Francine Prose: The Effect Of Teaching Values Through Literature

Rhetorical questions induce an emotional appeal from educators. Emerson’s use of rhetorical questions attacks the educator in such a way that they question their original methods. After describing the current systems militaristic ways, he asks the educators “What reformer will it nurse? What poet will it breed to sing to the human race?”(105). He condemns the current system and asks how it could possibly benefit students. Furthermore Emerson provides an analogy comparing the patience needed to teach a student and the “dint of obstinate sitting still” to arouse animals. He then goes on to ask the educators, “Can you not wait for him, as Nature and Providence do” to taunt the educators of their definitive ways of teaching(107).All of these methods gear the audience toward a path of naturalistic standards.

In the passage “Why Literature Matters” by Dana Gioia, Gioia states that the decline of interest in reading in America is decreasing. She then claims that this lack of interest will hold negative effects on the future of our society. Gioia uses facts and evidence to support her claim.

Prose starts off with very strong language in her essay “I know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read”. Prose’s opening paragraph includes words such as “appalled”, “dismal”, and “dreariness”, which establishes negative connotation, a central feature of the essay(Prose 176). These words signify the lack of confidence that Prose has in the trends of American education. By beginning her essay with judgemental and cogent language, Francine Prose develops a clear and concise argument. She intends to hook her readers by immediately stressing the importance of the subject and conveying her justifiably strong perspectives. Prose claims that she is “ appalled by the dismal lists of texts that her sons are doomed to waste a school year reading” (Prose 176). Prose’s use of negative connotation allows her to clearly and effectively convey her message regarding the negative influence that American education has had on literature.

In Dana Gioia’s article titled “Why Literature Matters”, he explains about the decline of reading literature for young Americans. Although “income rose to unforeseen levels, college attendance ballooned, and access of information increased enormously” he states, “the interest young Americans showed in the arts… diminished”. In his article, Gioia uses surveys, articles, studies, and statistics to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America can have a negative effect on society.

The essay “Disliking Books” by Gerald Graff gives reason to why so many kids and young adults dislike reading. Graff mentions things from his childhood, and things from his time as a college student to explain his reasoning. Being a part of a middle class family, Graff explains the stigma surrounding studying and enjoying books in his childhood. Graff then shows us his experience that changed his mind. Graff uses details from his life to give meaning to his ideas.

The information that children take in will shape their opinions about morals and values in society. In Fahrenheit 451, the reading of any book is made illegal; if one found out about another’s hidden stash of banned material, firemen would light the entire house on fire. The burning of books was extensively drilled into the society that a schedule evolved, which Montag explains to Clarisse. “Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn 'em to ashes, then burn the ashes” (Bradbury 8). Even in modern day society, many schools and universities still ban books because they do not adhere to their teachings. According to the American Library Association (ALA), the top five most frequently challenged books to be banned in public libraries and public school libraries last year were: The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Color Purple (B). The authors of all of these books were similar to Bradbury. They questioned popular opinions at the time, and suggested opposing views that those in charge did not like. However, without these challenged views, Americans would never question those in power and would not allow themselves to create their own beliefs and

Throughout history, scrutiny towards literature has fallen into three categories: political, moral, and religious. Advocates of intellectual freedom and speech have stood against those individuals and organizations that oppose the rights of any individual seeking knowledge through books under the 2nd amendment. In my essay, I intend to shed light on the benefits books can have and the side effects of a lack of knowledge in a school setting.

In the article, I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read (1999), Francine Prose claims that the force reading of books that high school students must struggle through hinders their ability to want to read when they do not have to. Prose supports her claim by comparing her own experiences during high school, to her both her son's high school experiences and coming to the realization that she and her sons both have had bad encounters with novels they had to read in high school. The author’s purpose is to persuade high school students and grown adults alike in order to show that the reason they can no longer enjoy reading is because they were forced to read unappealing books in high school. The author writes in a stern formal tone for an audience

Dana Gioia, author of the article "why Literature Matters", writes about the decline of reading in the U.S. and how it affects our society. The consequences of people not reading are expressed through his specific factual evidence and his prediction of what is going to happen if the American people continue to ignore this issue.

Education is nonexistent, feeding the people facts only to keep them satisfied. While this situation seems to be only possible in the realm of fiction, the ugly truth is that this degradation of thought is happening every day. For example, instead of doing summer reading, many students choose to read SparkNotes© or watch the movie. They choose to simply not think, as that would take a deeper plane of understanding that they are too lazy to reach. As a strong advocate of reading, I continue to wonder how people choose to lose the beauty of words for a mere plot outline. Although to the work laden student this seems to be no large issue, it reflects a society that refuses to think more than it needs to or wants to.

Before we divulge into the topic of this essay, let me begin by stating that neither the author of the main source, Steven Johnson, nor I intend to devalue books or look down upon them. In his book, Everything Bad Is Good For You, he starts off talking about the importance of books. He says, “We should all encourage our kids to read more, to develop a comfort with and an appetite for reading” (Johnson 21). Reading provides many different benefits, some including “concentration, the ability to make sense of words, to follow narrative threads, to sculpt imagined worlds out of mere sentences on pages” (Johnson 23). As an avid reader myself, I have always had an interest in books.

Dana Gioia, an author of “Why Literature Matters,” addresses an issue in society of the decrease in reading during the past quarter century. This issue may seem little now, but will eventually have a negative effect on America as a whole and the business industry of America. Although reading may not be the activity for all, it is crucial to continue reading and learning to benefit the future people of American and the people after instead of the growing decline which affects society.

As I read, “The Dark Night of the Soul” by Richard E. Miller, I found it to be an interesting read. He inquires, why we read, why we write and what might literate arts be said to be good for? In his essay he describes the school massacres that have occurred throughout the years. As he describes these events, he asks a deeper question, “What is the point of continuing to read, write and learn in the face of such underlying dangers. I think that with all that is happening, individuals/students should continue with education because reading, television, writing and communication makes a difference in the lives of individuals around the world. The bottom line is that literary art has a way of touching students unexpectedly one way or another and students should not just throw the art away because of society’s perception.

Requiring students to read certain texts can be good because it forces kids to read things that they are not accustomed to. Reading anthologies like The Norton Anthology: World Masterpieces by Maynard Mack include many different types of text by different authors from around the world. By using anthologies and textbooks in classrooms, students are exposed to poems, biographies, plays and stories that they wouldn’t have chosen to read on their own. These required texts also expose students to themes that are outside of the norm for most kids. Many teenagers would much rather spend all of their time reading romance novels and mysteries, but reading the same types of books over and over leaves no room for growth.

Some people do not realize that they affect the education of their children by banning certain books. The banning of books is banning the author's right to free speech which can hinder the education of Americans. In schools teachers have to worry about what readings they present to their students because they could have any parent coming after them for exposing their children to “heinous” or “bad” things when all it truly is, is literature used to broaden