Munro Literature Reflection

What is the purpose and benefit of the study of literature?

Literature is defined as: "Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. A great Russian poet by the name of Boris Pasternak once said: "Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words, something extraordinary." I believe that literature is not just important to us, it is vital to our survival in this invariably evolving world. My 6th grade teacher once told me: "reading and writing are crucial to your success later on, you will need to be able to do one in order to do the other". It's that simple! Also reading improves our communication skills, we need to communicate clearly through either writing or speaking so we can share our thoughts and ideas with one another. For example if we were approached by an individual who cannot communicate well, naturally we humans don't feel inclined to take that person seriously. Also, studying literature helps us grasp a better understanding of the world around us, since most literature speaks of issues that are still present in our society. Finally, it is very useful to learn about the way people from other nationalities think, this also helps us better relate to them.

What is women's literature and what is the value of studying it? 

Women's literature is defined as: "women-centered books that focus on women's life experiences."It is important to learn about because it allows readers to think critically about gender, sexuality, and criticism. It also helps us better understand culture at particular times and how it gradually develops and changes, and finally provides us with real-life issues that are very common around the world.

Why were themes and values of Munro's social realism so significant during the 1950s - 1980s / Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro's work contributed to gender equality?

Munro's themes and values of social realism were significant during the 1950s all the way through to the 1980s was because there were many active movements towards gender equality all over the wolrd and in some of the most predominant countries such as France, The United Kingdom, and The U.S.A. Her work helped further convey social issues women were currently facing and also provoked many readers into supporting such movements.