Words With Friends Summary

In this society that is gradually becoming increasingly dependent on technology, will literature slowly disappear from the minds of the population? This is the question that Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, attempts to answer. In this book, he describes a hypothetical world in which the population not only avoids reading, but has made owning books an unthinkable crime, with all books discovered burned, along with the houses of those who hoarded them. In this dystopian future created by Bradbury, the beauty that is literature has been replaced in society by television programs and radio stations. This reveals Bradbury’s obvious fear that modern technology would completely replace books- a legitimate concern to have. In 2015, the value of books differ between groups of people. The disadvantage of this is that books provide the readers opportunity to allow their imaginations to run wild, something that television and radio never could. Fahrenheit 451 addresses the problem and fear of overwhelming technology through its fictional world, which shows what would happen should people render literature completely useless through the use of television and radios.

In the article, “Why Literature Matters,” Dana Gioia predominantly focuses on the use of logos, logical fact-based evidence and stimulating, emotional-based language to entice the audience. Gioia elaborates on the theme of correlation between young adult Americans and the decline of literature in this age group. He continues his argument with the consequences with the decline of literature in the lives of these Americans.

In the modern day society, books are frowned upon; however, interactive media such as television and seashell radios are highly encouraged. In Fahrenheit 451, Professor Faber fears the aftermath of the world without literature and is portrayed as too cowardly to take action, a “Queen bee, safe in the hive” (87). Through Faber’s lecture to Montag, Ray Bradbury aggrandizes his pessimistic view on society by using characterization, diction, and the selection of detail to present the idea that society relies upon pleasure and happiness so much that literature and common knowledge are rapidly disappearing.

In one study it is revealed that “literary readers are markedly more civically engaged than non readers… more likely to perform charity work, visit a museum, or attend a sporting event.” Gioia adds this study to her essay because she her audience to know that not reading doesn't just affect your job or work, it affects your daily

Larissa MacFarquhar’s essay titled,“Who Cares if Johnny Can’t Read?” , was published in the Slate magazine in 1997, rebuts the misconception that Americans in today’s society don’t read as much as people did in the past. MacFarquhar presented factual information to back up her claim that Americans do read and that they read more now than they ever did. In addition, people do not read classics as much as they read genre fiction and self-help in today’s society. MacFarquhar also stated that reading books is better than television. According to MacFarquhar, she believed that reading can stimulate emotions and allow people to participate unlike television. Later, she acknowledged that certain television can also stimulate emotions and allow people

Anytime she reads an innovative book, she wants everybody else to experience the same story she adored. As a result, she is always lending out her books to her friends. Anyone who needs a dystopian or romantic book could probably find it at her house; she is identical to a miniature library. Many people her age despise reading because they think it is just uninteresting, or extra work. Hannah’s acts of sharing her books have turned people from book haters to avid readers.

It is agreed that if an author is stating his assertion to a topic, then he should incorporate what the opposing view has to say; therefore, without the other view he writes nothing but fallacies. However, in Gurdon’s case she offers support from the other side allowing them to state their claim. She recognizes the use of first person in these particular YA books, permitting the reader to take on the “persona of the narrator” (Gurdon 2). Then, she detects the claim of the book industry writing that “kids have a right to read whatever they want” and that “the world is a tough place; and that there’s no point shielding children from reality” (Gurdon 3). Refuting this assertion she calls out the incorrect logic of the claim stating that in other words the authority adults have over the content children absorb should “somehow vaporize when it comes in contact with the printed word” (Gurdon 3). The things children read teach them what to presume about the world around them, and that “books don’t just cater to tastes. They form tastes” (Gurdon 4). Subsequently, she offers her proposal that people associated with the publication of books would “exercise better taste” (Gurdon 2) than that of every teen experience. The comprehension of Gurdon’s claim becomes clearer after integrating the opposing view and using it to support her

In the article “Why Literature Matters,” Dana Gioia discusses about how interest displayed in the arts has declined, especially in literature. Gioia uses a variety of different literary tools to create a compelling argument including appealing to the reader’s emotion, using facts and statistics, and creating a “call to action”. Throughout the whole essay, Gioia skillfully plays with the reader’s emotions to convince them. Gioia brings out aspects such as the consequences of the situation.

Dana Gioia, an author of “Why Literature Matters,” addresses an issue in society of the decrease in reading during the past quarter century. This issue may seem little now, but will eventually have a negative effect on America as a whole and the business industry of America. Although reading may not be the activity for all, it is crucial to continue reading and learning to benefit the future people of American and the people after instead of the growing decline which affects society.

Another reason why the consumers of texts hold power over the producers is simply the copious amount of texts that are made available to them. This increase in the choice between media and within media has led to development of narrowcasting and niche audiences. With the advent of mass consumerism and technology, the production of texts have skyrocketed, leaving the audience spoilt for choice. Raymond Bauer (1964) placed an emphasis on choice that was anchored in and ensured by an independent, even obstinate, audience. “The active "individual" was a modern citizen-consumer patrolling the periphery of his or her consciousness with a vigilant consumerism” (Biocca, n.d.). Bauer (1964) felt that the consumers could not

As the era of literature slowly declines, the expert critiques and praise for literature are lost. Previously, novels were bursting at the seams with metaphors, symbolism, and themes. In current times, “novels” are simply short stories that have been elaborated on with basic plot elements that attempt to make the story more interesting. Instead of having expert critical analysis written about them, they will, most likely, never see that, as recent novels have nothing to analyze. Even books are beginning to collect dust, hidden away and forgotten, attributing to the rise of companies such as Spark Notes. An author deserves to have his work praised, no matter how meager and the masses should have the right to embrace it or to reject it. As

Today, no one seems to give much value of literary works or reading. Not because it doesn’t give anything beneficiary, but because not everyone had the urged to at least finish a book. We now live in a world where social medias almost dominates our daily activities. It’s unlikely to have a place for us to consume a non-fiction or fiction book. As absurd as it sounds but that’s how people often think. We now live in an egalitarian society, where everyone is given the freedom and right of its own.

Group A comprises of the majority, which acts as a sort of control group, and Group B , also referred to as the literary people, is the group the differs from Group A by being more gravitated to literary works and indulging in reading as a form of pleasure. Despite Mr. Lewis’ bias towards Group B, the goal of this article is to emphasize the differences between the two groups while also bringing to attention the social norm that follows when certain groups describe their interests pertaining to reading literature and other activities. C.S Lewis aspires to defy

First, social/genre approaches also known as ‘genre as texts’ have gained a reputation of being the ‘most fruitful’ (Hyland, 2013, p.3) approaches to discover unique features of specific genres. Second, they have passed beyond just being ‘remediation’ (Swales, 1990, p.2) with their explicit focus on this seriousness business.

From this module, I have learned that “literature is deeply social”, which is something I never actually thought about till that moment (Northover et al 2015:9). I knew that literature is a work which contains the author’s most personal and inner thoughts and experiences, but never thought that the society that he or she grew up in can have such and influence on the work, nor the reader’s society and experiences.