Studying Literature Essay Example for Free

Studying Literature Essay Contrary to students within other provinces, those in Ontario should study only Canadian literature in grade twelve English courses. Although there are many existing writers in different cultures, it is important for Ontario students to first become familiar with Canadian literature before moving on. It is believed that students should focus on their Canadian culture despite being surrounded by other cultures- promote and establish their own writers, and encourage younger Canadian authors. Pupils currently enrolled in English in Ontario are constantly bombarded by American culture, when they should, instead, be concentrating on Canadian literature. This is starting to become a trend in Canada, as they have always been the â€Å"branch plant† of another country. This means that our own culture has never had the chance to develop as we have always been under the thumb of a more powerful foreign culture. This began with the influence of England and France; for many years students in Ontario would study Shakespeare, along with other British writers. This is no different than the impact of American culture, which swamps Canadawith American authors such as Fitzgerald. However, many schools limit a student’s exposure to Canadian novels to those found on International Studies Preparation (ISP) reading lists. In this sense, Canada is an attic in which we have stored American and British literature without considering our own. As a result, many Canadian students have problems appreciating their culture, since Canadian literature is not promoted well enough. It is no wonder Canadian students have problems appreciating their culture. The Canadian literature most frequently studied is typically old. This literature includes works such as â€Å"The Apprenticeship of Duddly Kravitz†, by Mordecai Richler, â€Å"The Stone Angel† by Margaret Laurence and the â€Å"Fifth Business† by Robertson Davies. The Fifth Business is quite unique since it was published in 1970– over 35 years ago – and yet it is still included in many grade twelve English courses across Ontario. A book that is seemingly closer to our time is Margaret Atwood’s novel, â€Å"Handmaids Tale†, which was published in 1985 over ten years ago. Although most teachers allow, and sometimes even encourage, students to focus on more modern Canadian books for their ISP, their classroom experience is usually limited to studying these older generations of Canadian literature. Schools and educators should start to get students more familiar with both past and present Canadian authors- this could lead any student to the path of becoming an author themselves. Another issue with Canadian literature is that the authors are primarily white (English Canadian) and not reflective of our modern multicultural society. As Robertson Davies states, 2â€Å"Canada is not going to have a national literature in the mode of those European lands where a long history has bound the people together, and where a homogeneous racial inheritance has given them a language, customs, and even a national dress of their own†. We need to promote the work of Canadian authors who have come from different backgroundsand who are able make a connection with our multicultural student body. As Canadians, we are lost in a sea of international influences – we hardly know who we are and this happens many of us realizing it. ‘What is a Canadian? A Canadian is a fellow wearing English tweeds, a Hong Kong shirt and Spanish shoes, who sips Brazilian coffee sweetened with Philippine sugar from a Bavarian cup while nibbling Swiss cheese, sitting at a Danish desk over a Persian rug, after coming home in a German car from an Italian movie.. ’, is an anonymous saying that practically defines the typical Canadian experience. It is clear why Margaret Atwood could comment that Canadians have issues with establishing their identity. When discussing Canadian writers she argues that Canada, as a state of mind, does not really exist: 4â€Å"Im talking about Canada as a state of mind, as the space you inhabit not just with your body but with your head. Its that kind of space in which we find ourselves lost. In conclusion, Canadian literature should be more recognized and promoted within our generation of young students. By familiarizing ourselves with our own writers and disregarding writers from other countries, we can gain more knowledge about authors from Canada and their literature. While some might view this as ignorant, taking this approach will allow Canadian students to see the value of our authors. Once our students have a strong sense of our own writers they can start to read about the achievements of American and British authors as well.