Literature

The forum for this week addresses the third learning objective:  Produce an original opinion based on assigned literature.

Literature is shaped by the society it was created in and typically contains ideas, themes or issues which are timeless. Our own experiences shape how we approach literature and how we discern major themes.

What is your intended career path? How has your major field of study impacted how you have read and interpreted assigned readings for this course? For example, a student working towards a degree in International Relations may apply a political lens to a reading whereas a Psychology major may instead focus on an author’s motivation and life experiences. Please be sure to share specific examples in application to one of the pieces or authors we read during weeks 1 or 2.

1Andrew

I have been studying toward an Associate’s Degree in Counterterrorism for almost a year and a half, and am now looking into pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity with either possibly a double major or minor in psychology.  As far as long-term career path, I am hoping to pursue a career working for a federal agency and am more specifically interest in becoming a special agent with the FBI (Federal Bureau Investigation).

In the short time this class, I have been reminded that literature has just never been my strongest subject.  However, I am determined to continue working to apply as much time and effort as I can to apply myself, and try to get as much out of this class as I possibly can; and, learn whatever I possibly can to help me apply my critical thinking skills and reasoning to my future career.  I have learned a few different things as far as one can apply in terms of literature being applied to other career opportunities like the ones I wish to pursue.

One of those things, I believe may be applicable is understanding the various dialects or writing styles of different authors, different concepts and terms, and many other things.  It is no secret authors all write differently, which makes it important to understand them in order to have an understanding of the context.  Furthermore, when it comes to crime reports, statistics, or even schemes of maneuver for tactical operations and such, it is important to be well-rounded in understanding the way things are written, as well as the context in which they are written.

Another important aspect is understanding human behavior.  While society has arguably changed over time, understanding human behavior, even in fictional literary classics can help anyone develop a better understanding of the type of reactions people can have, based on their backgrounds and the various situations, in they have found themselves.  It may sound absurd, but I would argue when it comes to some, who have been abused and mistreated, or deemed an outcast like Heathcliff was in Wuthering Heights, it can help explain or even predict possible behavior among criminals or those vulnerable to crime or even terrorism.

2 Tonia

Good evening from Hawaii everyone,

I have so many dreams for my future career path, so this weeks forum is a bit challenging. I have thought a lot about becoming a flight attendant or work towards a career in sonography when I finish my time in service. These are career paths that do not necessarily require a major. My longest dream would be to one day become an entrepreneur and open a coffee shop. That is why I am just finishing my general education and figuring my life out from there. For the sake of this assignment let’s say I choose to major in business. I have always had a compulsive need to do my own thing, to have the freedom to create what ever was in my head and the only person to stop me was myself. That combined with my love of coffee makes me want to own a coffee shop. Going that route, my possible field of study may have impacted my judgment of the novel Withering Heights. In some ways it could have effected how I perceived certain characters. Catherine for example appeals to my free spirited side. Her will to do what she wants, no matter what. She falls deeply in love with Heathcliff despite the fact that he was an orphan of color, which was an unpopular belief in that time.

-Tonia

3 Dustin

This week as a class we were supposed to come up with ways that our own personal goals relate to the writings of authors in the Romantic period. My degree is in business Management. As with many other fields of study, the individuals who are in these fields must have a broad outlook on life. Romantic Period authors Wordsworth and Coleridge were often known as visionaries. They used forward thinking to stand apart from others in the way they decided to write in great details and really capture the moment in my special sentences.  In business people must find new and exciting ways to achieve the goals they set for themselves and the companies they manage or own. The relation comes from vision and the way that a person is able to capture in their mind what they want to accomplish and make this dream a reality. The example of text I chose to use as a vision comes from Yates- Sailing to Byzantium where he speaks about the vision he has of some religious supernatural ideas. Though these ideas may seem to be strange to some they also made him a visionary. Being in a Management field of study give myself the ability to see outside of the box. I believe that is also what need to happen when these authors put their ideas on paper, they need to be able to capture the attention of people who want to see the world in a different way.

4Emma

I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. My field of study has impacted how I’ve interpreted the readings we’ve read thus far in class. I especially felt that my field of study has impacted how I’ve interpreted the novel, Wuthering Heights. After being introduced to Heathcliff and learning more about his childhood and upbringing, I feel that I saw Heathcliff’s character in a different light because I’ve realized how different upbringings can affect someone at a later stage in their life. Between being an orphan and being absolutely hated by his “brother” Hindley, Heathcliff grew up in an unhealthy environment that shaped him into the Heathcliff we see who seeks revenge and is willing to hurt his loved ones around him. My field of study has also allowed me to analyze the different relationships that occur within the novel, and what their true purposes are. For example, Heathcliff marries Isabella, but the reader questions whether or not he truly loves Isabella or is marrying her in spite of Catherine marrying Edgar. Also, my studies have also allowed me to understand why Catherine chose Edgar over Heathcliff; Catherine found financial stability in Edgar that she did not quite find with Heathcliff, which is a key factor in a healthy relationship (providing stability, financially, to one another). Some may not understand why Catherine ultimately chooses Edgar over Catherine, but from a financial standpoint, one can reason with Catherine and accept her decision. Reading literature and relating it to my career field allows me to see the different angles of the various characters within Wuthering Heights, and as they develop, how their surroundings influence their character traits and personalities.