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Lessons from this course

This course most influentially taught the value of connecting texts with historical contexts. The Research Excurios showed how researching events mentioned in the texts helps to create a more developed understanding of the entire novel. Through the Research Excursions, I was able to better comprehend the complex motivations and actions of the characters in the novels we read, as well as the broader social and historical forces that influenced them. I was also able to better understand why characters acted how they did by better understanding the social pressures and historical contexts that influenced their actions, values, and opportunities. While fictional characters exist only within books, the situations they navigate, the hurdles they overcome, the values they hold, the discrimination they face, etc., all exist in the real world. Connecting reality to fiction creates a better understanding of both the text itself and the messages it is trying to apply to reality. By connecting texts with their historical contexts, I have learned to appreciate the ways in which literature can both reflect and shape the world around us. I have come to appreciate the relevance and importance of literature in understanding the complexities of our world, and the ways in which it can help us to navigate and engage with these complexities.

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  1. AnonymousMarch 20, 2023 at 3:28 PM

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  2. AnonymousMarch 20, 2023 at 3:28 PM

    Hi Noah! I too learned the importance of connecting literature with historical contexts. Our research excursions helped me understand events and characters of the novels by exploring the contexts that influenced them. It's crazy to see how fiction can reflect and shape the world we live in!

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