The purpose of studying World Lit.

Why study World Lit? Studying writing from the 1650s to present day is especially important because I believe that literature from this period has a relevance to modern society that ancient texts lack. Reading literature from this period gives us a deeper insight into contemporary historical events, and allows us to experience the consequences of those events first-hand. Also usually the more time spent on something, the better it is, so by 1650 we'd had a ton of practice.

                                              ...and it all began in a cave.

The Enlightenment was especially significant because it championed the importance of reason. Which gave rise to several important literary styles, and it emphasized the dual function of literature as entertainment and education. As quoted from page 98 of Volume D in our textbook, "Stage comedy and tragedy, the early novel, satire in prose and verse, didactic poetry, the philosophical tale: each form developed its own set of devices for creating pleasure as well as for involving audiences and readers in situations requiring moral choice." The satire from this period is especially educational, providing a sincere look into the social issues of the day.

                                                         Pictured: Sincerity

Often times it seems that literature is where revolutionary social ideas first manifest. The ethics visited in these works also had a great deal of influence on the contemporary world. Oroonoko is significant in that it not only challenged the ethics of slavery, but it was also written by a woman, which was rare for the time it was published. Many works from this period would seek to shed light on other societal double-standards. Moliere's Tartuffe, Swift's biting satire, and Voltaire's cynicism would seek out to "call attention to the deceptiveness and the possible misuses of social norms as well as to their necessity" (pg. 95). The cultural relevance of these ideas still persists today. In many cases the themes and messages in these books were being newly introduced into their cultures, or newly refined; and by reading these works we can gain a better appreciation for ideas that are commonplace in modern society.