Why do we study literature?

This is an interesting question, and I think it's important to consider that it is a general educational requirement here at clemson; everyone regardless of major has to take it. I think this means that anyone of any field of study can benefit with having a basic understanding of literature. I think that at the very least, literature is a way of expanding your mind. The fact that it's not definative, there is no right/wrong answer, allows a creativity not allowed by many other subjects. I think, most importantly, that by reading literature (however much I may fight with it!) can benefit everyone by increasing spacial creativity and expanding your vocabulary. I think another important thing that literature teaches us is that it can show us different sides and viewpoints of a certain thing we may not have thought about first off. It's interesting to learn about deeper meaning and explore characters and actions beyond the surface to expose the underlying symbolisms and themes. By doing this, you can apply this angle of interpretation on much more than simply literature, you can analyze life and the world beyond the basics.