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Thomas King The Truth About Stories Analysis

Decent Essays

When looking through animal history, we humans have praised ourselves for our exceptional ability to communicate in an advanced manner. Whether we are listening or speaking, humans have crafted language into a powerful tool that is boundless and flexible against other arts. Moreover, through the perspective of building civilizations, communication has been the foundation of community. As Language is our most advanced form of communication; to what degree of value do we hold it in our society? Throughout the seminars, groups of people explored the history and significance of how we perceive language and the hidden advantages or disadvantages it provides.
The first group focuses on how humans have flourished because of our instinct to be socially …show more content…

As a derivative of language, stories help to combine key aspects of wisdom so we can continue to improve greatly as a species. The third group discussed how our stories are a reflection of who we are, whether personal or general as explored in Thomas King`s essay `The Truth About Stories`. In particular, they are used to define our identity as we attach ourselves to characters that are exhibited in similar circumstances. Furthermore, personal stories render us in a state of vulnerability so we can question cryptic thoughts that are not recognized often. As said by group 3, “Stories help to escape, comfort and answer questions”. General stories such as the theory of creation help establish societies and environments by providing meaning to our existence. King highlights the importance of strategic storytelling by informing the reader to “not confuse strategy with sophistication” as the significance of the truth can be …show more content…

What gives language its power is the meaning behind words that are used. Once the meaning of a word is altered to the extent that the word and the definition juxtapose, it leaves the word useless thus killing a part of language. Toni Morrison plays with this ideology in her lecture about preserving language in its purity, which is the foundation of group 4’s seminar. The lecture begins as a blind woman’s wisdom is put into question by the youth. The woman responds by telling the youth to not let language die as it protects us from things with no name. Morrison believes that language is a living thing that can be easily neglected by greed, as displayed by politicians. “Show them belief as it unravels in fear” is a quote that emphasizes the threat of

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