Literature is dangerous: it awakens a rebellious attitude in us.
Mario Vargas LlosaRead
Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated.
Interpretation
Understanding mythology is essential to fully appreciate the depth of literature.
Thomas Bulfinch highlights the importance of mythology in understanding and appreciating literature. He suggests that a significant portion of our elegant language and literary works is rooted in mythological references, and without that knowledge, readers may miss out on rich layers of meaning and insight within the texts.
In practice
In a lecture about literary analysis, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of understanding mythological references.
Literature is dangerous: it awakens a rebellious attitude in us.
Literature does not exist in a vacuum. Writers as such have a definite social function exactly proportional to their ability as writers. This is their main use.
There's no lack of writers writing novels in America, about America. Therefore, it seems to me it would be wasteful for me to add to that huge number of people writing here when there are so few people writing about somewhere else.
But everything of value about me is in my books.
At one time if you were a black writer you had to be one of the best writers in the world to be published. You had to be great. Now you can be good. Mediocre. And that's good.
The way to read a fairy tale is to throw yourself in.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.