This semester of WL has really opened my eyes to the different cultures and literature around the world. Reading and understanding literature from different time periods, from different places adds to my understanding of the human experience. When one reads and understands the literature of a different culture, they're are less likely to judge, simply because they understand, they will see things from a different perspective. Literature is very diverse but very intertwined with each other, different works of literature influences another, and then another, a chain reaction. What's important is that we learn from them, apply what the author tries to express and apply that into our everyday lives and use the message to help us make better decisions. Literature is every where we go, every thing around us is influenced by world literature one way or another, it's a important part of our society. I specially enjoyed reading The Lord of Flies this semester; even though I've already read the book before this class, it was taught very differently from the previous time. This time, I understood the concept of the island being a symbol of the world, and the beast exists within everyone, even the adults.
Swift
“I am assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London; that a young healthy child, well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food; whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled, and I make no doubt, that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or ragout.”
(Swift 2070.
This is a very ironic and satiric line from The Modest Proposal. Swift claims his proposal of suggesting the people of Ireland to eat their children is a "modest" proposal while the idea of eating babies is bizarre and wild.
Campbell
“The German soldier who
dies is as much a hero as the American who was sent over to kill them.”
(Campbell 127).
War is a great example
of the hero/villain concept. The hero is the villain, and the villain is the hero
in the enemies’ eyes. Soldiers from both sides died for the same cause-war.
They died to save people, to end war, so they are both heroes at the same time
as they’re villain because they also killed other soldiers in order to be a
hero. The concept of hero/villain is intertwined and there’s only a fine line
that separates the hero from the villain, although often the line does not even
exist.
Golding
"Fear can't hurt you more than a dream." (Golding 83).
Ralph realizes the boys are only frightened of themselves, fear becomes paralyzing and unbeatable by the realization that the only thing they have to to fear is fear itself.
