The Role Of The Human Condition In Literature

Anne Bradstreet in her poem, “The Author to Her Book”, elaborates on the true struggles of the publishing process that writers may experience in their writing careers. Through a unique perspective, Bradstreet introduces the narrator of the poem as a writer with a “deformed” piece of work, which is compared to a mother with a child with deformities; both of which are exposed to the public eye. Though the use of an extended metaphor, Bradstreet in “The Author to Her Book” compares a defected piece of work to similarly, a child that has defects as well, which is used to convey the speaker’s self-critical, yet, loving attitude toward her work.

Writers have the magic power. By using a pen, they can transfer their readers to any place they would like, such as, from a comfortable chair in a warm room to a cold cell in a prison. This is done by both great and influential authors, Malcolm X and Stephen King. Malcolm X’s narrative is taken from his Autobiography of Malcolm X where he is describing the years when he is serving a prison sentence. Malcolm X was an African American Muslim minister who worked worldwide for African-American unity and equality. In contrast, Stephen King is a well-known horror novelist. Moreover, he writes movie scripts, nonfiction stories, autobiographies, and children stories. On Writings, which is a combination memoir and guidebook to writers, is from his recent work. In this passage, the author is discussing the fundamentals of the writing

the roses in the world, and luminescent as the stars that shine in the heavens. Humanity

In other words, reading literature goes beyond just the words of the author. As readers, we become more aware of what the narrator and of what the characters might be feeling. There are feelings that form our underlying base of who we are and a lot of the times we avoid them because they’re a constant reminder of what’s real versus what we want to think is real. From time to time literature may make the readers thing of something personal that gives us a sense of reality. Through John Updike’s Rabbit Run, Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire, Margaret Atwood’s Happy Endings, James Joyce’s Araby, Patrick White’s The Vivesector, and Jorge Luis Borges’ Pierre Menard, Author of the ‘Quixote’ readers come to find a sense of reality within the characters portrayed through these works.

Throughout childhood and adolescence, there are numerous events and situations that impact the rest of the person’s life. While these experiences can leave impressions on the individual's life ranging from future profession to possible criminal record, the way an author creates his work is almost always related to their childhood upbringing. Between topics, symbols, motifs, and themes, authors are more than likely to write from prior experience, which in most cases comes from youth life. Rick Riordan for example, author of numerous children’s literary series demonstrates various examples of how his early life affected numerous aspects of his literature.

Every person who is living and who has lived has a story and a past that makes them the individual they are or were. For Margaret Peterson, a young girl who lived on a farm with her parents and siblings started her passion for reading as a young adolescent. Margaret had grown up in an time where electronics and technology was up and coming. No families in her time and area had TV, cell phones, video games and almost anything that is found in the average home today. For entertainment and hobbies she would spend hours reading at home, in the car, and even on vacation. She lived in an densely populated area, that was not prevalent. Her father was a farmer, like most men in the community were. She lived at home with 3 siblings, 2 brothers and

Why does someone write? What makes authors that we enjoy to read, feel inspired to sit in a deep, state of self-reflection. As they ignore others around them, and focus on their own imaginations in monomaniac fashion ? Margaret Atwood’s “ Nine Beginnings,” attempts to answer the broad question of, “ Why do you write?” This is an essay where the author is having a conversation with herself and contemplating her thoughts about writing. Atwood acknowledges that writing is a process that is never ending, and a person needs self-confidence of their ability to write, in order to be a proficient writer. Margaret Atwood also believes that multiple accounts of failure are important for any writer. A person learns from their mistakes and the writer’s voice comes out more authentic to who the person is due to adversity.

Throughout literature history, high school curriculum continues to educate students on certain novels, plays, and excerpts such as The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, The Canterbury Tales, and Beowulf, but many students are unaware of why. Each of these pieces of literature discuss the human condition and contain relevant scenarios that can be connected to reality today.

From The Wisdom of the Heart (public library) — the sublime anthology of Henry Miller’s short stories, profiles, and literary essays that gave us his insights on the art of living and the future of mankind — comes a fantastic, timeless essay titled “Reflections on Writing,” in which Miller examines the psychological, emotional, and social roots of the impulse to create

“From a very early age, perhaps the age of five or six, I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer. Between the ages of about seventeen and twenty-four I tried to abandon this idea, but I did so with the consciousness that I was outraging my true nature and that sooner or later I should have to settle down and write books.” George Orwell writes “Why I Write” to show reasoning why authors by developing a purpose like including speaker, structure, and tone.

Writing about what matters most, the author announces their enthusiasm and fervor for this subject through their complex and intricate writing. Or even a short comic strip that makes your chest heave as your laughter erupts to the extent that tears form in your eyes consists of its own art.

Every how to become a better writer book, article, class or seminar seem to always enforce the importance of reading, for reading is regarded as the writer’s daily bread. For it builds the reader’s understanding of others experiences. Not that other writers’ experience is more important than non-writers but simply put books, poems, paintings, articles or blogs are all artist statements that introduce an artist. Artists possess a language, which is all they own whether written, spoken, painting, drawing, sculpture, or singing. As a writer I want my artwork to have a critical view of social, political and cultural issues. In my work, I want to analyze and rethink the so-called American dream, popular fairy tales, and my children chosen nursery rhymes. I want to engage subjects as diverse as the civil rights movement, and classical music.

Whether it be the Judy Blume stories of my childhood, the adventures of Ally Condie that have kept me turning pages well into the night, or the entirely mesmerizing romance tales of Stephenie Meyer, reading has always been an essential part of my life. From this love for reading bloomed a passion for writing, which I have developed through recent years. I

Writing is an important part of our English language. There are many things that we can learn about the writer by reading their words. The writer that I most admire most for her prolific words, and telling it like it is would be Maya Angelou. Her poetry is heartfelt, and her words are so eloquently spoken in a way that our hearts can actually feel it. When asked how did you learn to write, Ms. Angelou’s response was, learning to write was easy, I listened to my heart. Maya does write about her life’s experiences, and through her experiences we get a feeling that she understands our life, and what we have gone through. No one wants to go on a journey alone, and with her words

Jeremy Hsu, Luis Urrea, and E.B. White have different writing credentials: one is a science journalist, one a creative writing professor, the other an essayist. Although from different backgrounds, each has explored the power of literature. Through Hsu’s “The Secrets of Storytelling”, “Life is An Act of Literary Creation” by Urrea and E.B. White’s pieces in Essays of E.B. White, each author shows how literature is used to enhance our perceptions of the world around us, creating a sense of community.