Philosophy Of Literature - Kafka

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What We Might Become As long as there is language there will be story. From simple hunting tales told by chieftains of centuries past to the most elaborate plots unwinding themselves in the novels of present-day authors, stories serve many vital human functions. While it may be true that most stories aim to entertain us, they may also enlighten us along the way. Some of our first lessons about human nature and the universe are learned through the many stories we were told and read as children, demonstrating that even a fictional narrative is about something real and familiar. A good story provides a glimpse into human nature. An exceptional story holds up a mirror to humanity and dares us to behold its very soul in all its contradictions. An exceptional story is ageless because regardless of how fantastic an event it may depict, it is really about human nature which is our only constant. Literature is full of exceptional stories that tackle some fundamental human questions in extraordinarily honest ways. By studying some examples of such works we discover that philosophy is not this merely intellectual pursuit removed from ordinary life, but is the very driving force of our life. Philosophy is the expression of our eternal curiosity, but it is also practical in nature for every good story will present you with a life lesson that can become a transformative experience. Noting the importance of literature in my own life, in this essay I will examine the philosophical importance of metaphor and narrative in literary genres. Examining specifically how we experience genuine connections and emotions with what we know, quite consciously, to be fictional narrative. Then, I will provide an example of how literature provided wisdom about the nature of human beings and demonstrated a social criticism of how we live, must live, should live of one of my own life experiences.
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