You can find Previous Year Reflective Essay Topics asked in ICSE board exams.
Reflective Essay Topic – Impact Of Reading Literature On Our Lives
Introduction: Importance of reading literature
- Its impact on our life gives knowledge, inspires confidence, makes us better human beings
- Inculcates virtues
- Declining trend of reading in youth due to advent of TV, cinema and the Internet
- Develops personality, inculcates good moral and family values
Conclusion: Literary works of great authors impact our lives profoundly
“It’s in literature that true life can be found. It’s under the mask of fiction that you can tell the truth,” said Gao Xingjian. Thus literature gives valuable insight to the true and hard facts of life which we can easily relate to. It also inculcates virtues and the power of reasoning for in the words of Francis Bacon, “Read not to contradict and confute nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.”
The word ‘literature’ comes from the word ‘letters’ because of which learned men are referred to as men of letters. The literary work of great authors influence us immensely. Since time immemorial great literary works like the Vedas, the Ramayana, Gita, Bible and the Koran spread the light of truth and wisdom in the world. The Ramayana gave valuable insight into human relationships like, respect for elders, behaviour towards relatives, friends and colleagues.
The Gita idolised Karma (duty), which is the purpose of life. Such books provide strength and inspiration in times of a crisis or when faced with a dilemma. They are indeed masterpieces, that unfold the truth of life and death, making one reverent, yet fearless. Besides this the classics of William Shakespeare, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Munshi Premchand bequeathed to us, a wealth of knowledge on aspects like friendship, virtues, honesty and life itself.
Reading such literature impact our lives profoundly. Besides providing valuable insight into the good and positive aspects of life, it also makes us aware of the pitfalls that result from wrong doings. The true to life portrayal of characters enables one to differentiate between good or bad, virtue and vice. This realisation makes one more humane and virtuous. Unfortunately the youth do not read literature except that prescribed in textbooks. This is because of the overpowering influence of other media, like television, cinema and the Internet.
Besides developing the personality, it inculcates good moral and family values, which are extremely important for living a wholesome life. It improves the quality of life and makes one think and act logically thereby resolving many life problems. Many such problems are overcome by the direction and strength derived from the literary work of great sages.
Undoubtedly literary works of great authors impact our lives profoundly. Their inspiring thoughts besides broadening our vision, also make us more worldly wise by adding a new dimension to our personality. Indeed in the words of Boris Pasternak, “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.”
Assignments
- The pleasure of reading literature. Discuss.
- Literature is not only to be studied but an art to be practiced. Discuss.
- Reading maketh a Full Man; conference a Ready Man and Writing an Exact Man.” Discuss.