Literature isn’t just for entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for learning . Through stories, essays, and autobiographies, readers can explore the world through someone else’s eyes and gain insight without having to experience the same hardships. This is especially true when the author’s ideas are relevant , their reasoning is sound , and the content has practical value in one’s life. One literary piece that strongly reflects these qualities is an excerpt from the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin , where we witness both the mental and moral strength of a man whose ideas remain timeless. 🔎 The Value of Judging Literary Ideas and Reasoning 🧠 When engaging with literature, one of the most important reading skills to develop is the ability to judge the relevance and worth of ideas . This doesn’t just mean identifying whether a piece is interesting; it means analyzing whether the author’s insights apply meaningfully to your life and whether their logic holds up under scrutiny. The s...
Literature does more than tell a story—it shapes perspectives , reflects values, and influences behavior. Through character portrayals and authorial tone, readers encounter not just fictional narratives, but mirrors of morality, culture, and identity . In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” , this didactic function of literature —its ability to teach and transform—is fully realized. Walker not only delivers a narrative of family, heritage, and personal growth, but also challenges readers to reflect on their own values and the behaviors that stem from them . 💡 What We Learn Through Characters’ Attitudes Characters in literature often carry attitudes that act as emotional cues or moral compasses. In “Everyday Use,” we meet Mama, Maggie, and Dee (later Wangero) who each embody conflicting perspectives on identity, culture, and self-worth . Mama, the narrator, is grounded, physically strong, and emotionally resilient—a woman who knows hardship and is proud of practical wisdom and survival ...