And Turn The Speakers Up.

THIS IS MY LOT, BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS.

Monday, February 27, 2006

I love Whitby and Dio's lessons! Attending Literature classes are like being a part of a discussion in which you submerge into a text, think, express your thoughts and apply a lot of critical analysis on language and techniques used by writers of all sorts, to bring their big and sometimes abstract ideas across to us, the readers/audience. Yes, having to get used to dissecting a particular poem/prose/play with the necessary tools seem to get boring and it makes Lit plainly rigid, but it sure is enlightening to see how appreciating a written work isn't just about spotting flowery words; it's also about form, structure, sound, wit, and most importantly, ideas- amazing ideas at times, which I can only marvel at and nod in agreement with. Sure, we need to memorise quotes and main themes for some texts when it comes to substantiating our points in our essays, but Literature really goes beyond just pen, paper and grades. I've learnt a lot more about life in Lit class than in any other class I've ever had to attend (whether for 6 or 4 years) before. It's interesting to step out of your little bubble of thoughts and perspectives, and indulge in others' take on life, love, God, etc, especially when these are people with the niche for writing. Haha, sometimes I would blurt out random nonsensical interpretations or ideas, but I guess, just like how it applies to being in love, if you're not ready to sound stupid, you're not ready to study Lit. (not that the other Lit students sound stupid too, but hey, who gets spot-on answers all the time? Lit is about ideas and opinion, and we're all owners of varying perspectives, and we're entitled to them.)

I like this stanza from George Herbert's 'The Forerunners' which we had for Dio's lesson today:

Let foolish lovers, if they will love dung,
With canvas, not with arras clothe their shame:
Let folly speak in her own native tongue.
True beauty dwells on high: ours is a flame
But borrowed thence to light us thither.
Beauty and beauteous words should go together.

Yes, it's not all about flowery words, but sometimes, we need them, to describe something/someone equally, if not more beautiful.

Ah, my completeness.

TonFlyingHigh!10:24 PM

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