Week 1- Kim C.

Everybody feel free to respond to my stuff and/or critique it or discuss it with me. In fact, I encourage it, since I'll be doing the same with you.

What is Literature anyway?
The word literature has many meanings. They range from very broad definitions that describe it as anything utilizing the written word to far more restrictive interpretations, which limit it to only creative writing of a widely recognized value. Literature can be and is both of these things; the definition of the word depends upon the context in which it is used. One can speak of a body of literature referring to all written works relating to a subject, such as motorcycle repair literature. On can also consider literature to be a more highbrow academic body of works of recognizable authors or titles, such as the works of William Shakespeare (whose inclusion in a group labeled "highbrow" is always questionable) or the novel The Grapes of Wrath. In a class devoted to the study of literature as a broad topic, the definition of the word is likely restricted to written works of a clearly recognizable value, most likely with commonly used literary devices.

What does it mean to study literature?
The study of literature is a multifaceted thing. It can be compared to the study of a science in that it requires some knowledge of background information and the ability to apply the background information to more complex concepts, knowing that what an ion is aids in the concept of pH just as knowing what a metaphor aids in the understanding of a paragraph rife with them. There is more to understanding literature, however, than simply the sum of its parts. While knowing various literary devices greatly aids in appreciation of a piece of writing, many more things come into play. One’s own personal grasp of language and personal experiences all color comprehension and thus study of literature. Also different from the study of a science is the assignation of worth. While deciding that a pH of 7 is wussy would be amusing, the statement has no scientific significance, whereas one can read a short story or a novel and decide whether the work has literary value or not.

Respond to “Story of an Hour”
This story is very feminist. Perhaps not blatantly so in modern times, but in the time that it was written it would have been feminist almost to the point of insult. Mrs. Mallard was probably married at a young age, perhaps an in a marriage arranged by her parents, and it was not a love match by any means. At the time this story was written marriage was more of an economic institution of necessity than the more modern idea of marriage matches made for emotion. While some people married for love, it was far from common, and as the story states, sometimes she had loved her husband, but often not. Therefore to her the death of her husband was something to be mourned, certainly, but also represented a new period of freedom for her. In that time it was expected that wives would bend to the will of their husband. So her new state of widowhood was one of freedom, not misery. Due to this fact and the fact that the reader is inside her head when she reaches this realization her elation is not something that inspires contempt and horror, but something that allows the reader to rejoice with her.