The poet Mary Oliver asked a great question:
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
“The Summer Day,” 1992
Maybe you think that analyzing literature isn’t how you want to spend your time.
Maybe you are merely resigned to the fact that “have to” study literature because you need three/four units of English to graduate from your middle school/high school or to be accepted at most four-year colleges and universities.
Well, I believe that analyzing literature is one of the most important things you could do to enhance your precious life.
Analyzing literature is really about unleashing the power of stories, and there is almost nothing that can have a bigger impact on the quality of your life. Even Tyrion Lannister, one the leaders in Game of Throne, ends the TV series by pronouncing, “There’s nothing more powerful than a good story.”
Much of your life is determined by the stories you tell yourself about the world, the way things work, what is right and what is wrong, and most of all, about yourself.
Henry Ford is reported to have said, “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.” THAT is the power that your stories have on your life.
In addition, stories contain the amassed wisdom of thousands of generations.
Having the ability to unpack the great lessons from the stories of others allows you to avoid the mistakes that have led some astray, or provides you with tools to help you succeed as you face new challenges and new opportunities in your lives.
Our goal at Heroic Journey is to support students in the Hero’s Journey of their own life. If you are up for that challenge, I invite you to join us.
—Headmaster
Link to The Summer Day: https://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/133.html
“What unites people? Armies? Gold? Flags?
Stories. There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story.
Nothing can stop it. No enemy can defeat it.”
Tyrion Lannister
Games of Thrones TV series finale