Literature And Its Purpose In American Schools

Literature challenges our minds to go above and beyond from what is in front of us. Literature tells a story of human experiences. Reading about these experiences we learn history, and about human nature. Literature holds a purpose in American schools because it exposes students to new things, teaches them about the past, and shows them another way to communicate and understand human experiences.
We learn how to dream, and are exposed to situations through novels we might have never had to deal with before. We learn empathy through novels. We know how to be sympathetic, understanding others feelings. We do not truly know how to be empathetic and not only understand another’s feelings, but also feel what they feel until we have learned how through reading literature. “Gaining a broad view of society, …show more content…
Without literature we would not be able to dream to the extent we do, or experience things differently. We experience as the author does. We would not have knowledge. With the knowledge we learn. Literature can teach how to read critically. Reading literature we learn about plot, and symbolism, and conflict. In short readings you miss out on many literary elements found in extensive reading (DeCoursey). Studies have been conducted to see how the brain reacts to literature. Literary devices, such as metaphors and similes, are commonly used in works of literature, and you will be surprised by how our brains interpret these devices. Brain scans show when you read certain words different parts of your brain lights up (Paul). Literature stimulates the brain and can change how we act. Certain imagery words can trigger the sensory parts of our brain, along with the part, which interprets written