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Show Appreciation of Literature. Horning into an argument over the defects of teachers of English literature, especially in the teaching of current authors, a bystander remarks: "Until they understand the purposes of literary study,. they'll continue to wallow around helplessly and uselessly, no matter what time and country they deal with." ; Which brings up the question, "What are the purposes of literary study ?" ) The ordinary teacher, in high school or college, seems to ! take it for granted that the main purpose is criticism.' He insists on tearing apart every masterpiece of poetry or prose, to find how it is put together or to show how much better it j would have been if it were put together some other way. He dissects the plot and criticises grammar, rhythm, figures of i speech and other technical details until students begin to loathe the whole thing. As a result, people usually dislike and avoid, all the rest of their life, the literature they have ' studied in school. I Surely the main purpose, as far as the great majority oi j students are concerned, is appreciation. Not one in a hun dred will ever need the technical details of the literary trade, i and anyone who does can get them easily enough. What young people need is to learn to like the best literature, to i get some notion of its beauty, truth and wonder, and perceive ihe special flavor of this or that author. Then they will pos sess an unfailing source of enjoyment and profit for the j future. |