From children’s books that parents read to their kids at bedtime to bestselling novels and award-winning literary works, books play a crucial role in our lives, fulfilling the natural human needs for knowledge, information, and entertainment.

The role of books in society can never be overestimated since they shape individuals and cultures and allow us to grow into more well-rounded people.

Why is Literature Important

The importance of books starts from our childhood when our curiosity and thirst for knowledge make us want to read stories of all kinds, moving from fairytales to fantasy novels and then to more complex and though-provoking literary works. We are influenced by literature in many powerful ways.

Literature Expands Our Understanding of Human Nature

Most people’s contact with literature becomes serious in school. This is when they begin to understand the importance of books in exploring stimulating and provocative ideas about human nature.

There are few other mediums other than books that can give students the same freedom to analyze human personality or behavior and reach important insights.

Think about a novel like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Students from all over the world have to read and write an essay on Frankenstein, a task that forces them to think about serious aspects of human nature, such as alienation, family relations, evil, and what makes someone human. By writing an essay about a book, students are thus confronted with deeper questions.

Literature is an Educational Tool

The role of books in society is to serve as an educational tool able to expand our knowledge about the world and ourselves.

To ensure books achieve their purpose, we must look at them critically, however. Only by performing in-depth analyses of Frankenstein can we truly understand what the author meant.

For example, students are asked to think about Victor Frankenstein and analyze his actions and motives. By doing so, they learn to sense the hidden meanings, themes, and messages behind the actions.

This is an incredibly effective learning process that makes way for many important discussions and debates between students and professors.

Students learn the value of forming their own ideas and that not everyone thinks the same, which is an important life lesson.

Literature Inspires Deeper Thinking

Having to write a Frankenstein critical analysis seems challenging, but there is no better way to trigger reflection and deeper thinking that this. When students ask themselves why is literature important, the answer…
 
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