibilities of literature. There is no final, absolute interpretation of a story or poem—just as no single kaleidoscopic pattern is definitive. Literature, like the turning of a kaleidoscope, invites us to explore, reflect, and reimagine the world around us. It is an ever-evolving art form that remains both personal and universal, shifting with time yet timeless in its essence.

Ultimately, literature, like a kaleidoscope, encourages us to embrace complexity, celebrate diversity, and marvel at the endless ways in which words can shape our understanding of life. Every time we engage with a literary work, we turn the kaleidoscope, discovering new insights and perspectives that add to the rich tapestry of human thought and imagination.

Conclusion :  

Literature is more than just written words; it’s a way to explore human experiences and emotions. It connects people across different cultures and time periods, helping us understand ourselves and others. The author’s journey through literature, from undergraduate to advanced studies, shows how it helps shape personal growth, critical thinking, and emotional understanding. It teaches us to analyze ideas deeply and develop important skills in research and presentation. Literature, like a kaleidoscope, constantly shifts, offering new perspectives with each reading and interpretation. It refracts human experiences, emotions, and histories, allowing us to engage with diverse cultures, ideologies, and time periods. 

As we engage with literature, it constantly offers new perspectives, like a kaleidoscope that changes every time we look at it. This allows us to see different viewpoints and makes literature relevant in every era. Beyond academics, literature also connects with other fields like history, philosophy, and psychology. It helps us develop empathy, challenge societal norms, and preserve culture.

In conclusion, literature is not just an academic pursuit; it’s a tool for self-discovery and understanding the world. It fosters intellectual and emotional growth, helping us think creatively and develop a deeper understanding of human experience.

References:

Barad, D. (1970, January 1). Literature: What, why and how. Literature: What, Why and How. https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2016/03/literature-what-why-and-how.html