Hi all!

I would like you to make some comments about the following question so you will help me to carry out a research.I hope you will help me eagerly..Thanks in advance...



WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO GAIN FROM READING LITERARY TEXTS?

enlightment, entertainment, escapism, challenge, status
to name but a few options...

I recoil from the expression 'literary texts'. It seems symptomatic of a mind dulled by excessive exposure to post-modern posturing and nitwittery. Why not just say 'literature'? In any case, does that object add any meaning to the sentence? Wouldn't the question mean the same if it ended with the word 'reading'?

As for what anyone expects to gain from reading (or reading literature if you really think that distinction meaningful), there's pleasure, knowledge and vicarious experience for a start. Maybe for some, the aim is a university degree of some kind.

What are your ideas on this, Sezen?

There are many literary texts that are quite useful for falling asleep at night. I particularly recommend War and Peace. I guarantee you won't get two pages read before experiencing a deep snooze. Close second - anything by Tom Clancy. The man is in love with the sound of his own voice. Well, the sound of his own keyboard clicking, anyway.

What I expect to gain is knowledge. I use reading as a way to learn and improve my mind and my thinking. John Ruskin put it best in Sesame and Lilies when he made this statement concerning the great literatures of the ages:

"...you must rise to the level of our thoughts if you would be gladdened by them, and share our feelings, if you would recognise our presence."

I found War and Peace quite exciting. Now televised baseball is good for sleep.

To remind us we are not alone.

Paddy

"My muse is a jealous whore."

You'll end up with a better vocabulary whether you like it or not